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Bioorapbical IRcvicw 



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THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF 



LEADING CITIZENS OF 



OXFORD AND FRANKLIN 



COUNTIES 



MAINE 



"Biography is the home aspect of history" 



BOSTON 

Biographical Review Publishing Company 
1897 






yf Y ^'ya> 



PREFACE 



IN all thi> wide cartli theiv i'n nothiiiL;- else so interestini; and ini|)i)rlaiit as himian 
life; and the liistorx' of iiulixidiKd lives is recognized a>, at its best, one of the 

most attractive and \aluahle forms of literature. It hehoox'es e\ery generation 
to write its own records, to leave behind its own memorials. l he present \olume of 
local bio^'raphies, carefnlh' prejiared fmm materials jui-nished 1)_\' the patrons of the 
work, is issued bv the publishers in the confident hope that it will pvowi satisfactory 
as the fulfilment of promise and a work of ])ermanent \-alue. These paL!;es treat of 
earnest toiler^ of to-dav and of _\-esterday, workers with hand and brain, who have 
been ku'^elv instrumental in the industrial, social, and |)olitical de\elo|)ment ol 
Oxford and I'"ranklin Counties — men and women who, taking lite in "earnest," 
ha\'e made "footprints on the sands of time." The conquests here recited are of 
mind o\er matter and circumstance. 

To preserve the memorv of local worthies, as well as of national celebrities, is 
to foster home ties, local attachments, and patriotism, and to encourage ^ood citizen- 
ship. I'urthermore, to borrow the words of an eminent speaker, " W hale\er fame 
"■reat achievements ma\- bestow, whatever honors the world mav ,L;i\'e, it is ever the 
most cherished hope of every seeker after fame and fortune to be kindl}- ivmembered 
and lovinglv honored on the spot which gave him l)irth." 

niO(;kAriiicAi, Rk\ikw I'Liii.isuiNc Comi'.v.w. 

FEliRlARV, lSy7. 




HERRICK C. DAVIS. 



BIOSRAPHIGAL. 




ON. HERRICK C. DAVIS, 

..^ , ^ _ attorney at-law and Judge vi 
<^^M I ^ the Municipal Court of Nor- 
way, Oxford County, Me., 
was born in tlie neighboring 
town of \Voodstoci<, on, No- 
vember 5, 1833, a son of Ben- 
jamin and Ruhamah (Chase) 
Davis, and is a representative 
of the third generation of his 
famih' in this vicinity. 
His p.iternal grandfather, Aaron Davis, 
came from Salem, Mass., to Poland, Me., 
Androscoggin County, and there bought and 
cleared a tract of land, but subsequently re- 
moved to Woodstock, where he was one of the 
most energetic and progressive men of his day 
and the owner of four hundred acres. He had 
previously served as a private during the Rev- 
olutionary War. His wife was Thankful, a 
daughter of Stephen Strout, a farmer who 
lived and died in Penobscot County. Mr. and 
Mrs. Aaron Davis had eleven children — Han- 
nah, Aaron, Thankful, Sally, Polly, Phftbe, 
Benjamin, Eliphalet, Eliza,' Nehemiah, and 
Julia. Grandfather Davis lived to the age of 
eighty-two, but his wife died younger. 

Benjamin Davis, son of Aaron, was an ex- 
tensive land-owner in Woodstock, and cleared 
his own farm. In pcditics he was at first a 
Democrat, but he affiliated with tlie Repidili- 
cans after the formation of that party. He was 
prominent in town affairs, efficiently serving 
in different offices, including that of Select- 
man. He married Ruhamah Chase, daughter 
of the Rev. Stephen Chase, a Baptist minister 
who was the first Town Clerk of Woodstock, 
and they became the parents of ten children, 
namely: Richard L., who died at the age of 
nine years; limeline: Herrick C. : Benjamin; 



.Stephen; Ruhamah; Xehemiah; Cyrus; 
I'lmma J. ; and Henry. The ]iarents gave their 
spiritual influence and material aid to the 
Methodist l{piscopal churcli. 

Herrick C. Davis, aftoi' obtaining his com- 
mon-school education in Woodstock, pursued 
a course of study in some of the higher 
branches of learning at the Norway Liberal 
Institute. He then placed himself in the 
ranks of the world's toilers with hand and 
brain, working for some consiilerable time at 
the carpenter's trade, meanwhile keeping his 
intellectual powers in a state of healthful 
activity by teaching school for ten winter 
terms. He subsequently read law with (ien- 
eral J. J. Perry, of Oxford, and, after his ad- 
mission to the bar of Androscoggin County in 
1862, began jiractice at Bryant's Pond. 
While in that place, where he bought a fine 
residence, he su])plied the Grand Trunk Rail- 
road with wood. Ten years later, being 
elected Registrar of Probate for Oxford 
County, he closed his successful legal business 
and career in Bryant's Pond, and took up his 
residence at Paris Hill. Having filled the 
office of Registrar creditably for twenty con- 
secutive years, in January, IiSqs, Mr. Davis 
was appointed Judge of the Municipal Court, 
and removed to Norway. Wherever he has 
lived, Mr. Davis has shown himself a public- 
spirited citizen. He here takes an active in- 
terest in town affairs, as formerly in Paris, 
being a desirable acquisition. 

In politics Judge Davis is a stanch Republi- 
can ; and while a resident of Woodstock he 
held various town an<I county offices, serving 
as Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, a member 
of the School Board, and Selectman, simul- 
taneously, for several years. Mr. Davis was 
also Town Treasurer, and in 1864 he was 



BIOGRAPHICAL RKVIEW 



elected Representative to the State legislature. 
During the late war he acted as paymaster for 
the government, settling the claims of soldiers, 
widows, and orphans. Fraternally, he is a 
member of the Jefferson Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M. ; Past Grand Master of Mount Mica 
Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd 
I'"ello\vs; and also Past Chief Patriarch of the 
W'ildey Encampment of Norway. 

The maiden name of his wife, to whom he 
was married nn December i, 1850, was Lucy 
M. Felt. Her father was Jeremiah l'\dt, a 
resident of Woodstock, Mc. Mr. and Mrs, 
Davis have two children — Samuel V. and Car- 
rie. The son resides in South Paris, and the 
daughter is at home with her parents. 




ILLIAM C. CHAPMAN is one of 
the representative farmers of O.Nford 
County, owning a fine estate of a 
thousand acres and a beautiful home at the 
foot of the mountain, facing the Androscoggin 
Rivei', in the town of (iilead. He was born in 
Newry, this county, November 13, 1S42, a 
son of Granville and Eliza (Chapman) Chap- 
man. Granville Chapman, who was a son of 
George W. and Polly (Greenwood) Chapman, 
both natives of this county, was born in (iilead 
and reared on a farm, receiving a common- 
school education. When a young man he was 
engaged for some time as clerk in Portland, 
but he devoted the greater part of his life to 
the pursuit of agriculture in Gilead and 
Newry. A stanch Republican, he took an 
active and intelligent part in town affairs, and 
served as Selectman both in Gilead and 
Newry. He died at the age of eighty-one. 
Mrs. Granville Chapman was born in the town 
of Pethel, this county, being a daughter of 
Timothy Chapman. She lived to be fourscore 
years of age. She and her husband were the 
jxirents of eight children, two of whom are 
living: William C. ; and Agustus F. , a mem- 
ber of the firm of T. A. Chapman & Co., of 
Milwaukee, Wis. 

William C. Chapman accpiired his education 
in the common schools of Gilead and at Bethel 
Academy. He has never been away from the 
homestead for any length of time; for he 
learned the secrets of agricultural success 



when a boy, and, inheiiting the farm «n his 
father's death, has continued to develoj) its 
resources. His broad acres include fertile 
meadows and wide' stretches of upland pasture, 
and he raises bountiful crops and a large 
amount ot live stock. His house and barn are 
among the best in O.xford County, and his 
whole domain bears the stamj) of affluence and 
thrift. In 1.S71 Mr. Chajiman was united in 
marriage with Martha, daughter of Alger Bald- 
win, of North Stratford, and si.x children have 
blessed their union — Hannibal H., a student 
at Colby College ; Alger 11, who died at the 
age of nineteen; Marion K. , who is attending 
Smith College, NorthamiJton, Mass. ; and 
Granville, Cecil F., and Christie, children at 
home. In [jolitics Mr. Chajiman is, like his 
father, a Republican. He is well 'known 
throughout this section, ami is \er\' |)0])nlar 
socially. His family are members of the Con- 
gregational church. 




H.XRLES M. RICHARDS, an es- 
teemed resident of Jay, Franklin 
County, e.\tensi\'ely engaged in 
farming and fruit growing, was born 
in Temple, Me., January 23, 1834, son . of 
Moses A. and Judith (North) Richards. Both 
his parents were natives of Temjile. His pater- 
nal grandfather, Mitchell Richards, who was a 
Revolutionary soldier and ]iarticipated in the 
battle of Bunker Hill, leaving Massachusetts, 
his native State, became an early settler in Tem- 
ple, where the rest of his life was passed upon a 
farm cleared by him from the wilderness. 

Moses A. Richards resided upon the home- 
stead farm until he was fifty years old. He 
then went to East Templeton, Mass., and there 
resided unti.1 his death in March, 1894. By 
his wife, Judith, he became- the father of ten 
children, of whom five are living. These are: 
Charles M., the subject of this sketch; Lovell 
A., who resides in California; Leonard M., 
now of Fort Fairfield, Me.; Daniel F. , who 
resides in Worcester County, Massachusetts; 
and Georgiana, the wife of Wilbur Potter, of 
the same county and State. The others were : 
Eunice, Ora, Noah, Alvin, and one child who 
died in infancy. The mother died in Worces- 
ter County, Massachusetts, in 1S63. 



IJIOGRAl'lllCAL RKVIKW 



Charles M. Richards attended the common 
schools of Temple. At the age of fifteen he 
began life for himself as a farm assistant. 
After following that occupation for four years 
in Temple, Farniington, Me., and Wilton, 
N. n., he went to Templeton, Mass., where he 
was employed in a chaii' factor}' for several 
years. In 1866 he returned to Maine, and, 
settling in Wilton, resided there for two years. 
He then moved to his present farm in jay, 
formerly known as the Bass place, where he 
has since carried on general farming and fruit 
growing with remarkable success. His prop- 
erty, which is desirably located, consists of 
sixty acres of fertile land, well adapted to the 
raising of staple products and fruits. 

On August 19, 1855, Mr. Richards wedded 
b'rances D. Dillingham. She was born 
March i, 1836, in Temple, daughter of Reu- 
ben and Mary L. (Clough) Dillingham, natives 
respectively of Fairfield and Alna, this State. 
Reuben Dillingham subsequently became a 
prosperous farmer of Temjile, and there with 
his wife resided for the rest of his life. Mr. 
and Mrs. Richards have had three children, 
namely: Ola, born December 4, 1861, who 
married l''rank B. Small, and resides at the 
homestead; Nellie F.., who died at the age of 
six years; and another child who died in in- 
fancy. In politics Mr. Richards holds him- 
self independent of parties. His natural abil- 
ity and industrious habits have placed him in 
a comfortable position, and his many com- 
mendable cpialities are duly appreciated by 
all w'ho know him. 




IDWARIJ W. PENLEY, a wealthy 
farmer of Greenwood township, was 
born December 12, 1845, in Paris, 
this county. His great-grandfather, Joseph 
Penley, who came from England, was the 
founder of the family. The grandfather, Jo- 
seph (second), removed from Auburn, Me., to 
Paris, this county, and was there engaged in 
farming during his remaining years. 

James F. Penley, the father of Edward W., 
was born and reared in the town of Paris. He 
was a farmer by occupation, and had a good 
homestead,' situated about three miles from 
the villaiie of South Paris, where he carried 



on mixcil husbaiulry until his death, Novem- 
ber 25, 188S. He married Loduska Swan, a 
native of Paris, who died in 1879, leaving six 
children, as follows: Edward W., the subject 
of this sketch; John L. , a farmer, living in 
Paris township; Charles R., also residing in 
Paris, who married Jennie Iloldcn: Lucotta, 
who is the wife of Eilwin Chase, of I.ynn, 
Mass.; Almon J., who marricil I'^stelle Chase, 
and owns and occupies the okl homestead in 
Paris; and Luella, the wife of A. L. Dyer, of 
Lynn, Mass. 

Edwartl W. Penley received his elementary 
education in the common schools of Paris and 
the academy at South Paris. With the excep- 
tion of a year or two spent as a brakeman on 
the Grand Trunk Railroad, running from 
Portland, M-e., to Island Pond, Mr. Penley 
has followed agricultural pursuits on the farm 
where he now lives, and has been closely 
identifietl with the highest interests of his 
adopted town. He is the possessor of seven 
hundred acres of land, much of it in high 
cultivation. Besides carrying on general 
farming he raises some stock, and keeps a 
dairy of twelve or more cows. He is a thor- 
ough-going farmer, skilled in all branches of 
agriculture, and has met -with the success due 
to a man of his energy and ability. He is 
very prominent in local affairs, and is at the 
present time serving as Chairman of the Board 
of Selectmen, of which he has been a member 
for eight years Politically, he is a true-blue 
Republican, faithful to the interests of his 
party, which has this year, 1896, elected him 
to the State legislature. Socially, Mr. Penley 
is a member of the West Paris Lodge, No. 15, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of West 
Paris; of the Daughters of Rebecca Lodge, 
No. 42, of the same place; and of the grange 
at Norway. 

Mr. Penley was married December 20, 
1868, to Miss Abbie Richardson. She was 
born October 30, 1854, in Greenwood town- 
ship, on the farm of her parents, William and 
Hannah (Barrows) Richardson, both natives 
of Oxford County, born respectively in Green- 
wood and Albany. Mr. and Mrs. Penley are 
the parents of twelve children, of whom the 
following is recorded: Vina R., born October 
31, 1870, died October 8, 1873: Angle E., 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



born April 30, 1S72, is a teacher in the ])ub- 
lic scliools; Hannah R.. born May 24, 1874, 
died May 6, 1875; Walter E., born April 29, 
1876, assists his father on the farm; Lula M., 
born I'ebruary 15, 1878, also teaches in the 
]>ublic schools; Lester H. was born January 
I, iS8o; Frederick R., August 20, 18S1; 
Alice, July 21, 18S3; Blanche, March 22, 
1885: Joseph Irving, September 8, 1886; 
Leona Belle, July 20, 1888: and Marion, 
June I 8, 1895. 

/^Filbert WARDWELL, chairman of 
y '*) I the Board of Selectmen of Albany, 
Me., was first elected to that office 
in 1862, and has been honored with re-election 
at intervals several times since. He was born 
in this town, August 11, 1828, the son of 
Colonel Isaac and Mary (Adley) Wardwell. 

Colonel Isaac Wardwell was born in Otis- 
field, Me., and was engaged in farming in 
that town in his youth, leaving there at the 
age of twenty-one to locate in Albany. Here 
he took up a tract of unimproved land in the 
southern part of the town, and, clearing a 
farm, improved and developed it into a valua- 
ble homestead, following the pursuit of agri- 
cuItLue until his death, January 24, 1837. 
He was one of the leading men of the place in 
his day, an officer in the State militia and a 
member of the Albany Board of Selectmen. 
His wife died in 1869, at the advanced age of 
eighty si.v. She was the mother of ten chil- 
dren, of whom only the two youngest-born are 
living. These are: Charles A., who married 
Miss Abbie Witham, and resides with his wife 
in Biddeford, Me. ; and Gilbert, the subject 
of the present sketch. The departed are the 
following: Mary, who was the wife of Luther 
Bisbec; Dorcas P., wife of Hiram Stone, who 
also has passed away; Betsey F. , who was 
twice married, her first husband being Abner 
Holt, her second Perley French ; Sallie, who 
was the wife of the Rev. Marcus Wight; Isaac, 
who married Miss Sarah King, now deceased ; 
Jacob, whose wife, Martha Lovejoy, survives 
him, living with one of her daughters in Mas- 
sachusetts ; Emmeline, who was the wife of 
Dr. Stejihen Coburn ; and Harriet, who died 
in infancy. 



Gilbert Wardwell was left fatherless when 
he wa.s' eight years of age. He received a 
common-school education, helping about the 
farm between school times until he was si.\- 
teen ; and then he began to wcjrk for wages as 
a farm hand. He was employed in this way 
for several years, spending one year in Lancas- 
ter, Mass. ; and he also taught during the win- 
ter terms, taking charge of schools in Milan, 
N.H., and North Norway and Albany, Me. 
About 1 85 1 he settled on the farm where he 
now resides; and in 1862, answering his coun- 
try's call, he left his pleasant home and en- 
listed in the Federal army. He was enrolled 
as a private, September 10, 1862, in Company 
C, Twenty-third Regiment, Maine \'olunteers, 
under Colonel W. W. \'irgin antl Captain 
C. H. I'rince, which, during the greater part 
of its ten months' period of service, was nn 
picket duty along the Potomac River, guarding 
the fords. The thrilling experience of e.xiKis- 
ure to the fire of lurking Confederates is re- 
called by the poet's lines: 

'• All quiet along the Potomac to-night. 
E.xcept now and then a stray picket 
Is shot, as he walks on his beat to and fro. 
By a ririeman hid in the thicket.'" 

Unscathed at the end of his term of enlist- 
ment, Mr. Wardwell received his discharge at 
Portland, Me., July 15, 1863, and again took 
up the work of agriculture. He has a well- 
improved farm of one hundred and thirtv-five 
acres, and has been very successful in his 
chosen work. Mr. Wardwell is a memljer of 
Round MoLintain firange of Albanv. 

On Ma\- II, 1851, he was married to Rhnda 
Jane, daughter of Jacob and Betsey Robbins. 
She was born in North Yarmouth, Me., May 
26, 1826. Her mother died when she was a 
child; and her father, who was a farmer, took 
the little girl to Guilford, Me., remaining a 
few years and then returning to North ^■ar- 
mouth. He died at the home of his son-in- 
law. Mrs. Wardwell died June 10, 1888. 
She was the mother of five children, namely: 
Isaac and Jacob, twins; Nellie Augusta; Am- 
brose; and luigene A. Isaac Wardwell has 
been twice married, his first wife being Lilla 
G. Flint, and his second, Frances H. Brown. 
Jacob died at the age of twenty-two, leaving 



BIOGRAPHICAT. RF.VIEW 



■3 



a widow, Martlia I.. Morrill, who is now 
living with her third husband in Ik'thcl, Mc. 
Nellie Augusta died at the age of twenty-six; 
Ambrose is engaged in the manufacture of 
jiaper boxes at Maltville, Conn. ; and Eugene 
A. is an instrument tuner in a large organ 
manufactory in Derby, Conn. 

Mr. W'ardwell has voted the Democratic 
ticket since he was qualified to exercise the 
right of suffrage. He was elected Chairman 
of the Albany l^oard of Selectmen in 1862, 
1864, 1865, 1869, 1870, 1 87 1, 1872, 1875, 
1877, 1878, 1881, and again in 1896; and he 
served as Town Treasurer two vears. 




ILLIAM HENRY McDONALD, 
one of the best-known hotel men in 
the State, jiroprietor of the Stoddard 
House, 1^'armington, and Secretary of the Ho- 
tel Proprietors' Association of Maine, was 
born in North Windham, Me., May i, 1845, 
son of Thomas W. and Hannah P. (Proctor) 
McDonald. Mr. ^McDonald is of Scottish 
ancestry. 

His granilfather, James McDonald, who ])os- 
sessed many of the characteristic traits and 
preserved the traditions of his nationality, 
served as a soldier in the Continental army 
during the Revolutionary War. He was dur- 
ing his life a farmer, a merchant, and a hotel- 
keeper in North Windham, where he owned a 
good farm; and being an able business man of 
progressive tendencies he amassed a comfort- 
able fortune. Though not an asjiirant for 
public ofifice, he was one of the most jirominent 
and influential men of his day, and was highly 
respected as an honorable, upright, and high- 
minded citizen. He married Rachel Webb, 
and reared a family of eight children; namely, 
Edward, Seth, Eli, James, Abner, Thomas W., 
Sally, and Jane. 

Thomas W. McDonald, the sixth child, 
being the youngest son, remained at iiome 
with his parents, and after his father's retire- 
ment from business took charge of the farm 
and hotel property. Succeeding to the posses- 
sion of the estate by purchasing the interests 
of the other heirs, he conducted the hotel, and 
did a large livery business for many years. 
Later in life he bought the rival hotel, which 



he closed up; and after that he kept the only 
public house in North Windham until 1871, 
when he sold the projierty and retired to his 
farm, where he died of [ineumonia at the age 
of sixty-seven years. He was a genial, kind- 
hearted man, especially well adapted by nature 
to welcome and entertain the travelling public, 
with whom he was a great favorite; and he 
was equally popular with his fellow-townsmen. 
In local public affairs he was a jirominent 
figure, serving with marked ability as a mem- 
ber of the Hoard of Selectmen. He was a 
Republican in politics from the formation of 
that party until his death, and in liis religious 
views was a Free Will ]5aptist. His wife, 
who was before marriage Hannah Proctor, and 
was a daughter of William Proctor, of New 
Gloucester,, Me., became the mother of four 
children, as follows: J-'lora J.; l.ucinda E. ; 
William Henry, the subject of this sketch; 
and Abbie L. Mrs. Hannah P. McDonald died 
at the age of fifty-seven years. 

William Henry McDonald was educated in 
the ccjmmon schools of his native town and at 
the Pridgton High School. /\fter the comi)le- 
tion of his studies he taught school for a time; 
but, as he was needed at home to assist his 
father in managing the hotel, he resided in 
North Windham until the property was sold, 
when he secured a position as night clerk at 
the St. Julian Hotel in Portland. Being soon 
advanced to the jiosition of second clerk and 
later to that of head clerk, he remained at the 
St. Julian for three years, and then went to the 
Preble House, where he acted as chief clerk 
for the succeeding seven years. I'or the next 
eight years he was jiroijrietoi- and manager of 
the United States Hotel, Portland, which he 
conducted in such a liberal and satisfactory 
manner as to become one of the best-known 
and most popular landlords in Maine, a fact 
which was amply attested by the numerous 
commercial men and other travellers who 
made the United States their headquarters 
while in Portland; and the high reputation 
he acquired there was sufficient to ensure 
his future success wherever he might choose 
to locate. 

After leaving the United States Hotel, Mr. 
McDonald was clerk at the Ottawa House on 
Cushing's Island for one season, the following 



14 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



siniimcr acting in the same capacity at tlie 
Fisi< House, Old Orchard Beach; and in 1.S88, 
cciminf; to I'armington, he leased the Willows, 
which had previously been a large private 
boarding-school. Remodelling the interior 
and putting in modern conveniences, he fur- 
nished it throughout, and conducted it success- 
fully for five years as a summer hotel. On 
May 8, 1893, Mr. McDonald leased the Stod- 
dard House at 20 Broadway. This centrally 
located hotel he has completely refitted and re- 
furnished, introducing modern conveniences in 
the way of heating, bath, and other accommo- 
dations; and his thirty-eight well-ventilated 
rooms are occupied the year round. Con- 
nected with the Stoddard is a first-class livery 
stable, which affords commercial men the 
means of reaching those of their customers who 
are not accessible by rail; and the great po]ni- 
larity of Proprietor McDonald causes many of 
them to make his house their centre of opera- 
tions while in this coimt}'. 

Mr. McDonald wedded lunnia Davis, daugh- 
ter of Lemuel and Abbie I. (Larrabee) Davis, 
the former of whom was a shoemaker by 
trade; and both were natives of Limington, 
Me. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have been the 
parents of six children, as follows: Frank S. , 
who was born January i, 1874; Edith, who 
died in infancy, March 18, 1877; Howard, 
who was born May 22, 187S; George, who was 
horn April 19, 1891 ; Philip H., who was born 
October 29, 1883; and Arthur L., whn was 
horn January i i, 1885. 

In the various fraternal orders to which he 
belongs Mr. McDonald is a general favorite, 
being a member of Ancient Landmark Lodge, 
No. 17, A. F. & A. M., of Portland; Har- 
mony Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, of the same city; and Bramhall Lodge, 
Knights of Pythias, of which he is Fast Chan- 
cellor, and has occupied the other important 
chairs. He is a member of the Grand Lodge 
of Maine, and since residing in Farmington 
has served as District Deputy. For the past 
eleven years he has acted as Secretary and 
Treasurer of the Hotel Proprietors' Association 
of Maine.' Politically, he supports the Repub- 
lican party, and in his religious views is a 
L'uitarian. Mrs. IMcDonald is a Congrega- 
tit)nalist. 



WILLIAM W. WATSON, a bo.x man- 
ufacturer and mill owner of Water- 
ford, was born in this place, Febru- 
ary 2, 1 84 1, son of Samuel S. and Harriet A. 
(Anthoine) Watson, the former of Waterford, 
the latter of Windham, Me. His grandfather, 
Ebenezer Watson, who was also born in 
Waterford, and spent his life in this town, 
followed the occupation of farmer. 

Samuel S. Watson learned the shoemaker's . 
trade in his youth, and followed it for a while; 
but in the later years of his life he devoted 
his energies to general farming. He resided 
in the eastern part of the town, and was for 
many years a well-known figure there, living 
to the advanced age of eighty-two. His death 
occurred in 1886, and that of his wife in 1878. 
Their children were: George L., who died in 
October, 1895; William W., the subject of 
this sketch; Mary Louisa, now residing in 
Worcester, Mass. ; Lucy E., the wife of 
Churchill Leary, of Shelburne, N.H.; John 
N., residing in Worcester, who married Miss 
Tammy Griffin; Charlotte Elizabeth, the wife 
of Louis Holden, of Otisfield, Me.; James 
N., living in Worcester, who married Miss 
Emily Leary; and Charles W'. , a resident of 
Westbrook, Me. 

William W. Watson attended a common 
school until he was fourteen years of age. 
After that he was first employed in a bucket 
factory in South Waterford. He had spent 
six years here when, on October 16, 1861, he 
enlisted for service in the Civil War in 
Company G, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, under 
Colonel Chapley and Captain M. M. Robin- 
son. In the course of the three years he 
spent in the army he participated in the siege 
of Port Hudson, in the battle of Winchester, 
and in several skirmishes. At Ship Island 
he received a permanent injury, on account of 
which he is now in receipt of a pension from 
the government. Receiving his discharge at 
Portland, December 8, 1S64, he returned to 
Waterford, and shortly after purchased the 
saw-mill which he is now operating. He 
manufactures spool strips and a variety of 
pine boxes, including those used for packing 
salt, the most of which he ships to Boston, 
Mass. Ho has invented tw'o labor-saving ma- 
chines, whicli have proved great successes. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'S 



They are a box edger and a device for cutting 
box boards. Besides attending to his mill 
business Mr. Watson is engaged in general 
fanning to some extent. He has had some 
reverses in business, but on the whole he has 
been successful. 

Mr. Watson was married in April, 1868, to 
Marietta Hamlin, a native of South Water- 
ford, born in 185 1, daughter of George K. 
Hamlin, who was a farmer. Mr. Hamlin and 
his wife are buried in Waterford. Mr. and 
Mrs. Watson have two children — Edith May 
and Harry W. The daughter, born 1874, who 
is a graduate of Douglass Seminary, and later 
attended the North Bridgton Academy, has 
taught school, and is now resting at home; 
Harry W. was born in 1879, and is a graduate 
of North Bridgton Academy. When Mr. 
Watson was first qualified to vote he joined 
the Democratic party. He subsequently be- 
came a Republican. Though he was never an 
office-seeker, he was appointed Postmaster of 
Waterford village, under President Harrison, 
and served efficiently for four years. He is a 
member of Harry Rust Post, No. 54, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of Norway village; of 
No. 133, A. F. & A. M., of Waterford City; 
and of Oxford Lodge, No. 61, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, of North Waterford. 
Mr. and Mrs. Watson attend the Universal ist 
church in South Waterford. 



tion 



-OHN HENRY MILLETT, widely and 
favorably known as one of the substan- 
tial farmers of Oxford County, is pros- 
perously engaged in his cho.sen occupa- 
in the town of Norway, where his birth 
occurred April 4, 1825. His parents, Colonel 
John and Abigail (Parsons) Millett, were both 
lifelong residents of Norway. The former 
died here, June 3, 1875, aged eighty-four year.s, 
and the latter August 29, 1865, in the seventy- 
second year of her age. 

Colonel Millett, who was a representative of 
the fifth generation in descent from the emigrant 
ancestor, Thomas Millett, an early settler in 
Massachusetts, received his military title dur- 
ing the War of 1812, although he never took 
part in any of the battles, his regiment going 
only as far as Portland. He was by occuijation 



a farmer and dmver. He and his wife had a 
family of eight children. The eldest, a daugh- 
ter Dorothy, married Thomas Cousins, of Po- 
land, Me. ; and both she and her husband are 
now dead. Martha, who died in 1852, was the 
wife of Otis True, of Norway; and Abigail is 
the wife of E. C. Jackson, a farmer living in 
Norway. John Henry is the special subject of 
this sketch. Jonathan Sawyci', the next son, 
died in California. The sixth cliild, Mary 
W. P., who died some time since, was the wife 
of A. F. Jackson of this town. Isaac P. and 
Joel, who were twins, are deceased. 

John Henry Millett, the firstborn son, is 
the only one of the four now li\ing. He re- 
mained a member of the parental household 
throughout his childhood and youth and during 
a short ]3eriod of his early manhood. (lold 
being discovered in California in h'ebruary, 
1848, he shared in the excitement that fol- 
lowed, and with his brothers staitcd for that 
"El Dorado of the West," going directly to 
Sacramento, where he tried mining for two 
years. Not being very successful in his search 
for the jirecious metal, he retLUMied to Norway 
and engaged in farming, convinced that "there 
was no place like home." After his marriage 
he bought the farm he now occupies, and 
which by his persistent efforts has become in 
point of improvements and equipments one of 
the finest in the town. Pie owns about five 
hundred acres of land; and with the assistance 
of his sons he carries on general farming, and 
is also engaged in stock raising and dairying. 
A part of the cream is sold in the village of 
West Paris, while in the home dairy Mrs. 
Millett makes butter and cheese. 

Mr. Millett was married November 25, 
1858, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Rice, who was 
born December 6, 1S27, in Waterford, this 
county, where her grandfather, I^ben Rice, 
Sr. , was a pioneer settler. Her parents were 
I^ben Rice, Jr., a lifelong resident of Water- 
ford, and his wife, P^lizabeth P'rye, who was a 
native of P^yeburg, Oxford County. During 
the first sixteen years of their wedded life Mr. 
and Mrs. Millett became the parents of six 
children. • With two of these little ones they 
were soon called to part, namely: Harry, born 
May 16, 1865, who died at the age of nine 
months; antl I'rances Allen, born December 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



II, 1867, who died July 19, 1X68. The four 
who grew to maturity and are now living were 
well-educated, completing their studies in the 
high school. The following is a hrief record: 
Mary A., born in i860, is her mother's helper 
at home; Jonathan S. . horn August 15, 1862, 
and John Henry, Jr., horn March 25, 1869, 
assist their father in the care of the farm; 
and -Sarah Elizabeth, born September 22, 
1872, is engaged in teaching in the town of 
Norway. 

Mrs. Millett is a communicant of the C\)n- 
gregational church. Mr. Millett and all his 
famil\- are members of the Norway Grange, 
Patrons of Husbandry. A Democrat in politi- 
cal affiliation, he cast his first Presidential vote 
in 1852 for the Democratic nominee, Franklin 
Pierce, who received the election. 




FRAN'CIS GOULD PUTLKR, 

tor many years one of P'armington's 
most noted citizens and enterprising 
business men, died at his residence 
in this town, December 6, 1891. He was 
born in Farmington, March 3, 181 1, son of 
Francis and Mary (Blackstone) Butler, and 
w'as a great-grandson of Benjamin Butler, a 
native of Martha's \'ineyard, who made his 
home at lulgartown in the eastern jiart of the 
island. 

There his son, Ephraim, Mr. Butler's grand- 
father, was born, December g, 1758. F^phraim 
Butler began to follow the sea in his youth, 
shi|)ping before the mast. After a time, find- 
ing that his education was not sufficient to in- 
sure promotion, he returned home, and applied 
himself to study, pursuing a thorough course 
in mathematics and navigation. Upon its 
completion he became mate of a whale-ship 
under Captain Trowbridge, later serving in the 
Continental forces, both naval and land, in the 
Revolutionary War. After the close of the 
struggle for independence he acted as a pilot 
along the coast of Massachusetts and Maine; 
but, having drawn a tract of wild land situated 
in the town of New Vineyard in the District of 
Maine, he decided to settle there. He began 
the task of clearing it off in 1792, taking up 
his residence with his family in Sandy River 
townshiii, from which place they remo\'ed the 



following year to their new home in the wil- 
derness. He improved his grant into a good 
farm, and, selling the property in 1801, set- 
tled in Farmington, where he resided until his 
death, which took place April 3, 1832. He 
married Lovie Sherman Lease, who was born 
in 1759, and they reared a family of seven 
children; namcl)', Jeremiah, Francis, Oliver, 
Betsey, Lovie, Abigail, and \\'illiam. Mrs. 
Lovie S. Butler died in 1843. 

F'rancis Butler, the second of the four sons, 
who has already been mentioned as the father 
of P'rancis Gould, was born in New \'ineyard. 
Me., October 12, 1782. Possessed of an en- 
ergetic nature, he began life for himself when 
a mere lad ; and for several years he resided 
with hi's Uncle Josejih in Portland. Upon his 
return to Farmington he engaged in mercantile 
pursuits, carrying on a general store in F"air- 
banks \'illage from 1827 to 1832; and, besides 
owning and operating mills and cultivating 
several farms, he was extensively engaged in 
buying cattle for the Brighton market. He 
was one of the most stirring and successful 
business men of his day; and in public affairs 
he displayed the same activity and tact which 
characterized his private business operations, 
serving as a member of the Board of Select- 
men from 1829 to 1834, Town Treasurer in 
1835, and as Representative to the legislature 
in 1823. He died January i, 1845. For his 
first wife he married Mary Blpckstone, who 
died in 1823, aged thirty-seven year,s, leaving 
two children, namely: P'rancis Gould, the 
subject of this sketch ; and Mary Jane, born 
August 29, 1822, who married Deacon R. Cut- 
ler, and died within a year or two, the mother 
of a son, who did not long survive. l^y his 
union with Rebecca Knowlton, his second 
wife, h'rancis Butler had three children, 
namely: Caroline E., who was born March 28, 
1828; Hiram A., who was born August 29, 
1831 ; and Margaret J., who was born March 
10, 1836. 

F"rancis Gould Butler, the eldest son of 
Francis Butler, acquired his education in the 
common schools and at the P"armington Acad- 
emy. While still a youth he was for a time 
employed as a clerk in the store at P'armington 
P"alls; and as he grew older he became of val- 
uable assistance to his father, whose business 




'im. iJaiu\ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



19 



enterprises were widely scattered. l''()r a slu)rt 
time he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Bos- 
ton ; but, not finding indoor occupation congen- 
ial, he returned to Farmington, and availed 
himself of the advantages of his practical 
knowledge of surve3ing to busy himself in 
the open air. Aside from being employed by 
residents of this town and its vicinity to settle 
disputed boundary lines, he was commissioned 
as a land surveyor by the State ; and nearly 
if not quite all the government hinds in this 
part of the county were located and set off 
either by him personally or under his di- 
rection. 

The exceedingly able and business-like 
manner in which be settled his father's estate 
won fi)i- him a high reputation as a financier; 
and his fellow-townsmen, seeing in him a man 
abundantly qualified to administer public 
affairs, secured his valuable services by elect- 
ing him to the Board of Selectmen and to the 
post of Town Treasurer, also to other local 
offices. He was a member of the legislature 
in 1S54, and on account of the illness of the 
sjieaker was chosen Speaker//?; tciu., a posi- 
tion which he ably filled for nearly the entire 
session; and in 1S56, which was the last year 
in which the Democratic party was in the ma- 
jority in Maine, he was a member of the State 
.Senate. Mr. Butler also served as Clerk of 
Courts, as High Sheriff of I'ranklin County, 
and for many years was a delegate to the local 
and State conventions of his party. He was 
an accomplished parliamentarian and a skilful 
presiding officer, having the ability to state 
clearly and conci.sely the question for debate; 
and the forcible arguments be used in sustain- 
ing a point which he had undertaken to cham- 
pion were the means of weakening his oppo- 
nents and winning many votes to the sup]3ort 
of his cause. 

He was instrumental in securing the incor- 
])oration of Franklin County, thus making 
Farmington a shire town; and he also worked 
diligently and subscribed generously toward 
bringing the town into connection with the 
railroad system of the State. In 1859 he was 
chosen a Trustee of the Franklin Academy, 
being a member of the last board of govern- 
ment of that institution ; and he rendered val- 
uable aid in bringing about the measures 



whereliy it was bantled over to the .State in 
return for the establishment here of the first 
Normal School in Maine. In 1X61 he became 
President of the Sandy River National Bank, 
being also appointed Treasurer of the County 
Savings Bank; and he not onlv handled 
the affairs of these institutions with prudence 
and -sagacity, [ilacing them ujion a firm 
basis, but his private operaticms were alwa3's 
of such a nature as to prove beneficial to the 
general business interests of the town. 

Deeply interested in the growtli ami devel- 
opment of Farmington, looking upon its ad- 
vancement as a [lart of the histor)- of Maine, 
in 1882 Mr. Butler began the task of com- 
piling a biographical and genealogical history 
of the town, which he completed in 1885. 
This work, U'hich contains si.\ hundred and 
eighty-three pages of valuable records, dating 
from 1776 and relating to the early explora- 
tions and settlements, family histor)-, early 
military o]ierations, church annals, mechanical 
industries, railroads, and other matters of deep 
concern to the residents here, is profusely 
illustrated and had a large circulation in this 
locality. It is now especially prized by those 
fortunate enough to possess a co]n', as the re- 
maining one thousand volumes of the issue 
were destroyed by the conflagration which oc- 
curred here in 18S6. The Butler homestead 
was also swept away by that disastrous fire, 
but was immediately replaced by a more mod- 
ern and commodious residence, which is with- 
out doubt one of the finest in the coimt)'. Mr. 
Butler led a regular and exceedingly tem|)erate 
life, his health remaining good up to the ill- 
ness which resulted fatally. He died as be- 
fore mentioned, leaving an honorable record 
as a legacy to his posterity, his untiring laliors 
in behalf of the general community forming a 
bright s]iot in the history of the town be loved 
so well. 

On July 23, 1842, Francis CkjuUI Butler 
was united in marriage with Julia Wendell, 
who survives him. She was born in b'arming- 
ton, July 20, 181 5, daughter of Thomas and- 
Flizabeth (b^aton) Wendell, the former of 
whom was in his day one of the energetic 
farmers and prominent residents of this town. 
Thomas Wendell was born in Marblehead, 
Mass., July 13, 1770, and was a son of Thomas 



20 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



WemlL'll, Sr. , of that town. In 17S6, at the 
age nf sixteen years, young Wendell, who had 
Ijreviously followed tlie sea as a cabin boy, 
came to Farmington, where he learned the 
carpenter's trade; and in early manhood he 
bought a tract of wild land, which he cleared 
into a good farm, thus establishing a com- 
fortable home f(jr his family. Jlis upright, 
manh' principles, earnest piety, and strict 
adherence to habits of temperance caused him 
to lead a most exemplary life. He died of old 
age, November ig, 1862. He served as Se- 
lectman during the years I So- and 1808; and, 
when the academy was built, he not only 
assisted in its erection, but subscribed liber- 
ally toward its endowment. In religious 
\'iews a Congregationalist, he was one of the 
princi|xil promoters of that church in this 
town; and he acted as clerk of the parish for 
many years, or until his death. He married 
]'"lizabeth Eaton, and had a family of eleven 
children, of whom Mrs. Julia 15utler is the 
only survivor. Mrs. ISutler has been the 
mother of four children, as follows: Mary 
I'llizabeth, who was born May f), 1S43, and 
died May 21, 1S58; Julia Page, who was born 
December i, 1S47, and died September 11, 
1 851; Apphia -Stanley, who was born A]3ril 
II, 1851, and died October i, i860; and 
Carrie Frances, who was born April 30, 1855, 
married Charles F. Thwing, President of 
Adeibert College, Cleveland, Ohio, and has 
three children — Mary \'k, b'rances 1!., and 
Apphia. 

Mrs. l?utler, who enjo\s unusually good 
healtii for one of her years, has been a leading 
spirit in religious w-ork in this community, 
iiaxing throughout her active life assisted the 
various societies connected with the Congrega- 
tional church, both b)- liberal contributions 
and personal services. Her deeds of kindness 
and unostentatious charity have endeared this 
estimable woman to the hearts i<i hei' many 
friends antl acquaintances. 



'OHX C. GERRV, for some time a 
member of the State legislature, a cus- 
tom-house official, and Dejuity Sheriff 
of O.xford and Cumberland Counties, 
was loiiir an esteemed and influential citizen of 



South Waterford, Me., where his widow and 
daughter are still socially prominent. He was 
born in Waterford, November 25, 1808, the 
son of Peter and Polly (Cutler) Gerry. His 
father was a native of Harvard, Mass., his 
mother of Sudbury, Mass. 

Nathaniel Gerry, father of Peter, spent his 
life in the old Bay State, his birthplace being 
Stoneham, and his place of residence for many 
years the pretty country town of Harvard. 
Peter Gerry, who was born in 1776, settled in 
the south-west [lart of Waterford in 1797. He 
devoted much of his time to agricultural 
labors, but worketl also at his trade of shoe- 
making. An intelligent man who took an 
active interest in public affairs, he was elected 
to the State legislature and served for four 
terms. He died June 16, 1847, having sur- 
vived his wife, who breathed her last on 
March 16, 1830, seventeen years. Their five 
children, who have since joined them in the 
world beyond, were: Mary; John C. , afore- 
named; Roland H. ; Abbie; and Pllbridge. 

John C. Gerry was reared on a farm, and in 
the years of his mature manhood followed the 
pursuit of agriculture on an extensive scale. 
He was also interested in trade, and for thiee 
years was a member of the firm of Gerry & 
Turner, marble dealers, of Portland, Me. In 
politics he took an active ]5art, voting the 
Democratic ticket; and his ability and ster- 
ling character won the respect and confidence 
of his fellows, who elected him to a number 
of offices. He was Town Treasurer of Water- 
ford eight years, was Deputy .Sheriff of ()xford 
and Cumberland Counties for one or more 
terms, occupied a seat in the legislature in 
185 I, and was in the customhouse four \ears. 
In the latter part of his life, his health being 
pool-, he retired from business and public 
affairs, living quietly in the village of Water- 
ford until his death, November 19, 1887. Mr. 
Gerry was well known in Oxford and Cumber- 
land Counties, and had a host of friends. 

He was married March 15, 1847, to Nancy 
W. Sawin, daughter of William and Elizabeth 
(Temple) Sawin. She was born in Waterford, 
November 30, 1S19. Her jxirents were na- 
tives of Sudbury, Mass. They lived for a 
while after they were married at Waterford 
[•"lat. Me., Mr. Sawin being driver and. agent 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of the stage-coach iimniiii^" hctween WatcrlOrd 
Flat and Portlancl. About 1824 he removed 
to Freeport, Me., where he was stage agent 
until 1S42; and after retiring from business he 
lived with his daughter in Waterford until his 
death on September 8 of that year. Mrs. 
Sawin died at the home of her daughter in 
1S49. She was the nmther of thirteen chil- 
dren, only two uf whom are now living, 
namely: Jane, who resides in Hyde Park, 
Mass. ; and Nancy W., Mrs. Gerry. The 
others were: Iktsey, Phcebe, William, Julia, 
Harriet, Lyman, Jabez, Mary A., Mary A. 
(second), Lydia, and one who died in infancy. 
Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and 
Mrs. Gerry, the record being as follows: John 
Melville, who lived but three years; Mary 
Elizabeth, wife of C. C. Briggs, a resident of 
Pittsburg, Pa., employed in the iron and steel 
works; Josephine, residing with her mother 
on the homestead in Waterford; Anna Sin- 
clair, wife of John Haynes, a music dealer 
living in Mount \'ernon, N. Y. ; Helen, who 
died at the age of thirty; Roland, in Pittsburg, 
Pa. ; and John Cutler, who lived but ten years. 
The children who grew up were well educated, 
attending Bridgton Academy and taking high- 
school courses. Mrs. and Miss Gerry exer- 
cise a graceful hospitality at their pleasant 
home in South Waterford villase. 




lUGENE NELSON, a retired manufact- 
urer of Waterfortl, now engaged to 
some extent in market gardening, 
belongs to one of the oldest families in New 
P^ngland. The son of Chaplin and Emily 
(Hicks) Nelson, he was born in Waterford, 
April 9, 1849. He is descended from Thomas 
and Joan Nelson, Thomas being the ancestor 
of the Nelsons in Maine, New Hampshire, 
and the northern part of Massachusetts. 
Thomas Nelson was one of the tvventy-seven 
friends that emigrated with the Rev. Ezekiel 
Rogers from Rowley, Yorkshire, England, in 
December, 1638. In the spring of 1639 this 
party settled on land situated between Ipswich 
and Newbury, Mass., subsequently known as 
"Mr. Rogers's Plantation," but named Rowley 
by the General Court in the following Septem- 
ber. Thomas Nelson, who was one of the 



able men of his time, was made a freeman 
May 23, 1639, was Deputy to the General 
Court in 1640 and 1641, and in 1643 was 
chosen chairman of a committee to make a 
survey of the town, and lay out and register 
house lots. In October, 1644, he was author- 
ized to join persons in marriage within the 
limits of Rowley. In January, 1644, the 
town granted to him thirty-six acres in the 
"Mill Field," ten acres of which were de- 
signed to encourage him to build mills. Eu- 
gene Nelson's grandparents, Moses and Hitta 
(Pingrec) Nelson, were the first of the family 
in Waterford, to which they came from 
Rowley, and where Moses devoted the last 
years of his life to agriculture. 

Chaplin Nelson was born in Waterford, and 
was employed there in his youth as a sur- 
veyor. He was later engaged in the sale of 
general merchandise in the village of Water- 
ford. His death occurred at the age of thirty- 
five. His wife, a native of Westbrook, Me., 
who was afterward married to D. W. Noble, 
of Waterford (also deceased), died in 1881. 
By her first marriage she had four children, 
namely: Georgia A., born February 16, 1846, 
the wife of Cyrus .S. Tucker, of Norway: 
Llewellyn K., born June 23, 1847, a book- 
keeper in Leadville, Col.; Eugene, the sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Charles W. , born Sep- 
tember 21, 1850, a resident of New York 
City, and engaged in the railroad business. 

Eugene Nelson received a good education, 
attending the common schools near his home 
and Bridgton Academy. At the age of nine- 
teen he obtained employment as clerk in the 
office of the water department at Boston, 
Mass., where he remained a year. Returning 
then to his native place, he was engaged in 
the manufacture of woodenware in Waterford 
City for two years. Subsequently in the 
village he developed a large business in gen- 
eral manufacturing, and became one of the 
prominent men in the place. He retired from 
active business some time ago. It was, how- 
ever, impossible for a man of his disposition 
to remain entirely unoccupied, so he turned 
his attention to market gardening, in which 
he has since found recreation and some profit. 
In October, 1871, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Lottie M. Stanwood, who was 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



horn in l^oston, Mass., February 2, 1853. 
I Icr parents, who are living on the Stanvvood 
homestead in Waterford, are Albert and 
Matilda (Morse) Stanvvood, the former a na- 
tive of Nevvburyport, Mass., and the latter of 
Waterford. They have five children, namely: 
Albert E., born November 10, 1S73, now in 
Britlgton, Me.; Edward C, liorn June i, 
1875, in Portland, Me.; ICthel M., born May 
I, 1877; Bertha S., jjorn July 28, 1883; and 
Charles M., born January 13, 1887. The 
three last named reside with their parents. 
Mr. Nelson takes an active interest in poli- 
tics, voting the Democratic ticket. He has 
served on the Township Committee for a num- 
ber of years, and has held the office of Super- 
visor of Schools three years. He is well 
known and highly esteemed in the vicinity of 
his home. 




k.ASTUS T. AHBOTT, of I-armington, 
I'^ranklin County, Me., who was for- 
merly identified with the saw-mill 
business in this section of the State, and is 
now a successful agriculturist, was born in 
Milan, N. H., October 17, 1849, son of hh-as- 
tus I. and Eydia (Eckley) Abbott. His pater- 
nal grandfather was Luther Abbott, a resident 
of Lancaster, N.H. ; and that town was his 
father's birthplace. 

luastus I. Abbott in early manhood learned 
the wheelwright's trade, in which he became 
exceedingly proficient, and was known as one of 
the best workmen in this locality. Settling 
in Milton riantation in this count)-, he engaged 
in iiperating saw-mills, also owning some valu- 
able farming lands, which he carried on with 
])rosperous results. Later, from Milton he 
moved to Rumford T'alls, Oxford County, 
where he is now residing, and is the proprietor 
of saw-mills. He is an active and very capa- 
i)le business man, whose enterprising spirit 
has been jirodiictive of excellent financial 
results; and he is to-day among the most useful 
and progressive citizens of Oxford County. 

ICrastus T. Abbott, to whom was given his 
father's name with a distinctive midille initial, 
ac(|uired the princiiial part of his education in 
the schools of Oxford County; anil when his 
studies were finished he besran work with his 



father, first as a wheelwright and later as a 
mill-man. ]5eing a natural mechanic, he took 
up the business of filing and fitting saws, in 
which he became an expert, and continued thus 
employed for several years, being frequently 
called to different localities for the jjurpose of 
jnitting in order and adjusting mill saws. In 
conipany with his father he bought a small 
farm in Franklin Plantation; and, after remod- 
elling the buildings and otherwise improving 
the property, he sold it and purchased the 
J. Butterfield farm of one hundred acres, situ- 
ated in P"armington, where he has since 
resided. 

Mr. Abbott's first wife, Josephine Wayman, 
daughter of Thomas Wayman, of I'eru, Me., 
died at the age of- twenty-one, leaving one 
child — Alva ¥.., who died when he was four- 
teen years old. His second wife, Edith, 
daughter of Robert Townsend, of Oxford, died 
at the age of nineteen; and he subsequently 
married Mrs. Lottie Decker Butterfield, his 
]5resent wife, then the widow of the late 
Luther W Butterfield, who was a son of John 
ISutterfield. Her first husband died April 21, 
1879, aged twenty-nine years, leaving one 
daughter — Florentine J. Butterfield, who was 
born September 28, 1876. Mrs. Abbi)tt is a 
daughter of Joshua and Rachel (Bishoj)) 
Decker and grand-daughter of Joshua and 
Fanny (Piper) Decker, of La Grange, Penob- 
scot County, Me. The grandfather was a 
prosperous farmer and large land -owner of that 
town, and both he and his wife lived to reach 
a good old age. Joshua Decker, the younger, 
Mrs. Abbott's father, who was born in La 
(jrange, servetl as a jirivate in Company P", 
lughth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, for 
three years during the war of the Rebellion. 
He died at the age of fifty-two. His wife, 
who survives him and is now seventy-seven 
years old, has been the mother of nine chil- 
dren, three of whom died voung. The 
living are: Horace; Elbridge; Loren ; Al- 
freda ; Lewellyn ; and Lottie, who is now Mrs. 
Abbott. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have an 
adopted daugliter, Gertrude May, who was born 
March 30, 1S94. 

In politics Mr. Abbott is an active supporter 
of the Republican party, and during his resi- 
dence in Oxford County he served as a member 



BIOGRAI'IIICAL RKVIEW 



23 



of the ]5oard of Selectmen of the town in whieh 
he lived. He is prominently connected with 
Franklin Lodge, No. 58, Independent Order 
of Odd FeIlow.s, in which he ha.s filled mo.st of 
the important chairs. Mr. Ahbott and his 
wife attend public worship at the Haptist 
church. 




'AMUKL B. WATERMAN, a 

worthy and representative citizen 
of O.xford, O.xford County, Me., 
was born in Turner, Androscoggin 
County, on April i, 1826, the son of (iuy H. 
and I'^sther (Brown) Waterman. His father 
was a native of the town of Greene, not far 
from Turner; and his mother was born in 
Oxford. 

Guy B. Waterman spent the most of his 
active life in Turner and O.xford as a hard- 
working farmer, but his last few years were 
passed in the town of Durham. At one time 
he owned land that he cultivated in the town 
of Turner, and later on he leased land. He 
married Esther Brown, and five children were 
born to them, namely: I-.sther E., now the 
wife of Mr. Freeman Greenough, and living 
with her husband in the city of Portland, Me. ; 
Samuel B. , of whose life further particulars are 
to follow; and Ruth, Eucinda, and Lizzie, all 
deceased. Mr. Guy B. Waterman was a Uni- 
versalist in religious belief and first a Whig 
and then a Republican in politics. Tie died 
at the age of seventy-five years. 

Samuel B. Waterman grew to maturity in 
the town of Oxford, where he received his edu- 
cation in the public schools. Starting in life 
for himself, he first engaged in farm work, but 
■ soon left that occupation to become a travel- 
ling salesman. Lie continued on the road for 
fifteen years, part of the time being engaged 
in selling powder for Hubbard & Marble. In 
1854, moved by the desire to settle down, 
establish a home, and enjoy its comforts, he 
bought the farm where he now resides. Here 
he has lived ever since, leading the quiet life 
of a farmer. 

He was married in 1853 to Miss Sarah A. 
Millett, the daughter of Edmund C. and Sally 
(Greenlief) Millett. Mrs. Waterman was 
born on July 29, 1834. Her father was a 



Androscoggin 



leading farmer of Miuol, 
County, where he was one of the most promi- 
nent citizens. He lix'cd there all his life, 
and died there at the ripe old age of eighty- 
eight years, his wife being fi\e years younger 
at her death. They were both members of the 
Baptist church. Mr. Millctl was a stanch 
Republican in ])olitics. He and his wife 
were the parents of eight children, of whom 
seven are now living, namel\': William G., 
a farmer of Minot; Sarah A., Mrs. Waterman; 
Mrs. Harriett E. Spurr; Mrs. Abnetla I'". 
Burroughs; Mrs. Emma I''. V'arnev ; Miss 
Ella J. Milfctt; and Mrs. Mary E. Carr. 
The one that died was a girl, h'rances Ellen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Waterman have two sons — 
(.'barles J'", ami b'red .S. Their only daughter 
died in iiif;rncy. Charles V.. Waterman was 
born in (Ixford, March 2, 1859. He is a 
newspaper man, and is one ot the owners of 
the Mechanic Falls J.i;ii;iT. He married 
Miss Clara ¥.. Garland. l-"red S. Waterman, 
who was borji in O.xford, September 13, 1864, 
is unmarried, and lives at home with his father 
and mother, and helps with the farm duties. 

Mr. Wateinian has made many improve- 
ments on his place during the torty years and 
more of his occupanc)'. He has now a fine 
farm of one hundred acres, the homestead be- 
sides outlying land, with convenient buildings, 
all in good repair, and the whole jiresenting 
a thriftful appearance indicative of careful 
industry and sagacious management. Mi'. 
Waterman and his wife are energetic and stir- 
ring people, and all they possess and enjoy 
they have their own hands and brains to thank 
for. They are as well liked as they are well 
known. They are liberal in religious views, 
and attend the Universal ist church. In poli- 
tics Mr. Waterman is a strong Keiiublican. 
He has been a .Selectman of the town for two 
years, and has also held several minor offices, 
proofs of the confidence and fi iendship of his 
fellow- townsmen. 



,HARLES M. MILLl'lR, a well to-do 
farmer of Wilton, l'"ranklin County, 
Me., and a representative of an old 
family of this town, was born in 
Wilton, October 6, 1850, son of David and 




24 



IJlOGRAl'llICAL REVIEW 



Abigail (Johnson) Miller. His grandparents 
were David and Betsey (Pierce) Miller, who 
came from Fall River, Mass., to Wilton, and 
settled on the John Miller place. An account 
of the family, which is of early Colonial ori- 
gin, will be found in a sketch of Gilbert 
Miller. 

David Miller, the N'ounger, son of the ]jio- 
neer, was born in ^\'ilton on July lo, 1815. 
As a means of earning a livelihood and sup- 
porting his family, he devoted his energies, 
and with success, to general farming. When 
somewhat past middle age, he bought the 
David Macumber farm, where he resided for 
thirty-one years. He died May 10, 1893. 
Iksides attending to his farm work, he was 
pr(jminent in public affairs, serving as a mem- 
ber of the Board of Selectmen and as Ta.x Col- 
lector for several terms, also as a County Com- 
missioner; and in politics he acted with the 
Republican party. His first wife, Abigail 
Johnson, who was a daughter of Charles John- 
son, of Harpswell, became the mother of seven 
children, namely: Hattie; Charles M., the 
subject of this sketch; William H. J. ; Jennie 
l*". ; Isaac ; Frederick M. ; and Mary L. Mrs. 
j\bigail Miller died at the age of thirty-six 
years. Da\'id Miller married for his second 
wife Sybil Talbot. 

Charles M. Miller began his education in 
the public schools, and finished his course of 
study at the Wilton Academy. At the age of 
twenty he started in life for himself as a rail- 
road lirakeman in Massachusetts; and a year 
later he entered the service of the old Metro- 
])i)litan Street Railway Company of l^oston as 
a conductor, remaining in their employ for 
three years. Returning to Wilton, he was for 
the next seven years engaged in farming with 
his father; and he then bought the property of 
one hundred acres known as the Colonel Har- 
pus farm, which he now owns. He has greatly 
increased the productiveness of the land, 
which is now ca]iable of yielding large and ex- 
cellent crops, and during the present year he 
has erected a new stable and carriage house. 
He keeps a herd of twelve Jersey cows for 
dairy purposes, and aside from carrying on this 
farm he has since the death of his father taken 
entire charge of the homestead property. 

(.)n April 13, 1874, Mr. Miller married 



Lucinda Rich, daughter of Josiah and Lucy 
(Baker) Rich, of Wellfleet, Mas.s. Mr. Rich 
followed the sea until his retirement, and he 
died at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife, 
who lived to be sixty-nine, was the mother of 
five children, namely: Theodore; Zerua ; 
Sarah J.; Lucinda, who is now Mrs. Miller; 
and Ftta. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two 
children: Leita J., who was born IVLirch 10, 
1878; and Alice M., who was born A]3ril 8, 
1 88 1, both now attending the \\'ilton 
Academy. 

In politics Mr. Miller is a Republican. 
He is connected with Williamson Lodge, In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the 
Foresters; and in his religious views he is 
liberal. 




LONZO FELT, a well-known resident 
of Bryant's Pond, in the town of 
Woodstock, Oxford County, Me., is 
a native of this place, born Septem- 
ber II, 1833, a son of Jeremiah and P'liza 
(Perkins) Felt. His father came here in the 
year 1816, and took hold of the farm on which 
his son now resides, and which then consisted 
of about one hundred acres. He lived here for 
the remainder of his life, dying April 30, 1879, 
at the age of eighty-two years. His wife died 
in 1875, 3t the age of seventy-seven. They 
had ten children, of whom five still survive, 
namely: Lucy M., wife of Judge H. C. 
Davis, of Norway, Me. ; Mehitabel, the 
w^dow of John Hathaw-ay, of Woodstock; 
Mary P., who is the wife of Consider Farrar, 
of W'oodstock ; Sibyl ]., who married S. L. 
Russ, who was a Selectman of the town of 
Woodstock for a period of fifteen years ; and 
Alonzo. 

Alonzo I'elt has spent his life up to the 
present time on the old homestead which was 
also the scene of his birth. He received his 
education in the public schools of Woodstock. 
Subsec|uently devoting his attention to agri- 
culture, he has worked hard and prospered 
accordingly. He has increased the size of 
his farm to three hundred and fifty acres, more 
than three times its origii>al extent. He has 
also made many improvements, adding new 
buildings ami [iractically rebuilding the old 



BIOGRAl'HICAL REVIEW 



ones. It is one of the most lieaiitilul pieces 
of property in this section, heing finely situ- 
ated on a hill. 

Mr. Felt was married December 14, 1864, 
to Emily J. Bryant, a daughter of Dustin 
Bryant, of Greenwood. lie has two children 
— Archie D., born June 8, 1876, is now a 
student at Hebron Academy, having previ- 
ously passed through the common schools and 
high school ; Lena May, born September 6, 
1872, educated in Norway, Me., resides at 
home and follows the occupation of a teacher 
in the schools of her native town. Mr. Felt 
is a stanch Republican politically, and relig- 
iously is a member of the Society of Friends. 
He belongs to West Paris Lodge, No. 15, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of 
Franklin Grange, No. 124, of Bryant's Pond. 




"ENRV W. COY, one of the most 
prominent farmers and business men 
of Oxford, Oxford County, Me., 
was born in the neighboring town 
of Minot, Cumberland County, on March 22, 
1838, son of Nathan and Julia Ann (Buck) 
Coy. 

Nathan Coy was born in Minot, April 14, 
1793; and his wife was born in the town of 
Norway, Me., December 29, 181 1. He 
learned the blacksmith's trade during an 
apprenticeship of seven years in Norway vil- 
lage; and he subsequently followed his trade 
in connection with farming, spending nearly 
all his active life in his native town. He 
was a hard-working man always, and made 
what he had by continuous toil. He died at 
the age of fifty-six years, being drowned while 
trying to save a boy's life, thus nobly risking 
and, as it proved, sacrificing his own in the 
attempt. He held liberal views in religion, 
and in politics he was a Democrat. His wife, 
who was an earnest member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, outlived him many years, 
attaining the age of eighty-four. They were 
the parents of six children, four of whom are 
now alive, namely: Henry W., whose name 
stands at the beginning of this sketch; Oliver 
B. , also a farmer of Oxford; Helen, unmar- 
ried, residing in the town of Oxford; and 
Nathan, a passenger conductor on the Grand 



Trunk Railroad, who married Marion Ross, 
and makes his home in (lorham, N.ll. The 
two other children were: Clementine, who 
died at the age of twenty years; and Hattie, 
who married l'"red Cushman, and tlietl at the 
age of thirty years. 

Henry W. Coy, the first mentioned of the 
three sons, came to Oxford at an early age, 
and was here educated in the pulilic schools, 
and has since devoted himself to agriculture. 
.Starting with a small farm of sixty-five 
acres, he engaged in general husbandry and 
stock raising, also dealing in wood and lum- 
ber; and by dint of tireless industry and good 
business faculty he has accumulated a hand- 
some property, being the owner of twn hun- 
dred and sixty-six acres of land with substan- 
tial and convenient buildings. 

He was married in the year 1S70, on the 
last day of October, to Eliza Wight, a native 
of Gilead, Me., and the daughter of Caleb 
and Fanny L. (Burbank) Wight. She was 
born on December 4, 1840. Her father and 
mother were natives of Gilead, Mr. Wight 
being a good and successful farmer, and was 
a Republican in politics. He died at the age 
of eighty-four years. His wife died at the 
age of sixty-nine. Both belonged to the 
Methodist Episcopal church. They were the 
parents of nine children, all of whom are now- 
living — Eliza, Mark, Diana, p]li, \'esta, 
Caleb, Mina, Thomas, and John. 

Mr. and Mrs. Coy in the first fourteen years 
of their married life became the ixuents of 
five children, of whom three are now living, 
namely: Mildred W., who was born on Au- 
gust 31, 1871, and is now the wife of Daniel 
Barnes, of Andover, Me., a trader; Howard O. , 
who was born August 26, 1880; and Mary B., 
born May 10, 1884. Emily Coy, who was 
born on July 11, 1872, died in .Seiitember of 
the same year; and Fanny, who was born 
August 27, 1876, died on March 11, 1879. 

Mrs. Coy belongs to the Methodist Episco- 
pal church, and her husband is liberal in 
religion. In politics Mr. Coy is a Republi- 
can. He has served as a -Selectman for three 
years, also as one of the School Committee 
for the same period of time, being still a mem- 
ber of the Board. He has been eminently 
successful in life, and is one of the best estab- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



lishcd men in a business wav of the whole 
county. He is a great dairyman, as well as 
a general farmer, owning and running one of 
the largest dairies in the town. 




^^-yjl.AS K. KING, President of the 
S. K. King Company of Welch- 

^^ — ' \'ille, Oxford Count}', was born in 
Skowhegan, Somerset County, Me., 
March 14, 1847, son of John A. and Hannah 
(Howley) King. His father, who was a mer- 
chant, died when fiutv-five years old, his wife 
surviving to the age of sixty-five. She was 
the mother of two children, of whom Silas 
K. only reached maturit}-. 

.Silas K. King grew to manhood in Cumber- 
land and Oxford Counties, Maine, and was 
educated in the common schools. In 1867 he 
started as a merchant upon a small scale, 
opening a store at Welchville; and the busi- 
ness has since expanded into its present large 
proportions. In i S96 the .S. ]i. King Com- 
pany was organized and incorporated with Mr. 
King as its President; George L. Wilder, 
Vice-President; and Roscoe F. .Staples, Sec- 
retary and Treasurer. The company, which 
has among its stockholders several Portland 
and Auburn merchants, deals extensively in 
general merchandise, including drj' and fancy 
goods, furniture, hardware, agricultural tools, 
groceries, meats, boots, shoes, rubbers, and, 
in fact, everything from a cradle to a casket. 
The concern has wide-awake men at its head, 
and its methods are thoroughly indicative of 
New England enterprise. Air. King is highly 
respected both as a merchant and as a private 
citizen. He was married Januar\' 23, 1879, 
to Florence S. Holmes. 

He is a Repulilican in politics, and from 
i(S83 to 1889 was Postmaster here. He is 
connected with the Masonic Lodge at Me- 
chanic Falls, and is liberal in his religious 
views. 



kAI.PIl .S. FRKKMAN, a retired 
farmer spending the closing years of 
his long and busy life at his pleas- 
ant homestead in the town of Nor- 
way, Oxford County, was jjorn December 17, 




1S17, in Minot, Me. He comes of substantial 
Mas,sachusetts stock, his grandfather, Chandler 
Freeman, having been a native of Duxbury, 
Plymouth County, that State. He was a 
farmer by occupation, and, when a young man, 
came to Maine, locating in the town of Minot, 
where during the remainder of his life he 
was numbered among the prominent citizens. 
He was an active worker in religious circles, 
and for many years was Deacon of the Minot 
Congregational Church. 

Samuel Freeman, son of Chandler and father 
of Ralph S., was a native of Minot, where he 
spent his early years. Later on he worked for 
a time in the eastern part of the State; but 
subsequently removed to Hebron, this county, 
where he was successfully engaged as a tiller 
of the soil until his death. His wife, Eliza- 
beth Bradford, also a native of Minot, bore 
him ten children, briefly mentioned as follows: 
Jonathan Bradford died at the age of twenty- 
one years; Samuel lived until seventy-nine 
years old; Tristram died in Portland, Mich., 
in April, 1895; Ralph S. is the direct subject 
of this sketch; John S. was accidentally 
drowned in Massachusetts; Mary B. married 
William Berce, of Auburn, Me., and neither 
is now living; TZlizabeth died in infancy; 
Edward P. died in California; Chandler died 
in Colorado; and Joseph is now residing in 
Atkin.son, N.H. These children, with the 
exception of Chandler, who was a college 
graduate, acquired their education in the dis- 
trict schools of their native State. 

Ralph S. Freeman, whose personal history 
is now to be outlined, lived beneath the ]«- 
rental roof-tree until attaining man's estate, 
when he started in life for himself, having in 
the next few years a varied experience and 
seeing much of oui- country. Going first to 
Massachusetts, he worked for two years in a 
boot and shoe factory in North Bridgewater, 
now known as Brockton, at bottoming boots. 
He next went South, he and his brother Tris- 
tram being hired by a business firm to sell a 
new kind of oil-cloth. After spending a week 
in Georgia, Mr. P'reeman went to South Caro- 
lina, where he travelled six months, visiting 
nearly every district in that State. Then 
taking a team he drove across the country to 
the town of Portland, Mich., where he had a 




RALPH S. FREEMAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



brother living, for whom he worked at carpen- 
tering the succeeding three years. Going 
thence to Ohio, Mr. Freeman located on the 
Miami River, near Dayton, and, building an 
elevator for storing corn for the distiller}-, 
stayed there four months. He then resumed 
bis trade of a carpenter, working at it two 
months in Cleveland and then in Detroit, 
Mich., where he assisted in erecting several 
houses. Continuing to reside in Detroit for a 
while longer, he worked at steamboat building 
in the shipyard for a time, and was afterward 
employed in the vicinity of the Lakes, between 
Buffalo and Cleveland and in Canada above 
Montreal for several years. 

Being there taken sick so that he could not 
work for one winter, Mr. I-'reeman returned 
to Maine; and for three years he had the man- 
agement of the parental farm in Hebron. 
During this period he was married, and for a 
time thereafter he was engaged in farming in 
that town. .Subsequently purchasing a farm 
on Brighton Hill, he built a house and re- 
mained there a year. He then bought the 
well-known Glover farm in Hebron, abt)Ut a 
mile from the academy, which he occujned 
about a year before selling it. Mr. b'reeman 
then came to Norway, and in September of that 
year, 1853, bought the old Crockett farm, for- 
merly owned by his father-in-law. He has 
since made this his home, carrying on general 
farming and working somewhat at his trade. 
In the mean time he has spent two years or 
more from home, having rented his farm one 
year while he worked at his trade on the He- 
bron chapel; and from November, icS6i, until 
the following April he was in Cuba, where 
he worked in repairing railroad bridges. Be- 
sides his well-improved farm of one hundred 
and thirty-five acres, Mr. Freeman owns other 
land in Oxford County, making a goodly es- 
tate accumulated by his untiring industry. 
He is now enjoying the fruits of his many 
years of successful activity, having given up 
the management of his valuable farm to his 
son, Charles E. 

Mr. Freeman was married December 31, 
1849, to Miss Sarah Crockett, who was born 
on the present homestead, April g, 1821, a 
daughter of the late Joshua and Judith (Pike) 
Crockett, lifelong residents of Norway. Mr. 



antl Mrs. I'reeman have four chikhen; namely, 
Harriet ('. , .Sarah Alice, Charles I-]. , and 
Henry H. Harriet C, born October 17, 
1850, is the widow of Isaac Merrill, and now 
lives with her parents. Sarah A., born Janu- 
ary 18, 1854, is the wife of Clarence R. Mer- 
rill, who is engaged in the grain, lime, and 
cement business in Manchester, N. H. Charles 
Iv, born August 19, 1857, now having charge 
of the homestead, is a man of jirominence in 
the town, anil in 1892 served as .Selectman. 
He was married November 13, 1886, ,to Miss 
Ada Merrill, daughter of George Merrill, a 
millwright in Norway. She died July 19, 
1895, leaving three children — Lucy C, 
Ralph M., and Sarah Alice. Henry H.' Free- 
man, born May 9, 1862, married Lena S. 
Buck, and is now living in Manchester, N. H., 
engaged in the same business that his brother- 
in-law is. Politically, Mr. Ral[)h -S. P'reeman 
is a stanch Republican in ])olitics, as is his 
son, Charles F. Socially, he is one of the 
charter members of the Norway Grange; and, 
religiously, both he and his estimable wife are 
members of the Univcrsalist Church of Norway. 




ALTER !•;. HOLMES, one of the 
foremost residents of ().\ford, Me., 
his native place, is a graduate of 
Bowdoin College and a teacher by profession, 
but now devotes himself chiefly to town affairs 
and official duties. He was born on July 31, 
1846, son of Ebenezer R. antl Louisa Abigail 
Fuller (Rawson) Holmes, and is a worthy 
representative of one of the oldest families of 
this vicinity. 

His paternal grandfather, James Holmes, 
w^as born at Plymouth, Mass., on August 8, 
1759. In early manhood seeking a new home 
in the deep woods of Maine, he became one of 
the first settlers of O.xford, buying up a tract 
of wild land, clearing it, and living thereon 
all the rest of his life. He left his mark in 
this section — that of an honest, strong, hard- 
working man and a true patriot, he having 
served as a brave young soldier in the Ameri- 
can Revolution. His wife, Jerusha Rawsmi, 
who was born in -Sutton, Mass., on October 13, 
1769, was the daughter of Ebenezer Rawson, 
a worthy farmer of that town. James and Je- 



3° 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IEW 



rusha (Rawson) Holmes were the parents of 
nine children, eight sons and one daughter, of 
whom but one is now alive, the daughter. 
They were: James S. ; Salmon; Cyrus; Job; 
]{benezer R. and Eleazer A., who were twins; 
Jcrusha; John S. ; and Freeland. Jerusha 
Holmes married a Mr. Rawson, and lives in 
]5rooklyn, N.Y. James Holmes died in (Ox- 
ford on April 13, 1827. His wife died on 
June 12, 1848, in the same town, when nearly 
eighty years of age. 

Ebenezer R. Holmes, the fifth son, as here 
recorded, was born at O.xford on January 9, 
in the year 1802. He grew to manhood on 
the old farm in the town of his birth. He 
had always intended to study the ]irofession 
of the law; but, as his father and mother be- 
came less and less able to take the proper care 
of the farm, and his brothers and sister were 
away from home, he considered it his duty to 
remain there. -So he ended by giving up his 
life to farming. By means of hard labor and 
sagacious management he was able to bring 
the old farm up to the standard of the best 
in the whole county. He took great interest 
in the breeding of fine cattle, in which pur- 
suit he was very successful, making a spe- 
cialty of Herefords. He was one of the first 
farmers in the State to deal in full-blooded 
cattle. His farm consisted of about three 
hundred acres, and was considered one of the 
best in the town. 

In religious faith Mr. Ebenezer R. Holmes 
was a liberal. His political views were those 
of the Republican party, with which he was 
connected from the date of its formation. He 
held office as Selectman for a number of 
years, and was Chairman of the Board for a 
great part of that time. He was also the 
Town Agent, and he served as a Representa- 
tive to the State legislature in 1850. He 
always took an active part in any movement 
that was going on tending toward the improve- 
ment in any way of his town or toward the 
weal of his fellow-citizens. 

He married Louisa Abigail Fuller Rawson, 
who was born in Paris, Me., on February 5, 
1807. They became the parents of five chil- 
dren, of whom four are now living, namely: 
Louise S., born on February ig, 1838, and 
Lyman R., born July 14, 1840, both residing 



at the old homestead in O.xford; Walter E., 
the date of whose birth is mentioned above, 
and a sketch of whose career begins with the 
next paragraph; and Florence S., born De- 
cember 10, 185 1, who married S. E. King, 
a merchant, and resides in Oxford village. 
George F. , the second son, born November 5, 
1844, graduated from Bowdoin College in 
1866, and was a lawyer of Portland. He 
died on March 6, 1892. Ebenezer R. Holmes 
died on I-'ehruary 19, 1S90. His wife sur- 
vives him, and lives at her home in Oxford, 
now at the advanced age of nearly ninety years. 

Walter E. Holmes acquired his elementary 
education in the public schools of Oxford, 
fitted for college at Hebron Academy and at 
the Edward Little Institute in Auburn, Me., 
and entering ]5owdoin pursued the full course, 
and was graduated in 1S70. P'or a number of 
years thereafter he devoted himself to teach- 
ing. He was at one time for the period of 
two years an instructor in a business college 
of Oshkosh, Wis. ; and after that he came 
back to the old home farm in (Jxford. Soon 
he removed to Welchville, and went into trade 
for a few years. His health, however, began 
to fail him; and he was obliged to give up 
such active business and take to something 
more quiet and less wearing in its effects. 
He has served as Selectman for one term, as 
Town Treasurer for three years, as Collector 
for four years, as Supervisor of Schools two 
years; and he is now in his second term as 
Notary Public. 

He was married on May i, iSSi, to I-llba A. 
Potter, who was born in Oxford on January 
II, 1S61, daughter of William and Mary E. 
(Starbird) Potter, of the same town. Mr. and 
Mrs. Holmes have two children: Mabel J., 
who was born at Oxford on March 14, 1883; 
and George E. R., who was also born at Ox- 
ford, January 21, 1888. Mr. Holmes and his 
wife are earnest and active members of the 
Congregational church at Oxford village. 
They are widely known and enjoy the respect 
and good-will of a large circle of friends and 
acquaintances, Mr. Holmes being a gentleman 
of scholarly attainments and an interesting 
conversationalist. In political affiliation he 
is a strong Republican, as his father was 
before him. He is also a member of the 



BIOGRAl'incAL RF.VIKW 



A. I-". & A. M, Paris Lodge, No. 94. at 
South Paris, Me. 




)N. ANDREW S. IIAPGUUD, a 
popular citizen of Waterford, O.xford 
County, Me., now serving as a Rep- 
resentative in the State legislature, 
was born here November 11, 1841, son of 
Thomas and Jane (McWain) Hapgood. His 
grandfather, Hezekiah Hapgood, was the first 
of the family to come to Waterford. They 
settled on a farm north-east of Waterford l'"lat 
and there made his home until on account of 
advanced years he gave up active work and 
went to live with one of his sons in Fryeburg, 
remaining there until his death. 
' Thomas Hapgood, son of Hezekiah, was 
born and brought up in Waterford. He be- 
came a farmer and trader; and after his mar- 
riage he followed agricultural jnu'suits in his 
native town until 1845, when, removing to 
Gorham, N. H., he there engaged in trading 
and in farming, and also managed a grist-mill. 
v\bout three and one-half years later he re- 
turned to Waterford, and here devoted himself 
to farming for a like period. He next mi- 
crated to Brasher Falls, N. Y., where he car- 

■ - • 1 

ried on a saw and grist mill tor eighteen 
months, after which he went to Bangor, 
Franklin County, N.Y., and again engaged in 
trade for about six months. Going from there 
to Brandon, in the same county, in northern 
New York, he resumed his early occupation of 
farming, to which he gave his attention for 
two year-s, and then came back to Waterford 
and conducted the saw and grist mill business 
until his death, which occurred in December, 
1864. Mrs. Jane McWain Hapgood, his wife, 
who was born in Putney, Vt. , died in 1859. 
Thev were the parents of five children — 
David T., who died in 1883 ; Laure Jane, who 
died at five years of age; Lura A., wife of 
Sylvanus W. Cobb, now residing in Durango, 
Col. ; Andrew S. ; Charles Henry, whose 
death occurred in 1866. Those who grew to 
maturity were given a common-school and 
academic education. 

In 1862, at twenty-one years of age, Andrew 
S. Hapgood, whose youth had been passed in 
the different places where his parents had 



made their home, went to Mendocino County, 
California, and engaged in the saw-mil! busi- 
ness, which he followed for two years. He 
then went to Idaho Territory for a change, 
and was employed there in mining for a year 
and a half, after which lie returned to Water- 
ford and took charge of the old Hapgood Mills, 
his father having died. Some time after he 
sold the grist-mill, but still comhicts the saw- 
mill, and is doing a successful business, his 
attention being chiefly given to his mill, al- 
though he also owns forty acres of farming 
land. On May _5, 1861, he was mustered into 
the United States service; but during the 
three months that he was out his company was 
not called into active service, and he took no 
part in any engagement. 

On July 7, 1870, Mr. Hajigood was married 
to Miss Irene Willard, of W'aterford. She 
was born December 14, 1845, a daughter of 
P^ben M. and Hannah (Barker) Willard, her 
father having been a native of Waterford, and 
her mother of Lovell, in the same county. 
Mr. Willard was successfully engaged in 
farming here throughout his life. Mrs. Irene 
W. Hapgood died P'ebruary 12, 1S95; and Mr. 
Hapgood was again married August 9, 1896, 
to Lavinia G. Willard, of North Newry, Me. 

Mr. Hapgood has always voted the Republi- 
can ticket. He was elected a member of the 
State legislature in 1894, and is now (1896) 
serving in his second year. He has been 
for several years Chairman of the Board of 
Selectmen in Waterford. P'raternally, Mr. 
Hapgood is connected with No. 132, A. F. 
& A. M., of Waterford; Oxford Podge, No. 
30, Independent Order of Odd P'ellows, of 
North Waterford ; Harry Rust Post, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of Norway, Me. ; 
Oriental R. A. Chapter, of Bridgton, Me. ; 
and Portland Commandery, Knights Tem- 
plars, No. 2. 



-f^TON. ALBION P. BONNFY is a rep- 
L^-l resentative of one of the old and 

ji g I respected families of Buckfield, in 

^•"^ the eastern part of Oxford County, 
Me., that have followed the jiursuit of agri- 
culture for generations. In early manhood he 
had a number of years' successful experience 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



in school teaching, but has since devoted him- 
self to his hereditary occupation and to the 
public service. He was born on the farm 
where he now lives, which has been in the 
family for more than a century. May 22, 1826, 
a son of James and Bethany (Keen) Honney. 

His great-grandfather was James Bonney, of 
I'embrcjke, Plymouth County, Mass. ; and his 
grandfather, who also bore the name of James 
Honney, was born in that town in 1764. This 
second James l^onney purchased the homestead 
in ]?uckfield in 1789. At that time most of 
the land in this vicinity was unredeemed from 
the wilderness, was covered with heavy tim 
ber, and abounded in wild game. Mr. l^on- 
ney's home was one of the first in the locality. 
His first claim was one hundred acres, Snd he 
afterward added to it until his property em- 
braced over three innuhed acres. He died in 
l-iuckfield at the age (jf seventy-two. His 
wife, Sally Glover, who was a native of Pem- 
broke, Mass., also attained a ripe age. Two 
of their children attained maturity — James, 
the tiiirij of the name; and .Sally, who died at 
the age of thirt)'-three. 

James Bonney, son of James, second, ami 
Sally (Glover) Bonney, succeeded his father 
as owner of the homestead, and devoted his 
days to the pursuit of agriculture. He was 
a man of strong character and good physical 
development, and held the rank of Colonel in 
the old State militia. Active in public affairs, 
he was identified in the latter part of his life 
with the Republican party; and he served 
the town in different offices, holding that of 
Selectman for a number of years. He died 
at sixty-four years of age, and his wife lived 
to be si.xty-seven. She was a daughter of 
Lemuel Keen, a Revolutionary soldier. P^ive 
children were born to Colonel and Mrs. James 
Bonney, namely : Albion P. ; Sarah ¥.. , widow 
of Daniel B. Bonney, of Buckfield ; and Bet- 
sey B. , Josiah K., and Andrew J., deceased. 

Albion P. Bonney, already introduced as 
the subject of this biographical sketch, ac- 
quired his education in his native town, com- 
pleting his course of study in the high school. 
In early life he taught school some forty terms, 
at the same time managing the home farm, 
which eventually became his by inheritance. 
This farm now covers two hundred acres, and 



much of it is devoted to general cro|is. As a 
farmer Mr. Bonney has been very successful, 
his judgment being good, his methods pro- 
gressive, and his industry unfailing. 

He was married in May, i S48, to Miss 
Mar'y A. Irish, who died in 1862, leaving 
three children, one son and two daughteis. 
Two of these are living, namely: Frank J., 
a dentist of Auburn, Me., who has one daugh- 
ter, Ella M. ; and limma P., wife of Herbert 
E. Bonney, of Bath, Me., who has three chil- 
dren — Mary A., Albion P., and Mildred. 
The other daughter, Ella 1"., wife of William 
S. Thorne, died childless. In 1863 Mr. Bon- 
ney married Mrs. Ellen T. (Teague) .Shaw, 
widow of Wilson Shaw. By this union be 
had one child — Nellie L., wife of P'red W. 
Keen, of Aubiu'n, Me., and mother of one 
daughter, Plazel B. The second Mrs. Bonney 
died in March, 1865; and on June 3, 1866, 
Mr. Bonney contracted a third marriage with 
Miss Abbie Tuell, a native of Sumner, Me. 
He has no children by this union. 

Mr. Bonney has been a Rejniblican since 
the formation of the party; and he attended 
the first Republican convention held in Paris, 
Oxford County. He has been on the Board of 
Selectmen many years, and has served as 
Town Treasurer and in minor offices; and in 
1885-86 he represented Buckfield in the State 
Senate. As an Odd I'ellow he is a memlDer 
of Nezinscott Lodge, No. 104, of Buckfield. 
In religious matters he is liberal. One of the 
(dd citizens of the town, he is a well-known 
figure in J^uckfield, and is one whose opinion 
is considered valuable in matters of public 
import. 




RANK P. TVLI^R, an enterprising 
farmer and li\'e-stock dealer of New 
Sharon, P^ranklin County, Me., was 
born in this town, January 30, 1865, son of 
Zebulon and Julia (Rigg) Tyler. 

Zebulon Tyler, who formerly resided in 
Chesterville, moved in 1852, with his family, 
household effects, and live stock, to New 
Sharon, where he purchased the Isaac Ames 
place, consisting of one hundred and fifteen 
acres. He made various improvements upon 
the farm, set out an orchard of one hundred 



BIOGRAPHICAI, REVIEW 



33 



fiuit-trccs, and was a successful general 
farmer. As he advanced in pros[)erity he 
added fifty acres of land to his original jjin- 
chase ; and he continued actively engaged until 
his death, which took place, from heart 
disease, in August, 1892, while he was at work 
in the field. A highly respected and useful 
citi/.en, he supported the Repuhlican ])arty in 
politics, and was a Methodist in his religious 
helief. Mis wife, Julia, whom he married 
March 8, 1849, was a daughter of S. T. Rigg, 
a blacksmith of New .Sharon. She became 
the mother of eight children, namely: Lew- 
eilyn S. ; George H. ; Sarah ]•:. ; Addie Min- 
nette; liliza A.; Joseph A.; Frank 1'., the 
subject of this sketch ; and Hattie Z. 

Frank P. Tyler was educated in the cnmmon 
schools of New Sharon and Farmington. At 
the age of twenty-one he became his father's 
hired assistant upon the home farm. He sub- 
sequently succeeded to the ownership of the 
property, and has since conducted it with 
energy and success. He has also a wide repu- 
tation as a dealer in live .stock, which business 
is a source of considerable profit to him; and 
this together with his farm occupies his entire 
time and attention. In politics he \otes with 
the Republican party, and his religious opin- 
ions are broad and liberal. 



ISAAC P. BEARCE, one of the largest 
fruit growers of Hebron, ().\ford County, 
Me., and a veteran of the Civil War, 
was born upon the farm he now owns and 
occupies, March 30, i S44, son of Sylvanus 
R. and Ann O. (Barrows) Bearce. Gideon 
Bearce, his paternal grandfather, was an early 
settler and prosperous farmer of Hebron. He 
li\ed to an advanced age, and accumulated 
considerable property, owning at the time of 
his death three good farms. 

Sylvanus R. Bearce, son of Gideon, was 
born in Hebron in 1804. Having been reared 
to agricultural pursuits, he settled upon the 
farm where his son, Isaac P., now resides; 
and for quite a long period he was one of the 
stirring and successful men of this locality. 
He died at the homestead in October, 1891, 
having passed the last years of his life in re- 
tirement. In politics he was a Republican, 



and in his religious faith he was of the liberal 
type of Christians. His first wife, whose 
maiden name was Olive I'ackard, liore him 
four children; and his second wife, Ann O. 
Barrows, who was born in this county in 1825, 
became the mother of si.\ children, making a 
family of ten. Of these, seven are now 
living, namely: Caroline, who is the widow 
of liliphalet Bray, late of Ivist O.xford ; Irene 
B. , wife of Lewis Clark, of Chelsea, Mass. ; 
Isaac P., the subject of this .sketch; \'ictoria, 
who is now- the widow of Reuel Barrows, and 
resides in Chelsea, Mass. ; .Sylvanus, a jjros- 
perous farmer of Hebron village, who was born 
in 1849; Alice, wife of Wallace Cushman, of 
Auburn, Me. ; and W. Scott, who resides with 
his brother at the homestead. The others 
were: Olive,- who died in 1862, aged twenty- 
two years; Maria; and Albert W., who died 
aged twenty-five years. Mrs. Ann < ). Barrows 
Bearce died May i, 1890. 

Isaac P. Bearce, whose ])ersonal history is 
now in order, jiassed his childhooil and later 
youth as a member of the parental iKJUsehold, 
obtaining his education in the town schools 
and the Hebron Academy. He assisted his 
father in carrying on the farm until July 16, 
1862, when he enlisted as a prixate in Com- 
pany E, Sixteenth Regiment, Maine Volun- 
teers; and after the battle of Antietam he was 
sent to the hospital in Washington, D. C. , 
.suffering from the effects of long continued 
e.xposure. Being honorably discharged from 
the service in the succeeding Decend)er, he 
returned home and remained here until 1866, 
when he went to Black Hawk City, Col., 
where for a short time he was engaged in 
mining. Again returning to Hebron, he took 
charge of the home farm, thenceforward caring 
for his iiarents during their declining years, 
and subsequently continuing his residence 
here permanently. .Since succeeding to the 
ownership of the property, which originally 
contained one hundred acres, he has added to 
it by purchasing an adjoining tract; and now, 
owning about one hundred and forty acres, he 
makes a specialty of raising apples, pears, 
plums, together with currants, gooseberries, 
and other small fruits, having twenty acres 
devoted to this profitable industry. 

On January i, 1873, Mr. Bearce was mar- 



34 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ried to Miss Ella F. Marshall, who was born 
in Hebron, April i6, 1S48, daughter of Will- 
iam T. and Mary E. (Packard) Marshall. 
William T. Marshall was formerly a prosper- 
ous farmer and stone mason of this town, and 
is now residing in Auburn, Me. His wife 
died at the age of fifty-nine years. Mr. and 
Mrs. Rearce have a family of four daughters, 
namely: Agnes M., who was born April 9, 
1874; Lizzie M., who was born May 19, 
1878; Mabel C. , who was born July 17, 1880; 
and Cordelia E. , who was born February 11, 
18S3. 

Mr. Bearce is a charter member of Hebron 
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, with which his 
wife also is connected ; and he is a comrade of 
A. A. Dwinal Post, No. 3, Grand Army of 
the Republic, of Mechanic Falls. Industri- 
ous and capable, a successful general farmer 
and horticulturist and a worthy citizen, he is 
highly esteemed by his fellow-townspeople. 
In politics he acts with the Republican party; 
and both he and Mr.s. l^earce attend the Bap- 
tist church, to the support of which they are 
generous contributors. 




LBERT THOMPSON, a partially dis- 
abled veteran of the Civil War, who 
is now engaged in the peaceful pur- 
suit of husbandry in Farmington, 
Franklin County, Me., was born in Norridge- 
wock, this State, March 19, 1839, son of Silas 
and Maria (Hussey) Thompson. His grand- 
father, Asaph Thompson, ]\I.D., son of Silas 
Thompson, first, and Sybil Pease Thompson, 
came from Halifa.x, N.S., and, settling in 
Maine, became a noted physician in his day. 
He had a large and profitable practice, which 
he attended on horseback, and continued active 
until his death, which took place at middle 
age. He married Polly Wood, who died at 
the age of fifty-five years; and her children 
were: Adasa, Silas, Mary, Persus, and Asa. 

Silas Thompson, the second of the name, 
son of Dr. Asaph Thompson, inherited the 
Norridgewock homestead, and was there en- 
gaged in general farming until his death, 
which took place at the early age of thirty- 
four years. He voted with the Democratic 
party in politics, and he was liberal in his re- 



ligious views. His wife, Maria Hussey, a 
daughter of James Hussey, was born in Water- 
ville, Me., August 17, 181 3. She became 
the mother of two children — Albert and 
Louise. Mrs. Maria H. Thompson is still 
living, and resides with her son, whose per- 
sonal history is here briefly outlined, as fol- 
lows : 

Albert Thompson acquired a practical edu- 
cation in his early years, and after his father 
died he remained at the homestead with his 
mother until they sold the property. Remov- 
ing to Farmington, they purchased the elder 
Joe Russell place of one hundred acres, built 
a new house, rebuilt the barns, and increased 
the productiveness of the soil. P2nlisting as 
a private in Company L, First Maine Cavalry, 
on October 17, 1861, Mr. Thompson was 
mustered into service on November i of the 
same year; and, re-enlisting on December 28, 
1863, he was promoted to the rank of Ser- 
geant. In an engagement fought at St. 
Mary's Church he received a severe wound in 
the right shoulder, which has caused him 
more or less trouble ever since, preventing 
him from attempting any very laborious em- 
ployment. He was honorably discharged and 
mustered out, after having served three years 
and nine months, and returned directly to his 
home in Maine. He now receives a pension 
from the government. 

By his union with his first wife, who was 
before marriage Ellen Butterfield, and was a 
daughter of Isaac Butterfield, Mr. Thompson 
had one son, Frank. His second wife, Ella 
J. Stevens, daughter of Paul Stevens, of Oak- 
land, Me., died at the age of thirty-nine 
years, leaving two children, namely: Arthur, 
who was born March 18, 1S84; and Edna L., 
who *was born August 16. 1S91. Politically, 
Mr. Thompson is inclined to favor the Demo- 
cratic party. On religious subjects his views 
are liberal. 



ISAAC ROUNDS, M.D., the leading 
physician, as well as the oldest, in 
Paris, the shire town of O.xford County, 
Me., was born in Danville, now the 
.southern part of Auburn, Me., September 1 r, 
1S42, son of Nathaniel and Susan A. (l.ibby) 




N. DAYTON BOLSTER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



37 



J'ldLinds. His grandfather, Joseph Koiinds, 
]5robably a native of Buxton, Me., after resid- 
ing for a time in Gray, Cumberland County, 
settled in Danville, where he died at an 
age between sixty-five and sixty-seven years. 
He was a farmer in good circumstances. His 
wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Small, 
died in i S64, at the age of eighty-eight years. 
Their children were : Nathaniel, Joseph, l^liza, 
Leonard, Ora, Margaret, Cushman, and James. 

Nathaniel Rounds, who was born in the 
town of Gray in ALiy, 1803, followed farming 
as his chief occupation, and also undertook 
occasional orders for stone work. He eventu- 
ally removed to Danville, where he purchased 
land, on which he resided until his death, 
which took place in March, i8<S4, at the age 
of eighty-one years. He was twice married. 
His first wife, Pauline Pciley, of Gray, died 
in early womanhood, leaving three children — 
Samuel P., William H., and Charles 11 By 
his second mariiage he was united to Susan A. 
Libby. Her father was Deacon David Libby, 
a prosperous farmer of Poland, Me., Andro- 
scoggin County, and the son of James Libby, 
who served his country as a private in the 
Revolutionary War. The death of Mrs. Susan 
A. Libby Rounds occurred in i<S53, when she 
was forty-four years old. She was the mother 
of seven children; namely, David L. , Joseph, 
Isaac, Pauline P., Huldah K., Aha L., and 
Cyrus, the last of whom died young. 

Isaac Rounds received his early education in 
the Danville schools, and pursued his aca- 
demic course at the Ldward Little Institute and 
Maine State Seminary. On-July 17, 1862, 
he enlisted in Com|)any D, Seventeenth Reg- 
iment, Maine X'ohmteers, for service in the 
Civil War, and subsequentl)^ fought in the 
battles of P'redericksburg, Chancellorsville, 
Gettysburg, Locust Grove, the Wilderness, the 
winter's siege of Petersburg, and Little 
Sailor's Creek. In the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, on May 6, 1864, he received a fracture of 
the skull; and afterward, April 6, 1865, he 
was wounded at Little Sailor's Creek. He 
was the first descendant of his mother's grand- 
father, James Libby, to shed his blood for his 
country. On receiving his discharge, June 7, 
1865, he returned home and resumed his school 
work. Later he began reading medicine, and 



in 1873 he was graduated from the medical 
department of ]5ow(ioin College. He com- 
menced practice in Lewiston ; but in the fall 
of the same year he came to South Paris, 
where by his professional skill, sujjplemented 
by many admirable traits of character, he has 
since securely established himself in the confi- 
dence and esteem of the community. Having 
earned the reputation of a successfid practi- 
tioner, he has built up a practice corresjiond- 
ingly large and lucrative. On October 4, 
1874, he was united in matrimony with Lydia 
A. Haskell, daughter of Jasper and .Sally V. 
(Thurston) Haskell, the father a native and 
a farmer of Danville. Dr. and Mrs. Rounds 
have two children, namely: Susan L., born 
August 25, 1875, now an assistant teacher in 
the Paris High School; and l^'rank W. , born 
November 23, 1882, still attending school. 
Dr. Rounds can always be counted on for aid 
in enterprises designed for the benefit (jf the 
town. He helped to build the Independent 
Order of Odd P'ellows Block by purchasing a 
share of the stock issued for that purpose. He 
has also materially aided in establishing the 
Paris Manufacturing Company, which has been 
of so much advantage to the town. The etlu- 
cational interests of the town have likewise 
received much attention from him, as he at 
one time rendered good service as School 
Agent, and was a member of the School Com- 
mittee for three years. He is a charter mem- 
ber of Mount Mica Lodge and Aurora Lncamp- 
ment, Indejiendent Order of Odd l'"ellows, all 
the chairs of which he has successively filled; 
and of the William Kimball Post, \d. 148, 
Grand Army of the Republic, holding at pres- 
ent the rank of Past Commander. The family 
residence, as well as the Doctor's office, is at 
2 Main Street, a handsome dwelling, with its 
beautiful lawn and tasteful carriage house, 
erected by the Doctor in 1886. 



1^1 DAYTON ]50LSrP:R, principal of 
the firm N. D. Bolster & Co. of 




South Paris, Me., is one of the 
leading business men of Oxford 
County. He was born in Rumford, Me., May 
22, 1850, son of Otis C. and Maria (Virgin) 
Bolster, anil is a direct descendant of Isaac 



38 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Bolster, a native of England, who settled in 
Uxbridge, Mass., in 1732, and was the founder 
of the family in this countr)'. 

His son, also named Isaac, who was born 
April 28, 1737, served as a private in some of 
the Colonial wars, and subsequently fought in 
the Revolution. He was one of the minute- 
men who marched to Concord on April 19, 
1775. Later in the contest he was a Lieuten- 
ant in the company of Captain John Putnam, 
under command of Colonel E. Learned ; and 
still later he was commissioned Captain. He 
was one of the original settlers of the town of 
Hebron, this county. In 1784 he moved to 
Paris, where he died in 1825, at the age of 
eighty-eight years. His wife, Mary Dwin- 
nell, whom he married July 24, 1761, in Sut- 
ton, Mass., died August 4, 18 14. Their chil- 
dren were: Hepsibah, Abraham, Isaac, Jr., 
David, and Solomon. He took for a second 
wife late in life a Miss Cary, of Turner, Me., 
but had no children by this union. 

Isaac Bolster, Jr., who was born at Sutton, 
Mass., May 12, 1769, was the grandfather of 
N. D. Bolster. He settled on a part of a 
large tract of land taken up by his father, 
built a house with barns, and started a store, 
which he carried on until his death in July, 
1835, ^t the age of si.xty-si.x years. His wife, 
Hannah Cushman Bolster, daughter of Gideon 
Cushman, born April 16, 1777, bore him ten 
children; namely, Alvan, Isaac, Gideon, Otis 
C. , William, Hannah, Lyman, Louisa, Levi, 
and Ruth. 

Otis C. Bolster, the fourth son as here 
named, who was born in Paris, Me., Septem- 
ber 25, 1 80 1, when fifteen years old went to 
work for his uncle, Francis Cushman, at Rimi- 
ford, remaining until his majority. Shortly 
after he opened a store in that town, and con- 
ducted it successfully until November, 1836, 
when it was accidentally blown up, his little 
son, then eight years old, being killed by the 
explosion. The disaster was supposed to 
have been caused by his son and another boy, 
while playing with fire on the top of a keg 
of gunpowder. Mr. Bolster rebuilt the store, 
and resumed business. On October 23, 1852, 
his residence was destroyed by fire. After 
this he removed to Paris, bought the old brick 
store on Market Square, and there engaged in 



the same business until his death on Novem- 
ber 9, 1 87 1, at the age of seventy years. He 
was highly esteemed for his genial traits and 
strict integrity. He was twice married. His 
first marriage, on October 28, 1827, united 
him with Dolly B. Keyes, who was born in 
1806, daughter of Francis Keyes. She died 
in 1840, having borne him four children — 
Horatio A., Henrietta L., Mellen E., and 
Freeland K. His second marriage, performed 
May 14, 1 84 1, was contracted with Maria 
C. L. V^irgin, daughter of Peter C. Virgin, of 
Rumford. She died May 19, 1887, having 
borne him five children, namely: William 
H.; Dolly M. ; Norris Dayton, the special 
subject of this sketch, to be further mentioned 
in the next paragraph; Sarah V.; and Mari- 
etta. 

N. Dayton Bolster, having received his cle- 
mentar)' education in the primary and gram- 
mar schools of his native town, subsequently 
completed the course of the Paris High 
School, where he was graduated. Thereupon 
he entered his father's store as clerk, and con- 
tinued to serve in that capacity until his 
father's death. Succeeding then to the pro- 
prietorship of the store, he conducted it with 
success for five years, when he sold the build- 
ing to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
After this he took charge of the grange store, 
subsequently buying the stock and building, 
and carrying on the business on his own ac- 
count, in company with C. A. Robertson. At 
the end of two years he bought Mr. Robert- 
son's interest, and thereafter for thirteen 
years he managed the business alone. In 
1893 he took E. N. Haskell into a partner- 
ship, which has lasted since. The establish- 
ment has been much altered since it first came 
into Mr. Bolster's possession, and it is now 
the largest general store in the county. It is, 
however, none too large for the business trans- 
acted there, which has grown to dimensions 
unsurpassed in any other part of the county. 
Two floors and a basement are entirely occu- 
pied. Everything in general demand is kept 
in stock. Besides the usual goods compre- 
hended under the head of groceries, there are 
sold crockery, paints and oils, hardware, boots 
and shoes, carpets, and other things too nu- 
merous to mention. Only a man possessed 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



39 



of a genius ior business can conduct such a 
place. 

Mr. Bolster was married to Mis.s Ada May 
Morton, daughter of John J. and Hannah 
(Morse) Morton, of South I'aris, on October 
25, 1883, and has become the father of four 
children, namely: Elsie M., boin December 
I, 1886; Morton v., born July 4, 1888; Ruth 
M., born April 18, 1S93; and Philip C, born 
April 17, 1895. Mr. liolster has always 
shown himself warmly interested in the wel- 
fare of the town, generally taking a prominent 
part in most enterprises designed to advance 
it, and holding considerable stock in the man- 
ufacturing firms of Paris. He and his wife 
are attendants of the Congregational church in 
Paris, where he is serving as clerk. He was 
Town Treasurer from 1877 to 1894, and he is 
Past Grand and Noble Grand of Mount Mica 
Lodge, No. 17, and Aurora Encampment, No. 
23, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The 
family occupy the residence, 2 High Street, 
which has been Mr. Bolster's property for 
some time. 



-OHN D. JENNINGS, a prosperous 
farmer and real estate owner of New 
Sharon, in the southern part of Frank- 
lin County, Maine, was born in the ad- 
joining town of Farmington, April 12, 1827, 
son of Asa and Betsey (Rotch) Jennings. 
His grandfather was Eliphalet Jennings, an 
Englishman who enlisted in the Continental 
army in 1775, and served seven years in the 
Revolutionary War. Receiving a land war- 
rant for one hundred and sixty acres, he set- 
tled in Farmington soon after the close of 
hostilities, and, clearing a good farm, resided 
there for the rest of his life. His wife's 
name was ISetsey, and she reared a family of 
five children, as follows: Rufus; Asa; I^liph- 
alet; David; and Reuben, who served as 
Captain of a company in a regiment of infantry 
during the Civil War. 

Asa Jennings, the second son of Eli]:)halet, 
was born and reared to manhood at the home- 
stead in Farmington. In 1828, the year after 
the birth of his son, the subject of the present 
sketch, he moved to a farm of seventy-five 
acres at Week's Mills, New Sharon, where he 



was engaged in tilling the soil for the rest of 
his life. He died here in 1843. His wife, 
Betsey Rotch, became the mother of eight 
children; namely, William R., George W., 
Frank S., John D., Lydia, Adeline, Mary, 
and Olive. 

John D. Jennings was one of the four sons 
born to his parents. He jiassed his boyhooti 
in attemling the common schools of VVeek's 
Mills antl learning to work on the home farm, 
also enjoying, no doubt, the various healthful 
sports and pastimes dear to the heart and 
strengthening to the muscles of the coinitry- 
bred youth. I'rom the time he was okl 
enough to take up the work of life in good 
earnest until he was twenty-six years old he 
was employed on neighboring farms. He 
then joined the general rush for the gold fields 
of California which began in 1849. Staking 
off a claim in Matalon Gulch, he engaged for 
a time in mining on his own account, later 
working for a mining company; and, after 
staying on the Pacific Ct)ast for four years, 
he came back to New Sharon. The following- 
year he again set out for California; but, 
changing his mind on reaching New York 
City, he once more returned to New Sharon, 
where he has since remained. Resuming his 
former occupation of tilling the soil and rais- 
ing stock, he applied himself energetically to 
business, and by steadily pursuing a policy of 
thrift and progress has accumulated a good 
estate, owning besides his homestead an ad- 
joining farm of one hundred and sixty acres, • 
two other farms in this town, and some |)ro]i- 
erty in ChesterviUe. He keeps a flock of two 
hundred and twenty-five sheep, seven standard- 
bred cows, and has an orchard of five hundred 
grafted fruit-trees. 

On January i, 1859, Mr. Jennings married 
for his first wife, Hannah M. C. Thomas, who 
died April 25, 1862; and on July 22. 1863, 
he was united in marriage with Ellen I-". Cut- 
ler, daughter of Josiah Cutler, of Strong, Me. 
By this union there are seven children, as fol- 
lows: Alice, who was born January 7, 1864; 
Nellie, who was born January 24, 1865; 
George H., who was born December 10, 1866; 
John William, who was born March 21, 
1869: Asa A., who was born January 6, 1871 ; 
Bessie, who was born .September 28, 1873: and 



40 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Mary K. , wlio was born July 30, 187X. I'olit- 
icall)', Mr. Jennings is a Democrat; and he 
attends the Methodist I^piscojjal churcli. 




iICMMOND ISROTIIKRS, Edward F. 
and Henry L. , who carry on large 
saw and grist mills in Oxford vil- 
lage. Me., are enterprising and alert 
young business men; and tlieir energetic ef- 
forts to maintain and still further develop the 
industrial rest)urces of this town are greatly 
appreciated by the general community. .Since 
the establishment of their business enter[)rise 
in I S90 they have remodelled and enlarged 
the mills, putting in new machinery, and now 
have a full and complete equipment for both 
the grain milling department and the manu- 
facture of lumber and building materials of 
every description. 

Edward 1'. and Henry L. Richmond are the 
sons of Albion K. and Harriet (Whitney) 
Richmond. The father was born in Jay, 
Franklin County, Me., in 1834. Having 
learned the mason's trade when a young man, 
Mr. Albion K. Richmond has for many years 
been a well-known and reliable contractor and 
builder, and aside from his regular calling has 
gained a wide reputation as a manufacturer of 
Richmond's patent derricks. He has been a 
stirring and successful business man of South 
Boston, Mass., where he still resides, when not 
occupying his summer home in ().\ford, and 
still retains his customary energy and acti\'ity. 
In politics he acts with the Ivepublican party, 
and he is liberal in his religious views. He 
and his wife, Harriet Whitney, who was born 
in Charlestown, Mass., in 183S, have five 
sons, as follows: Warren A., who was born in 
O.xford, Me., in 1859; Henry L. and Ed- 
ward F., the subjects of this sketch; I. Tracy, 
who was born in South I-ioston in 1873; and 
Carl D. , will) was born in South Boston in 
1881. 

Henry L. Richnmnd, one of the proprietors 
of the aforesaid mills, was born in C).\ford, 
Me., in 1861. He acquired a good practical 
education, and in young manhood exhibited a 
natural aptitude for business pursuits, which 
was the foundation of the sterling aljility he 
has displayed in placing the firm of Richmond 



lirothers ujion its present secure footing, giv- 
ing them a deserved [jrominence in business 
circles here. He is connected with a lodge of 
Odd Fellows in South 13oston. 

Edward F. Richmond was born in Oxford, 
August 20, 1864. Having acquired his edu- 
cation in the public schools of South Boston, 
he learned the mason's trade under his father's 
direction, and followed it steadily for a num- 
ber of years. In 1890, as already noted, he 
engaged in business with his brother, Heniy 
L. Richmond, establishing in Oxford the fiim 
which has since conducted a large and profit- 
able business, and to whose success he has in 
a great measure contributeil. In politics he is 
a Republican; and in religion he belongs to 
the liberal type of Christians, he and his 
wife attending the Universalist church. 

He was married on September 14, 1895, to 
Louisa Robinson, daughter of the late Joseph 
and Frances A. (Lewis) Robinson. Her 
father, who was the founder and President (jf 
the Robinson Manufacturing Company of Ox- 
ford, Me., was born in Yorkshire, England, 
May 9, 1 81 2, son of James and Mary (Aspin) 
Robinson. He was one of a family of six 
chiUlren, the others being: James; George; 
I{lizabeth; Rachel; and Mary, now Mrs. 
Wood, of Lawrence, Mass., who is the only 
survivor. Joseph Robinson learned the dyer's 
trade of his father, and after becoming an ex- 
[lert in his calling and filling a responsible 
position in a large concern in England until 
1849 he emigrated to the United States. 
First settling at Ballardvale, Mass., he had 
charge of dye works theie for several years, 
later filling positions in the same capacity at 
Rochester," Wolfboro, and Milton Mills, N.H. 

Coming to Oxford in 1858, he, in company 
with John Hall, engaged in manufacturing. 
A short time later he bought his partner's 
interest; and in 1862, associating himself with 
H. J. and ]■". O. Libby, he established and in- 
corporated the Robinson Manufacturing Com- 
]iany. From a small beginning tjie concern 
ad\'anced steadily through his business al}ility 
and careful management to its present large 
proportions and excellent business standing. 
The entire jjlant and equipment was erected 
and supplied under his sujiervision. The 
main building, which is a four-stoi\' brick 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



41 



structure, contains sixty-seven looms, employ- 
ing an average of one hundred and fifty men 
the year round. Their output, which consists 
of dress goods, suitings, and repellents, is sold 
all over the United States. 

The great amount of energy Mr. Rohinsun 
displayed as president of the corporation, to- 
gether with the deep interest he took in all 
matters relating to the improvement of the 
village and the general welfare of the commu- 
nity, gained for him the sincere respect and 
genuine admiration of his fellow-townsmen; 
and his death, which took place March 6, 
1895, was regretted by all. In politics he 
supported the Republican ]iart\-. In his relig- 
ious views he was a Congregationalist, and he 
was a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

In 1833, while still residing in England, 
Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Fran- 
ces A. Lewis, who was born in Yorkshire, No- 
vember 16, 1 8 14. She became the mother of 
six children, as follows: Mrs. Mary I'arrott, 
of Oxford ; Mrs. Frances Andrews, of Port- 
land ; Louisa, Mrs. Richmond; Mrs. .Salina 
Carr, John li, antl Albert Vl. Robinson, all 
of Oxford. Mrs. Frances A. Ri)binsi)ii died 
November 9, 1S90. 

The Robinson Manufacturing Company- is 
still doing an extensive business upon the 
lines so admirably mapped out and adhered to 
by its founder. Its present official force con- 
sists of J. B. Robinson, President ; !■". A. 
Libby, Treasurer; and A. K. Rol^inson, 
Asent. 




|ZRA MARSHALL, of Hebron, Me., a 
self-made man, starting in the world 
with five dollars, has accumulated a 
valuable property and won the respect that 
honest success always brings. He was born 
in Hebron, September 24, 182S. His parents 
were Aaron and Bethan}- (Hum pus) Marshall, 
the former also a native of Hebron. 

His pa.ternal grandfather, David Marshall, 
was one of the pioneer settlers of Oxford 
County. He served for some time in the 
Revolutionary War, participating in the battle 
of Bunker Hill; and it is supposed that he 
located in Bethel, Me., about 1781. His 
first wife lived but a short time after marriage. 



His second wife, whose maiden name was 
Lucy Mason, accompanied him in his quest for 
a home in the wilderness, meeting the vicissi- 
tudes of pioneer life with courage and endur- 
ance. With a young family the couple trav- 
elled to Bethel, the wife making her way on 
snowshoes with a child in her arms, the hus- 
band also carrying a child and at the same 
time drawing a small hand-sled on which weie 
the cooking utensils. He had jjurchased four 
hundred acres of land in Bethel, and there he 
built a log house and lulled late and early 
clearing his farm; while his wife was no less 
busy than he, [lerforming the manifold duties 
of a country housekeeper and family nn ther 
in those pioneer days. 

At the time (if the fanmus Bethel raid, about 
1782, when fhe Indians descended on the little 
settlement, iJavid Marshall and his family 
spent the night in the woods, hidden by a 
large log. In the morning, as soon as he was 
sure that the savages were gone, he returned 
to the house, packed up what loose things he 
could carry, and started for New Gloucester, 
where he expected to find a ])lace of security. 
Mrs. Marshall was not well ; and the horrors 
of the Indian raid had affected her so that she 
was taken seriously ill, and they were oliliged 
to stop on the way, finding refuge in a settler's 
house, she being the first white woman that 
ever visited the town of Paris, Me. As soon 
as she was able to proceed, they resumed their 
journey. At New Gloucester they made a 
short stay; and then Mr. Marshall inirchased 
a piece of land in Minot, where they lived for 
a while. His next move was to a farm near 
Mechanic Falls, which he thought was State 
land; but it belonged to the Little family, and 
a lawsuit fcjl lowed, in which Mr. Marshall 
was beaten. Once more ciimpelled to move, 
he settled near where his grandson, Moses 
Marshall, is now living; and there his days 
were ended in peace and prosperity. He 
owned in Hebron one hunilred acres of land 
and the mill i)rivilege; and, building a grist- 
mill, he conducted a thriving business. 

Mr. David Marshall was a man of unusual 
energy and determination, as will have been 
seen, and allowed no difficulties to turn him 
aside from the way to success. He died on 
his Hebron farm at the age of seventy-seven. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



II is wife, notwithstanding all the hardships 
and anxieties of her life, lived to be seventy- 
two. They had a family of eleven children: 
David; Asahel ; Lucy; Walter; John; 
Moses; Aaron; Nathan; Miriam; Theresa, 
who died yoimc; ; and a child who died in 
infancy. 

Aaron Marshall, the seventh-born, spent his 
life in Hebron, on the farm now owned by his 
son Ezra. He was an industrious and ener- 
getic man, and as a farmer was \ery success- 
ful. In politics he was originally a Whig 
and later a Republican. He died at the age 
of seventv-three, his wife having been called 
to rest in her fifty-ninth year. Mr. and Mrs. 
Aaron Marshall were members of the Baptist 
church. Seven children were born to them, 
as follows: Silas S. , who died at the age of 
twenty-one years; Sarah H. (deceased), wife 
of Charles Cobb, Esq., of Poland, Me.; Will- 
iam T. , a stone cutter, now retired, residing 
in Auburn, Me. ; Alden B., a retired carpen- 
ter in Newton, Mass.; Cordelia B. , wife of 
Hiram Everett, of Hebron Corners; Ezra, of 
Hebron; and Horace B. , a Baptist clergyman 
in Amherst, N. H. 

Ezra Marshall, the subject of this sketch, 
acquired his education in the common schools 
(jf Hebron. At the age of eighteen, with 
scarcely five dollars in his pocket, he started 
to make his own way in the world, going to 
Massachusetts, where he worked for three 
years as a farm hand. He then returned to 
his native town, and at the age of twenty-five 
he took charge of the family homestead. 
With characteristic perseverance and industry 
he developed the home farm, materially in- 
creasing its value, and in course of time 
bought more land, so that now the homestead 
covers three hundred acres, besides which he 
owns other real estate. He is one of the most 
e.xtensive farmers in Hebron, and in fruit cult- 
ure especially he has achieved marked suc- 
cess. Though Baldwins are his sta[)le orchard 
product, he has thirty different kinds of apples 
and a variety of small fruit. His buildings 
also rank among the best in the town. 

On October 2, 1856, Mr. Marshall was 
united in marriage with Eliza M., daughter of 
Joseph and Miriam (Marshall) Irish. She 
was born in Hebron, March 2, 1S27. I""ive 



children have brightened the home of Mi', anil 
Mrs. Marshall — Persis, who died Ajiril 29, 
1890, wife of Sherman Merrill and mother of 
four children — Alice 'M., Grace, Alma M., 
and Ered S. ; Alma H., who did not live to 
be four years old; Charles A., born October 
28, 1861, a farmer, unmarried, who li\es with 
his parent.s ; Adelaide I., born January 9, 
1864, who is the wife of Llewellyn Keene, 
a farmer of Hebron, and is the mother of four 
children— Delia M., Mary I., Nellie M., and 
Ezra AL ; and Fred H., born July 24, 1S67, 
who married Miss Abbie L. 15. Hibbs, and is 
a farmer, living with his father. 

Mr. Marshall votes the Republican ticket. 
He is a member of l-^vening Star Lodge, 
No. 147, A. F. & A. M., of Buckfield. In 
religious matters b<_)th lie and his wife are 
liberal. 



Y^TON. JARVIS C. MARBLE, who is 
L^-l now' spending the closing years of a 
Jis I ^o^g '"'"^1 bu.sy life in retirement at 

^^"^ his beautiful home in Paris Hill, 
O.xford County, was a conspicuous factor of the 
mercantile and manufacturing circles of this 
locality for more than half a century. A son 
of Nathan and Mehitable (Ereeland) Marble, 
he was born on Bethel Hill, in the town of 
Bethel, Me., May 24, 1821. 

His father was born June 29, 1778, in .Sut- 
ton, Mass., that town being also the native 
place of his mother, whose birth occiuTed 
September 10, 1780. Nathan Marble and his 
wife settled in the town of Bethel soon after 
their marriage ; and there the former was em- 
ployed as a farmer, harness-maker, and saddler 
until his death, which occurred at a compara- 
tively earl)- age, November 6, 1826. He 
stood in a foremost position among the stirring 
and progressive citizens of the comitv, and for 
many years was Captain of a comjjany of the 
State militia. Of his union with Miss I-'ree- 
land eleven children were born, the following 
being their names and respective dates of 
birth: James P., November 25, iSoo; Ste- 
phen >}., December 25, 1802; Palmer M., 
November 12, 1805; Nathan M., March 5, 
1S08; Mehitable M., May 9, 18 10; Ereeland, 
November 12, 181 2; Elizabeth B. , July 24, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



43 



1815; Franklin, October 37, iSi8; JarvisC, 
May 24, 1821; Nancy J., August 22, I1S24; 
James K., May 8, 1827. After the death of 
her husband the mother, who lived until April 
25, 1S74, became the wife of ]^lijah Burbank. 
She was a member of the Congregational 
church, of which the father, who was liberal 
in his religi(!us belief, was a regular attend- 
ant. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. 

Jarxis (.'., the ninth child, whose career is 
here to be traced, attended the common schools 
of Bethel until eleven years of age, when he 
was obliged to give up his studies and com- 
mence life for himself. He first worked for 
a year as a clerk in the store of L. C. Crocker, 
of ]>uckfield, receiving for his services his 
board and clothing. Going thence to Portland, 
he worked a while for a Mr. Capen, who, in 
addition to his board and clothing, paid him a 
small compensation in money. Mr. Marble 
subsetjuently became a clerk in the establish- 
ment of L. C. Carter, of New York Cit\', who 
received him as a member of his family, 
giving him board and clothes, and sui^plying 
him with a liberal amount of money for other 
expenses. Here he acquired a thorough 
knowledge of the mercantile business as it was 
conducted in those days, his initiatory experi- 
ence with Mr. Carter being of inestimable 
value to him in after years. Early in 1842, a 
few months prior to his marriage, Mr. Marble 
came to Oxford County, locating first in the 
village of Paris, where he and his wife subse- 
quently lived three years before coming to 
their present estate, which at his ad\'ent was 
in its original wildness. 

Mr. Marble began clearing and imi)roving 
his land, in the work succeeding so well that 
he has now one of the finest and most attrac- 
ti\'e homesteads in this section of the State. 
The first two years of his residence in Paris he 
worked as a clerk for Hiram Hubbard, whom 
he subsequently bought out; and fur a few 
3'ears thereafter he was engaged in mercantile 
business on his own account. In addition to 
his store in Paris he jnit in a stock of general 
merchandise at North l^uckfield, and for some 
time conducted the two stores, having a lucra- 
tive trade. With sagacious foresight Mr. 
Marble at length bought out .Sweat & Co. 's 
powder factory, which he managed in connec- 



tit)n with his other business. Disjiosing of 
his stores, he afterward confined his attention 
to the manufacture of powder, erecting a 
second mill at Platteville, Wis., and another 
at Camden, Me. ; and during the war he sup- 
plied the government with a large amount of 
high grades and othei- powder. After the 
close of the great confiict he movetl his powder 
works to Canada, where he received the con- 
tract for supplying the Canadian government 
and the Hudson Bay Company with powder. 
In his manufacturing business he was very suc- 
cessful, running for a time four factories, in 
which he employed a large force of men. 

In 1885 he disposed of his jiowder, confin- 
ing his attention to the bark business which 
he had previously established; and since 
giving that up he has lived retired. He has 
accumulated a go(jd property, and besides his 
own handsome dwelling has erected two fine 
residences for his children, who live near him. 
Politically, Mr. Marble is an earnest and lo\al 
member of the Republican party, and takes an 
active interest in town and county affairs. He 
was a member of the State legislature in i860, 
and for three subsequent \'ears; and for two 
years he was County Treasurer. Religiously, 
both he and his wife are strong Universalists, 
being among the leading members of that 
church, anil contributing liberall}' toward its 
suj^port. 

On Octol)er 24, 1842, Mr. Marble was mar- 
ried to Mary R. Hubbard, who was born at 
Paris Hill, Me., November 25, 1821, a daugh- 
ter of Russell and Eunice (Stowell) Hubbard. 
Her grandfather, General Levi Hubbard, was 
born, reared, and married in Worcester, Mass. 
He and his bride, Mary Hcmenway, then but 
fourteen years of age, came directly t(j Paris, 
and here began housekeeping in a log cabin, 
which was situated in a small clearing made 
in the dense wilderness. Over their heavily 
timbered land bears, deer, and wolves roamed 
at will; and the Indians were in strong evi- 
dence. General Hubbard cleared and im- 
proved a good homestead, and became one of 
the foremost men of this vicinity, serving in 
various town offices, and in the years from 
1812 until I 814 inclusive as a member of Con- 
gress. He was liberal iti his religious belief 
and a valued member of the Universalist 



44 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



church. Jlis wife nindc during her mnrried 
life five trips on horseback tt) Worcester, her 
early home. The}' had two children, namely: 
Oliver, who was killed when a young man by 
the falling of a tree; and liussell, Mrs. 
Marble's father. General Hubbard died in 
1.S36, and his wife in 1844. 

Russell Hubbard was born in Paris, I\Ie., 
and here siient his life, d_\ing l-'ebruary 15, 
1856. His wife was also a lifelong resident 
of this town. She bore him five children, as 
follows: Columbia, born November 18, 1S09; 
Hiram, born September 28, 181 1; Oliver, 
born November 19, 1813; IJaniel S., born 
October 17, 1816; and Mary R., now Mrs. 
Marble, the latter and her brother Hiram 
being the only ones. living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Marble have had four children, the following 
being their record: Mar}- H., born February 
10, 1844, married Dr. A. S. Thayer, of Port- 
laml, and died December 5, 1875; Elmer H., 
who was born November 9, 1846, and died 
November 8, 1893, married Ella Smith, and 
was for some time connected with his father 
in the powder business; Lizzie H., born 
March 23, 1849, is the wife of Orlando A. 
Thayer, of Paris; and Fannie F., born Febru- 
ary 3, 1S54, is the wife of Jolin Pierce, a 
jeweller in South Paris, but living with Mr. 
and Mrs. Marble. :Mr. and Mrs. Marble have 
si.v grandchildren and one great-grandchild. 




JDWIN 15. HATCH, a retired farmer of 
Chester\ille, Me., and a veteran of the 
■■"^ Civil War, who is now serving as 
Postmaster, was born in Wilton, Franklin 
County, Me., September 19, 1838, son of 
Joseph and Zoa (Keyes) Hatch. His paternal 
grandfather was Cyrus Hatch, a native of 
Martha's Vineyard, who, when a young man, 
settled in Wilton as a pioneer. He bought 
one hundred acres of wild land, a portion of 
which he cleared for agricultural purposes; 
and he resided there for the rest of his life. 
He married, and reared a family of four 
children; namely, Cyrus, Joseph, John, and 
Zoa, each of whom lived to be eighty years 
old and over. 

Joseph Hatch, the second son, was born in 
Wilton, and was a lifelong resident of that 



town. He was an honest, hard-working 
farmer and a worthy citizen, who gaineil the 
respect and esteem of his neighbors and fel- 
low-townsmen. He died October 16, 1888, 
aged eighty-four years and ten months. In 
politics he was a Republican and in his relig- 
ious views a Methodist. His wife, who was 
before marriage Zoa Keyes, was a native of 
Wilton. .She became the mother of five chil- 
dren, three of whom are living, namely: 
Charles B. , who is residing at the homestead; 
B. Frank; and PLdwin B., the subject of this 
sketch, who is the youngest son. The others 
were: Hiram M. and Mary E. Mrs. Zoa K. 
Hatch passed away from earth at the age of 
fifty-two years and nine months, 

Edwin B. Hatch duiing his boyhood and 
youth remained at home assisting on the farm 
and attending the town schools, and at the age 
of twenty he pursued a course of study for one 
term at the Maine State Seminary in Lewis- 
ton. I'or a short time after that he was em- 
ployed as a farm assistant by Squire Hill, who 
lived in the vicinity of Great Falls, N.H. ; 
and from there he went to Bedford, Mass., 
where he remained for si.\ months. He then 
went to Boston, and shipped on board a fish- 
ing-smack for a season's cruise; and in the 
following year, 1861, he made a voyage to 
PLngland and Ireland as a sailor on board a 
merchant vessel. In 1862 Mr. Hatch enlisted 
as a private in the I'irst Massachusetts Com- 
pany (Governor Andrew's) of Sharpshooters, 
with which he went to the front, and took ])art 
in the battle of Fredericksburg and all other 
engagements fou""ht bv the Second Army 
Corps until June 2, 1864, when he was taken 
prisoner at Pleasant Ridge, Va. He was first 
confined in Libby Prison, later being sent <"o 
Pemberton, after which he was repeatedly 
moved from one place to another, being im- 
])risoned successively at Andersonville, Milan, 
Savannah, Thomasville, Selma, Ala., and 
Danville, Va., where he was held until 
paroled on June 3, 1865. After his discharge 
from the service he followed various occupa- 
tions in Boston and Wilton, Me., until 1874, 
when he bought a farm of one hundred and 
thirty acres in Chesterville, where he has 
since resided. As an industrious general 
farmer he has succeeded in accumulatiufr con- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



45 



siclcrable property. He continued to till the 
soil diligently until 1891, when he sold his 
farm and bought his present homestead, con- 
sisting of a comfortable residence and five 
acres of land. He also owns a valuable tract 
of woodland in this town and an interest in 
the homestead farm in Wilton. 

I\Ir. Hatch and Velora 11. White, dau.^liter 
of R. White, were married on November 25, 
1X74, and enjoyed a wedded life of nearly 
twenty years. Mrs. Hatch died September 
2/' 1 8931 leaving no children. 

In politics Mr. Hatch is a Democrat; and 
in September, 1893, he was appointed Post- 
master at Chesterville, which position he 
still holds. His war record is an honorable 
one; and, as a stirring, progressive, and use- 
ful citizen, he is widely known and highly re- 
si)ected. Mr. Hatch attends the Methodist 
EpiscojDal church. It is worthy of note that 
eleven representatives of the Hatch kindred 
served in the Rebellion, and returned to their 
homes; and of these seven are still livimr. 




XJV/UAAAM V. CALDWI-:LL, a suc- 
fs\l cessful farmer and respected citizen 
of the town of O.xford, Me., was 
born April 28, 1840, on the ancestral farm on 
which he now lives. His great-grandfather, 
John Caldwell, settled on the estate when this 
portion of Maine was wild and almost unpopu- 
lated, and those who dared to encroach upon 
the hitherto undis|)uted d(jmain of the deer, 
heaver, bear, and wolf that abounded in the 
Maine forests had to endure the ]iri\-alions of 
pioneer life and accustom themselves to con- 
stant dangers. Quite a number of Massachu- 
setts people received grants of land in the 
District of Maine as rewards for military ser- 
\ices in the Colonial wars, and the sturdy sol- 
diery and their sons were quite equal to cope 
with the vicissitudes of frontier life. John 
Caldwell, like most of the settlers of his day, 
was thrifty as well as brave, and planted a pos- 
terity here which is still marked by the same 
traits of character possessed by their ancestors. 

He left a son, who bore the name of Will- 
iam, born October 11, 1775, who grew up to 
be a stirring and industrious farmer, passing 
his entire life on the Oxford farm. He mar- 



ried Nancy Woodward, May 2, 1799. Miss 
Woodward was born January 27, 1781, and 
was therefore a bride at eighteen years of age. 
William Caldwell was a member of the Meth- 
odist church, and was successively identifieil 
with the Whigs and the Republicans in politi- 
cal affiliation. He died on November 19, 
1862, aged eighty-seven years, and was fol- 
lowed four years later by his faiihlnl wife, 
who passed away June 30, iS(]f). 'I'hcv were 
the [larents (if four children, namely: Zenas, 
born March 31, 1800; Leonard, born January 
30, 1803; Merritt, born November 29, 1806; 
and Nancy, born April 5, 1809. 

Leonard Caldwell, the second son of Will- 
iam, followed in the steps of the two jirevious 
generations and became a practical farmer. 
As the toilsome years went on, his means 
increased until, besides being the i)r(iprict(ir of 
the old Caldwell homestead, he was the owner 
of much additional property. At his death he 
left an estate of three hundred acres of land, 
improved by cultivation and many new build- 
ings, among them the substantial dwelling, 
which was one of the best in its time and is 
still a comfortable and attractive residence. 

Leonard Caldwell married Miss Hannah 
Farrington, May 29, 1831. Six children 
were the fruit of this union, namely: Emily 
C, born May 28, 1833, who died Januarv 13, 
1855; Leonard A., born October 14, 1834, 
who was a soldier in the Federal ranks during 
the late Civil War, aiul died while in service, 
on June 17, 1863; I'llen C. . born January 11, 
1836, who became the wile (it fames ( ). 
Thompson, and now lives in Virginia, where 
Mr. Thompson edits a paper called the Mouii- 
iain Eclio; Zenas M., born August 5, 18^7, 
who died August 16, 1839; William F. , born 
as before mentioned, April 28, 1840; and 
Annah E. , born February 21, 1848, who mar- 
ried Dr. George Kejsoc, and resides in Hloom- 
ington. 111., where she practises the same pro- 
fession followed by her husband. 

William F. Caldwell is now the only sur- 
vivor of the three sons. He passed his youth 
in his native locality, receiving his education 
in the schools of O.xford and Hebron. After 
leaving school he, with hereditary instinct, 
turned his attention to agricultural ])ursuits, 
in which he is still actively engaged. He 



46 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



iKiw owns and carries on an excellent farm of 
two hundred and thirty-five acres, and is ac- 
coimted one of the best farmers of Oxford. 
February i8, 1862, was the date of his mar- 
riage with Miss Mehitable D. Winship, a na- 
tive of ()tisfield, where siie was born February 
23, i.S'40. 

Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell ha\e had se\en chil- 
dren, namely: luiiily .A., born January 30, 
1864, who died January 10, 1878; Adelbert 
I-"., born Ma)- 8, 1.S67, now engaged in teach- 
ing; Minnie B., born October 18, 1868; 
Annie C, born July 19, 1871 ; Willie L., 
born December 24, 1874; Guy H., born No- 
vember 24, 1880, who died February 27, 
18S5; and Cornelia K., born March 30,^1884. 

Mr. Caldwell and his wife are allied in a 
common religious faith, both being members 
of the Methodist E]iiscopal Church of Oxford, 
in which Mr. Caldwell has always been an 
active worker. He is a stanch Republican 
in political fellowship, and has held, besides 
various minor offices, that of Selectman. He 
has also been active in promoting educa- 
tional progress in his town and county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Caldwell are prominent members of 
society in their town, and their charming 
home is a hospitable rentlez\-ous for their large 
circle of friends. 



bfKANK VV. OSBORNE, one of the 
p^ most enterprising and progressive 
though one of the youngest farmers of 
Farmington, Me., was born in Marshfield, 
Mass., Sei)tember 22, 1864. He is the son of 
George T. and VVilhelmina (Wilson) Osborne, 
both of Marshfield. George T. Osborne was a 
shoemaker Ijy trade, and at the time of the 
war he was one of the large contingent of 
New England "knights of the last," who 
fought under the banners of the Union. He 
served a year in the Forty-third Regiment, 
Massachusetts Volunteers, and returned home 
with a shattered constitution, d)'ing at the age 
of twenty-nine. He left a widow and two 
children — Eleanor W. and Frank W. Mrs. 
George T. Osborne, who is now fifty-one years 
of age, is living with her son. 

Frank \V. Osborne left home at the age of 
eighteen to battle with the worki and make his 



fortune. Of strong constitution and progres- 
sive nature, he adopted the pursuit with 
which he was most familiar, agriculture; and, 
saving his earnings, he began to invest in real 
estate. In company with Ira Blanchard he 
bought the Johnson farm, an estate of one 
hundred and fourteen acres in Farmington; 
and the partners remodelled the buildings, and 
engaged in general farming with such enter- 
prise that they achieved marked success. In 
1891 Mr. Osborne purchased Mr. Blanchard's 
interest, and became sole proprietor; and the 
business continues to prosper under his able 
management. Besides attending to the cult- 
ure of garden produce and general crops he has 
a fine dairy of twelve handsome Jerseys. He 
is a typical New Englander, pushing and 
thrifty; and his success has won the admira- 
tion and respect of his townsmen. In politics 
he is independent, in religious matters liberal. 




ACCHEUS A. DYER, a successful 
farmer and sterling citizen of New 
Sharon, Franklin Count)^ Me., was 
born in this town, June 2, 1819. 
He comes of an English family of ancient 
and honorable name, his direct ancestor. Sir 
James Dyer, having been Speaker of the House 
of Commons and Chief Justice of the Court of 
Common Fleas in the year 151 i. Mr. Dyer's 
grandfather came from Truro, Cajse Cod, to 
New Sharon, about one hundred years ago, and 
took up a tract of wild land of a hundred acres 
in extent. Clearing ten acres and building a 
log house during the first year, he moved his 
family into their new home the ensuing winter. 
The original tract of land owned by this first 
representative of the name in this State is now 
known as the farm of Benjamin C. Roby. 
Here the Cape Cod emigrant lived to a re- 
markable old age, dyijig, in the home he had 
fashioned so long ago, in his ninety-second 
year. His wife also lived to a green old age, 
for both came of hardy Ca]ie Cod stock. 
They were the parents of ten children — Reu- 
ben; Christopher; (iideon B. ; James; Henry; 
John; Nathaniel; Hannah; one who died in 
infancy; and a daughter (whose name cannot 
now be ascertained), who mariied Cajitain 
Small, of Truro, Mass. Christopher, the 




% 



<^ ii 



ZACCHEUS A. DYER. 



l!IO(a<Al'III(AL REVIEW 



49 



second-born son, became a man of prominence, 
holding the office of Town Clerk for forty- 
three years. 

Gideon B. Dyer, father of" Zaccheus A., was 
born on Cape Cod and was but eight years old 
when his father moved from Massachusetts to 
Maine. On coming of age he bought a tract 
of one hundred acres of land, which is now 
known as tiie Hamlin place. Extending the 
boundaries of his estate, later on, by the addi- 
tional purchase of two hundred and twenty-five 
acres, he became one of the most successful 
farmers of the locality. He faithfully dis- 
charged all the duties of citizen.ship both in 
peace and war, serving as a private during the 
War of 1812, and receiving a land warrant for 
his services in that short but lively struggle 
with (ireat Britain. He was Town Treasurer 
for some years. Religiously, he was con- 
nected by membership with the Free Baptist 
Church. On July 7, i.SiS, he wedded Mahala 
Sleeper, of Loudon, N.ll., who was born in 
1797, and died in 1857. .Si.x children were 
born to them — Zaccheus A., Mahala S. , Bar- 
low, Abigail -S. , Hannah A., and Samuel .S. 

Zaccheus A. Dyer, the special subject of 
this memoir, was educated in the common 
schools and at the Higii School of New 
Sharon. He remained under the parental roof 
until he had reached his twenty-sixth year, 
when he bought fifty acres of land and began 
his career as a farmer. By careful manage- 
ment and judicious investment he increased 
both the extent and value of his property until 
it now includes three hundred and twenty-five 
acres of well-cultivated land. In 1852 he 
built a new dwelling-house on his estate, 
which he still occupies. Besides holding 
many minor offices, Mr. Dyer has most ca- 
pably filled several positions of trust and 
honor, among them that of Deputy Sheriff, in 
which he served from i860 to 1870, and Sher- 
iff, holding the latter office from 1870 to 1876. 
He was a member of the legislature of 1878 
and 1879, representing the people of New 
Sharon with intelligence and fidelity. He has 
also served as Selectman of the town for one 
term. He is a Republican in political affilia- 
tion, and a Free Baptist in religious faith. 

March 23, 1843, was the date of his mar- 
riage with Miss Emily K. Cram, who w^as born 



in 1827, a daughter of (ieneral \'arnum Cram. 
F^ive children were the result of this union : 
Francette A., born August 27, 1845, died 
February 3, 1846; Augustus E., born June 
23, 1847, married Miss ICmilv Pottle, and is 
now the foreman of a shoe factory in Manches- 
ter, N.H. ; Roland H., born September 23, 
1S50, married, is a merchant antl hotel jirojiri- 
etor in South Dakota; Milton H. , born Octo- 
ber 7, 1852, died Sei)tembcr 30, 1880; War- 
ren C, born .September 21, 1855, manied 
Miss Churchill, and is now a jirominent man 
in Boulder, Boulder Count}', Col., where he 
holds the important and somewhat dangerous 
office of Sheriff. Mrs. I'jnily Cram Dyer 
died in i860, at the age of thirty-three years. 
(^n April 30, 1861, Mr. Dyer formed a second 
marriage with Miss Mary H. (lillman. This 
lady, who was born in 1820, was the daughter 
of Samuel Ciillman. She died in 1892, leav- 
ing no children. Two years later, June 23, 
1894, Mr. Dyer was again married. The 
present Mrs. Dyer was a Miss Affie Collins in 
her maidenhood, a daughter of John Collins 
of Starks. She was born in 1824, and was a 
widow when married to Mr. Dyer, her first 
husband having been Mr. Benjamin Bradford. 
Mr. Dyer is a member of the Masonic (Jrder, 
belonging to I<"ranklin Lodge, No. 123, A. !•". 
& A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs 
except that of Master. His eldest son is also 
a Mason, having attained the thirty-second de- 
gree in that ancient society. 




I-:V. STEPHEN D. RICHARDSON, 
a well-known clerg)man of Oxford 

is V County, whose home is in Hebron, 
and who is Secretary of the Hebron 
Academy Board of Trustees, of which he has 
been a member some twenty-one years, is a 
native of this town. He was born May 24, 
1S25, son of Adam and Margaret (Crooker) 
Richardson. 

Adam Richardson was born in Pembroke, 
Mass., May 24, 1781. A blacksmith by 
trade, he was also a com])etent farmer, and 
was a very industrious man. He died in 
Buckfield, December 28, 1843, survived by 
his wife Margaret, who was born in Buckfield 
in 1783, and was called to rest at the age of 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



seventy-four. They were the parents of ten 
children, namely: Susan, born February 7, 
iiSo6, who died in 1864; Margaret, born Feb- 
ruary 3 1, icSo.S, now a resident of Otisfield, 
Cumberland County, Me. ; Winslow, born Oc- 
tober I, 1810, who died in 1886; Adam, born 
July 18, 1812, who died in 1887; Rosella, 
l)orn March 22, 1815, who died in 1867; Pa- 
tience C. , born August 22, 1817, now residing 
in West Minot, Me. ; Mary F. , b(Jrn January 
I, 1820, who died in 1889; Lemuel C. , born 
August 23, 1822, who died in 1854; Stephen 
D., the subject of this sketch; and Rachel C, 
born September 16, 1827, now residing in 
West Minot, Me. The first four were natives 
of Hartford, Me., and the last six were natives 
of Hebron. Mr. Adam Richardson was a 
Whig in political preference. In religious 
matters he was liberal. 

Stephen D. was next to the youngest-born of 
the parental household. He grew to manhood 
in Hebron, and here received his early educa- 
tion, fitting for college at Hebron Academy, 
where he was assistant teacher in 1851 and 
1S52. He spent five years in Lawrence, 
Mass., employed as clerk in the Boston & 
Maine car shops, and then entered on his 
ministerial work after about six months' 
study of theology with the Rev. C. Parker. 
His first pastorate was at Manchester. Me., 
where he had charge of the Baptist church for 
ten years; and the fi\-e years following he was 
at Fayette Corner. In 1875 he was installed 
as pastor of the Bai)tist church in Hebron, 
which was under his able direction for twelve 
years ; and later he was pastor at Tenant's Har- 
bor, Me., three years. On account of his wife's 
feeble health he was then compelled to retire 
from active pastoral work, though supplying 
pulpits at intervals. Since living in Hebron 
he has supplied the church at Ikickfield for 
a year, the one in East Sumner for four years, 
also, in connection, the church at West .Sum- 
ner two and a half years, besides supplying 
for short periods churches in the surrounding 
towns. As a pastor he has been very popular 
and successful ; and he is still a very busy 
man, active in ministerial work, and perform- 
ing many important duties as Secretary of the 
Board of Trustees of Hebron Academy. 

This institution, which has been recently 



endowed and made a fitting-school for Colby 
College, with the addition of a handsome new 
building, Sturtevant Hall, is one of the best 
schools of the kind in the State, the tuition 
fees being very reasonable, considering the 
advantages offered. An able corps of teachers 
give instruction in Greek and Latin, moral 
science, history, Fnglish language and liter- 
ature and Biblical literature, the natural and 
physical sciences, mathematics and book-keep- 
ing, elocution, music, painting, and jienman- 
ship; and a fine gymnasium, heated by steam, 
supplied with baths, and furnished with all 
necessary gymnastic apparatus, helps to de- 
velop the bodily strength and elasticity re- 
quired to keep pace with mental growth. 
Circulars containing full information in regard 
to the academy are in charge of the Principal, 
William E. Sargent, A.M., and the Secretary, 
the Rev. S. D. Richardson. 

On April 15, 1855, Mr. Richardson was 
united in marriage with Miss Lizzie J. Mar- 
shall, who was born in Hebron, June 4, 1832, 
a daughter of Moses and Ruth (Whittemore) 
Marshall (both deceased). Mr. Mar.shall, 
who was born in Bethel, Me., was a mill- 
wright. Mrs. Richardson died in Hebron, 
June 29, 1894, after a long period of invalid- 
ism, leaving one son, Albert Marshall Rich- 
ardson. He was born in Manchester, Me., 
P'ebruary 28, 1863, fitted for college at 
Hebron Academy, and was graduated at Colby 
University in 1886. Though qualified to 
teach, and having had two years' exj)erience as 
an instructor in Wayland Seminary, Washing- 
ton, D.C., his taste is for mechanical work; 
and he has given some attention to the ma- 
chinist's trade. He returned to Hebron at 
the time of his mother's death, and has since 
made his home in this town. At present he 
is employed in Dr. Marshall & Dunham's 
splint manufactory in Portland, Me. In poli- 
tics a Republican, he has been elected to a 
number of town offices, and, having served for 
two years as School Supervisor, is now Town 
Clerk and Treasurer. He married Rosa, 
daughter of H. A. Cushman, of Hebron, and 
has two children — Norman C, born in 
Waterville, April 12, 1892; and Albert M., 
born in Hebron, July 27, i8g6. 

The Rev. Stephen D. Richardson has long 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IIAV 



lieen prdinincnt among the Republicans of 
his district. In 1869 he represented the town 
of Manchester, Me., in the State legislature; 
and he has been School Supervisor for twenty- 
three years, filling that office in different 
towns. He is now the stated sui)pl\- and act- 
ing pastor of the Baiitist church in Peru, Ox- 
ford County. 

To the entl of his life he will d(iubtless re- 
call among his most vivid remembrances his 
e.xperiences while at the front during the war 
of the Rebellion, when he rendered valuable 
services to his country and the cause of hu- 
manity as a delegate of the Christian Commis- 
sion, assigned to duty in the Shenandoah \'al- 
ley, \'irginia. He was for several weeks at 
Harper's Ferry, but most of the time at Win- 
chester, then the headquarters of the Middle 
Division, Veteran Corps, under General Sheri- 
dan, followed by General Hancock. He w^as 
there when the war closed, in charge of the 
Commission rooms, and was in Washington at 
the time of President Lincoln's funeral. 



ISAAC A. I). BLAKi:, ^LD., of Wil- 
ton, a well-known physician of the ho- 
UKijpathic school and a veteran of the 
Civil War, was horn in Lisbon, i\Ie. , 
December 24, 1833, son of Zebulon and .Sarah 
A. (Durgin) Blake. His grandfather, John 
Blake, was an Englishman w'ho emigrated to 
America in Colonial times, and served as a 
soldier in the Continental Army during the 
Revolutionary War. After the close of the 
war John Blake settled upon a tract of wild 
land in Maine, where he cleared a good farm, 
and thereafter resided upon it until his death, 
which occurred when he was eighty years old. 
He married Mercy Dean, and she lived to 
reach the advanced age of ninety-four years. 
Her children \yere — John, Sally, William, 
Polly, Zebulon, and Susan. ^ 

Zebulon Blake, Dr. Blake's father, who w^as 
also a native of IJsbon, followed agriculture 
during the active period of his life. In 1S35 
he moved to Detroit, Me., where he tilled the 
soil of a good farm until his retirement from 
active labor. Selling his property in Detroit, 
he removed to Penobscot County, where he 
lived till 187J. Lie then moved to Wilton. 



Here he spent the rest of his life, and he died 
at the age of ninety-one years. His wife, 
Sarah, bore him ten children, of whom John 
W. died in infancy, and three others before 
I'eaching maturit}'. The rest were — Abbie, 
Lliram W. , Isaac A. D. , Jane, Nellie, and 
John W. (second). The mother lived to be 
eightv-four \'ears old. 

Isaac A. I). IMake acquired his early educa- 
tion in the schfiols of Detroit, Me. He sub- 
sequently attended the Hampden Academy 
and the East Maine C'onfercnce Seminary at 
]?ucks]iort. Me. After stud)ing medicine with 
Dr. Hamilton of Hartland, he attended the 
Homctopathic College at Cleveland, Ohio, 
during the year 1858-59, and the Pennsyl- 
vania Medical I'niversity during that of 1860- 
61. He gradliated from the latter institution 
in 1861, and began the practice nf his profes- 
sion in Philaiiclphia. A short time after leav- 
ing college he enlisted for service in the Civil 
War, being commissioned .Second Sergeant of 
Companv D, Twenty-ninth Regiment, Penn- 
sylvania- X'olunteer Infantry, with which he 
served as Sergeant and Lieutenant until his 
discharge on April 8, 1864. He afterward 
re-entered the army as .Surgeon of the Seventy- 
third Regiment, Pennsylvania \'olunteers, and 
served until the close of the war. During the 
interval that elapsed between his first discharge 
and his re- enlistment, he practised medicine in 
O.xford, Pa., After the war he located in 
North Carmel, Me., where he had a large prac- 
tice f(n- three years. On account of his wife's 
health he then moved to Lakewood, Ocean 
County, N.J., where he resided until 1880. 
Returning to Maine in that year he located in 
Wilton, where he has since practised with suc- 
cess. For some years he was able to with- 
stand the fatigue and exposure of a country 
physician's practice; but the long rides, to- 
gether with his increasing w-eight, acting on 
a constitution weakened by four years' expos- 
ure in the war, finally caused sjiinal and heart 
troubles. These infirmities compelled him to 
give up his outside patients, and confine him- 
self to his office practice. Soon after estab- 
lishing himself here he bought the Dunn home- 
stead on Main Street. This he has since re- 
modelled into a handsome residence in which 
his office is located. He is still the regular 



5-' 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



jihysician of many prominent families in 
W ilton. 

In 1864 iJr. ]5iake was united in marriage 
to Mary H. Hill, of Philadelphia. She is a 
daughter of James Hill, an Englishman, and 
a shoemaker by trade. Dr. and Mrs. ]^lake 
have had four children, as follows: Florine, 
who died before reaching maturity; another 
child who died in infancy; Alfred C. ; and 
Louisa. Alfred C. graduated from the Wil- 
ton Academy in 1891, and entered Colby Uni- 
versity, class of 1895. His failing eyesight 
compelled him to leave at the end of one year. 
He has since been engaged in teaching, and 
is now Principal of the High School at Vance- 
boro. Louisa is now the wife of the Rev. 
Charles H. Williams, a Baptist minister, and 
has one son, Charles Spurgeon. In politics 
Ur. Blake is an Independent Republican. He 
is connected with Williamson Lodge, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is 
Secretary. Both he and Mrs. Blake are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



TT^HARLES W. FLINT, a retired farmer 
I V^ of .Sweden, Oxford County, Me., and 
^^is^^ a veteran of the Civil War, was 
born upon the farm he now owns and 
occupies, August 7, 1 S26, son of Xathaniel and 
Rebecca (Ingalls) Mint. Mr. Flint's parents 
were both natives of Bridgton, Me., his pa- 
ternal grandfather, James P'lint, w^ho was born 
in Reading, North Parish, now North Read- 
ing, Mass., having come to Maine and settled 
upon a farm in that town in 1776. He was 
a son of Captain John Flint, grandson of Eb- 
enezer, and great-grandson of George and 
Elizabeth (Putnam) PMint, all residents of the 
North Parish of Reading. George I'lint, 
known as Sergeant P'lint, w^as the second son 
of Thomas PTint. who settled in Salem, Mass., 
before 1650. (See P'lint Genealogy.) 

Nathaniel I'lint, son of James, resided in 
Bridgton until after his marriage, when he 
moved to Sweden and settled upon a tract of 
wild land. P'or some time he occupied a log 
house, but after clearing off a large part of his 
land he erected a set of frame buildings. He 
continued to reside here until his death, 
which took place in 1875. His wife, who 



was before marriage Rebecca Ingalls, became 
the mother of eight children, seven sons and 
one daughter, as follows: Rebecca, who mar- 
ried Jonathan Whitney; Nathaniel; Reuben 
I.; John; Benjamin; Charles W. ; Samuel; 
and Marshall — of whom the only survivor is 
Charles W., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. 
Rebecca Ingalls P'lint died in June, 1870. 

Charles W. Flint received a common-school 
education in his boyhood, and had the addi- 
tional advantage of one term at the high 
school. He resided at home assisting his 
father upon the farm until he was twenty-one 
years old, when he married and settled upon 
a piece of agricultural property in the south- 
east part of this town. Six years later he re- 
turned to the homestead; and, after caring for 
his parents during the rest of their lives, he 
inherited the estate. Mr. P'lint's life, how- 
ever, has not all been spent in the peaceful 
pursuits of husbandry. Responding to Presi- 
dent Lincoln's call for troops to defend the 
imperilled Pinion, on September 29, 1862, he 
enlisted as a private in Company B, Twenty- 
third Maine Volunteer Infantry. The regi- 
ment was commanded by Colonel Virgin ; and 
Company B, which w-as originally commanded 
by Captain Little, w-as afterward led by Cap- 
tain WinthrofD C. Plall. They were assigned 
to do general duty in the vicinity of the Po- 
tomac River, where Mr. P'lint's health became 
permanently injured through long-continued 
exposure; and after his discharge in Portland, 
July 5, 1S63, he returned to Sweden, where 
he resumed farming. He has improved the 
farm by clearing off considerable woodland, 
thus adding to its tillage area ; and in connec- 
tion with general farming he has conducted 
lumbering operations during the winter sea- 
sons. He now owns, besides the home farm of 
one hundred and twenty-five acres, a tract of 
fifty acres, situated in another part of the 
town, together with considerable wikl land. 
Since his retirement from active labor the 
farm has been managed by his son. 

Mr. Flint has been twice married. His 
first wife, whom he wedded P'ebruary 3, 1848, 
was before marriage Sarah ¥. Stearns. She 
was born in Lovell, Me., May 2, 1826, daugh- 
ter of General Solomon and Sarah (Heald) 
Stearns, the former of whom was a prosperous 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



53 



fanner of that town. She ilied July 2, 1S53, 
leaving three children, namely: Charles F., 
who was born January 9, 1849, married Jennie 
Harmon, of Bridgton, and now lives in West 
Sterling, Mass. ; Solomon S. , who was born 
August 13, 1850, married Emma Hubbard, of 
Worcester, Mass., and now resides in that 
city; and Benjamin W., who was born Decem- 
ber 14, 1851, married Mrs. Abby Weeks, and 
is now residing in Chatham, N. H. 

On May 20, 1855, Mr. Flint married his 
present wife, whose maiden name was Jane M. 
Bennett. She was born in Freedom, N.H., 
March 24, 1836, daughter of William and 
Charlotte (Bennett) Ik-nnett. Her father, 
who was a native of Bridgton, was a house 
carpenter, and followed his trade in Freedom, 
Sweden, and l?ridgton. He died in his native 
town. His wife, who was born in Freedom, 
N.H., spent her last days in Massachusetts. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Flint have been born thir- 
teen children, of whom a brief record may 
here be given, as follows: Nathaniel F. was 
born May 8, 1857, and died December 15, 
1858; Sarah J. was born October 5, 1858, and 
is the wife of J. Frank l^ryant, of West 
Bridgton; William M. was born June 7, i860, 
married Nellie Pike, and resides in Sweden; 
John B. was born February 19, 1862, is a 
prominent young man of the town, and has 
always resided at the homestead; George A. 
was born July 14, 1864, married Ada Dawes, 
and now lives in Harrison, Me. ; Marshall I. 
was born November 12, 1865, and died .Sep- 
tember 29, 1872; Eben I. was born June 23, 
1867, and is now living at home; Lilly M. 
was born September 6, 1869, and is the wife 
of Wilbur D. Moulton, of this town ; Joseph 
was born April 30, 1S71, and died October 8, 
1875; I{liza A. was born December 3, 1873, 
and is living at home; Royal N. was born 
June 12, 1877; Alfonzo F. and Alonzo J., 
twins, who were born September 12, 1878, 
are residing at home. 

In politics Mr. Flint is a Republican. Ik- 
sides holding some of the minor town offices, 
he has ably served as a member of the Board 
of Selectmen for several terms, was Super- 
visor for a number of years, and has been a 
member of the School Board. He is con- 
nected with Cumberland Lodge, Independent 



Order of Odd I-'ellows, of Bridgton, and was 
formerly connected with the grange in this 
town. Mr. and Mrs. Flint are members of 
the Free Baptist church. 



MADISON LUDDI'lN, one of Can- 
ton's successful farmers, and well 
kiinwn thiciughout tiiis section as a 
skillnl musician, was born upon the 
farm he now owns and nccuiiies, November 
20, 1S45, son of Jacob and Jane C. (Wilson) 
Ludden. 

Mr. Ludden's granilfathci', Jacob I.utldcn, 
first, was an early settler in Turner; but in 
1817 he moved from that town to Canton, 
where he settled upon a small farm located 
near the Di.vfield line. He worked at black- 
smithing and farming here for many years, 
and also took a [jrominent part in public af- 
fairs, serving in the House of Rei)resentatives 
when the Maine legislature met in I'oitland. 
He died in 1837, aged si.xty years. In poli- 
tics Grandfather Ludden was a Democrat, and 
in his religious views he was a Universalist. 
His wife, Lydia Soule, lived to reach a good 
old age. She was the mother of eleven chil- 
dren, namely : John ; Temperance ; Aaron, who 
died at the age of fourteen ' years ; Lydia; 
Jacob; Daniel; Luther; I-"lora ; Phcebe ; Pere- 
grine; and Manderville T. 

Jacob Ludden, sec(.)nd, the fifth child, was 
born in Turner, January 14, 1814. In young 
manhood he learned the blacksmith's trade, 
which was his principal occupation through 
life; and after his marriage he settled upon the 
old Wilson farm in Canton. A man of con- 
siderable energy and ability, he took a ileei) 
interest in educational affairs. He dietl June 
20, 1886. In politics he was a Democrat, 
and in religion a believer in the doctrine of 
universal salvation. His wife, Jane C. Wil- 
son, whom he married in 1834, was born upon 
the farm where her son now resides, August 
10, 1820, daughter of Goin and Sally (Cool- 
idge) Wilson. Goin Wilson was a native of 
Poland, and was a Democrat in politics. 
Settling in this town, he cleared from the wil- 
derness what has since been known as the 
Goin Wilson homestead. Both he and his 
wife, Sallv Cot)lidge, who was born in Canton, 



54 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



lived to reach the age of eighty years. Mrs. 
Jane C. Wilson Ludden survives her hu.sband, 
and resides at the homestead with her son, 
J. Madison, the subject of this sketch, who is 
the only one of her children living. The 
others were: Gowen W. , who died December 
3.S, 1868; Sarah J., who became the wife of 
W. J. Nalley, and died November 27, 1891 ; 
and Linus C. , who died August 17, 1863. 

J. Madison Ludden was educated in the 
town schools and grew to manhood upon his 
present farm in Canton. He has given his 
attention to various occupations, but chiefly 
to general farming and blacksmithing. His 
property, which he inherited from his mother, 
consists of about one hundred and twenty-five 
acres of fertile land. P'or the past twenty-five 
years he has been a member of Towle's Or- 
chestra, in which he plays the clarionet; and 
his musical ability has been not only a source 
of pleasure, but very profitable to him. 

By his first wife, Flora L. Kidder, whom he 
w^edded on July 4, i86g, Mr. Ludden had one 
daughter — Electa L., who died at the age of 
nearly three years. Mrs. Mora L. Ludden 
died June 7, 1886; and on August 29, 1887, 
Mr. Ludden married for his second wife Mrs. 
Nellie A. Caswell, who was born in Liver- 
more, August 16, 1850, daughter of Amasa 
Phillips. There are no children by this mar- 
riage. By her union with her first husband, 
Albert Caswell, Mr.s. Ludden has two daugh- 
ters: Mabel R., wife of Fred C. Berry; and 
Nellie A. Mr. Ludden's nephew, Charles 
L. Small, resides with him. A worthy rep- 
resentative of one of the early settlers here, 
Mr. Ludden enjoys the esteem and good will 
of all. In politics he is a Democrat, and has 
served as a Selectman and in other town 
offices. He is a member of Canton (irange, 
Patrons of Husbandry; and he and Mrs. Lud- 
den attend the L'niver.salist church. 



jjrosperous 
butcher of 



(-(jifESSE Y. SIMMONS, a 
fanner and commission 
I'armington, Franklin County, was 
born in Kingfield, this county, Decem- 
ber 16, 1839. 1^6 is a son of Daniel and 
Beulah (Winter) Simmons, and a grandson of 
Muses and Betsev Simmons. Moses Simmons, 



who was a hard-working farmer, settled at an 
early date on a farm in Kingfield, and there 
reared a family in comparative comfort. He 
lived about seventy years, and his wife lived 
seventy-five. 

Daniel Simmons was born April 8, 1812. 
Having inherited one-half of the home farm 
in Kingfield, he erected on it a set of build- 
ings, and afterwards lived there until 1854. 
In that year he sold the property and moved to 
New Portland, Me., purchasing there one hun- 
dred and forty acres of land. On this property 
he has made many improvements. He subse- 
quently purchased other land in the north part 
of the town. In the w'inter of 1896 he sawed 
and chopped for the stove si.xteen cords of 
wood, finishing on his eighty-fourth birthday. 
At this writing he has a patch of corn planted, 
to which he is giving especial care. He has 
been a Republican since the formation of the 
party, and he -served as Selectmen of New 
Portland for a number of years. In religious 
belief he is a Universalist. His wife died in 
1886, at the age of si.xty-eight. Their chil- 
dren were — Betsey W., born Ajiril 16, 1838; 
Jesse v., the subject of this sketch; Moses, 
born December 29, 1843; John W. , born 
April 21, 1846; I^lmer W., born October 31, 
1849; Lettice, who lived but three years; Or- 
lando, born December 24, 1853; Orrin W., 
born September 12, 1856; and Alice K., born 
March 14, 1861. 

Jesse \'. Simmons acquired his education 
in the jniblic schools. While yet a mere lad 
he began to earn his living as a clerk in a gro- 
cery and provision store in Lewiston, Me. 
After some years he had saved enough from 
his wages to purchase the homestead in New- 
Portland. After carrying on general farming 
here for ten years, he sold the place and once 
more engaged as clerk. Some time after, he 
purchased the place of J. Landers in Farming- 
ton, and in 18S8 he erected a slaughter-house. 
He has been employed occasionally in Farm- 
ington also as clerk; but his principal occupa- 
tion is butchering stock and sending to the 
city markets for the farmers. He has a good 
farm, where he raises some general crops. 

On July 5, 1875, Mr. Simmons was united 
in marriage with Lydia M., daughter of Wins- 
low and Mary (Small) Small. Her father 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



SS 



was a son of David Small, a farmer of ^Au- 
burn, Me., who settled in Gray, this county, 
where he died at the age of seventy. David 
Small's wife lived to be about fourscore, and 
her children were — Winslow, Charlotte, Cyn- 
thia, Nancy, and Margaret. Winslow Small 
was born in the town of (iray, and reared to 
agricultural pursuit.s. In his earl)- manhood 
he was engaged in teaming, but he eventually 
bought the homestead. /After managing this 
for some time, he sold it antl purchased a large 
farm in the town of Rennford, Oxford County, 
which was his home in his last years. He 
died July i, 1885, aged seventy-nine years, 
and his wife passed away in her seventy-sixth 
year. Their children were — Nathaniel, Mras- 
tus, Andrew, John, David, Hannah, Lorena, 
Thomas, Lydia, Mary, and Royal. In ])olitics 
Mr. Simmons is a Republican; in religious 
belief, a Universal i.st. Mrs. Simmons is a 
member of the Free Will ]5aptist church. 




ARON O. CORB]{TT, who is success- 
fidly tilling the soil of a productive 
farm in Paris, O.xford County, was 
born in Farmington, Me., August 
26, 1856, son of Moses and Funice (Tarbox) 
Corbett. 

Moses Corbett, who was born in .Strong, 
Franklin County, Me., was a farmer and a 
useful citizen of his town. Strong and ener- 
getic, he was well adapted to his calling, 
which he followed until his death, which took 
place when he was sixty-seven years old. His 
wife, luniice, who was a native of Limington, 
Me., became the mother of three children — 
Aaron O. ; (icorgietta, wife of William Foster, 
of Paris; and Bertha J., wife of Lester M. 
Turner, of Huckfield, Me. Mrs. Moses Cor- 
bett still survives, and resides with her daugh- 
ter in Buckfield. 

Aaron O. Corbett grew to manhood in 
P'armington and Hebron, Me. ; and his educa- 
tion was acquired in the district schools. 
When a young man he engaged in shoemaking, 
which occupation he followed in Auburn, Me., 
for eight years. He then bought a farm of 
sixty acres in Hebron, which he carried on 
for a time; but in 1878 he sold it, and, corn- 
ing to Paris, purchased his present farm of 



two hundred acres. He is one of the rising 
and progressive agriculturists of this section, 
having been successful from the start. He 
devotes his attention to general farming and 
dairying, besides raising a large annual crop 
of hay. November 29, 1875, Mr. Coriiett 
married Nancy D. Verrill, of Minot, Me., 
daughter of George and Nancy (Da\'is) \'er- 
rill. Mrs. Corbett's [jaients weie natives of 
Minot, where her father was a prosperous 
farmer. Neither is now living. Mr. and 
Mrs. Corbett have had seven children, as fol- 
lows: Julia M., Fred H., Isabella M., Grace 
E., Howard K., Millard L., and George W. 
The last named died at the age of five years. 
Mr. Corbett is indejiendent in politics and 
liberal in his religious views. Mrs. Corbett 
attends the Methodist lijiiscopal church. 



B 



AVID G. PRIDE, of Waterford 
township, is a good representative 
^J of the sturdy, thriving agricult- 
urists of Oxford County. He was 
born November 23, 1824, on the farm where 
he now resides, son of Josiah and Sophia 
(Fairbanks) Pride. His paternal grandfather, 
Benjamin Pride, was a pioneer of Waterford, 
whither he came, accompanied by his son 
Nathaniel, from Cumberland County. ■ On 
his arrival here, Benjamin Ijought some land, 
and on it established the first saw-mills seen 
in this vicinity. From that time until his 
death, in 1832, he was engaged in farming 
and manufacturing lumber. 

Josiah Pride, born in Falmouth, Me., was 
reared in this town. After his marriage with 
Miss Sophia Fairbanks, a native of Berlin, 
Mass., he settled on the homestead now owned 
and occupied by his son, David G., and in 
its improvement was busily engaged until his 
demise, January 3, i860. His wife, who dieil 
March 27, 1858, bore him five children, of 
whom the following is recorded: Edwin F., 
formerly a mason at Naples, Me., was born 
August 18, 1820, and died October 14, i88g; 
Charles F., born June 14, 1822, died Septem- 
ber 3, 1822; David G. is the subject of this 
sketch; Sophia A., born July 2, 1832, married 
Leander G. Stone, and lived in Waterford 
until her death, March 12, 1872; and William 



S6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



VV., born June 7, 1S37, married Rachel Hall, 
and now lives in Norway, this county. 

David G. Pride received his early education 
in the district schools. Beginning while still 
very young, he assisted his father in clearing 
and improving the home farm. Including the 
ancestral homestead to which he succeeded, he 
is now the owner of three hundred acres of 
land. He has managed his property with 
ability, carrying on general farming, dairy- 
ing, and stock raising. In politics he is a 
stanch Democrat, and he is one of the most 
highly esteemed residents of the county. He 
served as Selectman of Waterford in 1883 and 
1884. 

On May 19, 1852, Mr. Pride married Miss 
Martha Marston, who was born May 28, 1833, 
in the adjoining town of Norway. She is a 
daughter of Hrackett and Sarah (Hall) Mars- 
ton, natives of Falmouth, Me., who became 
residents of Norway, where they owned a farm. 
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Pride are: 
Charles A., born May 30, 1853, who married 
Rose A. Marston, of Albany, this county, and 
is now a farmer of Norway village: Clarence 
H., born July 9, 1857, who married Lillian 
Johnson, assists his father in the management 
of the farm, and has been Chairman of the 
Waterford Board of Selectmen for the past five 
years: Lizzie B. , born November i, i860, 
who is the wife of Horace Mixer, of Norway 
village; Grace M., born June 15, 1865, who 
lives with her parents; Frank D. , born July 
24, 1 87 1, who died March 12, 1872; and D. 
Loring, horn May 10, 1874, who also lives at 
home. 




[(7)^l"0RACE L. STANLEY, who owns 
and cultivates one of the best farms 
in Chesterville, I-'ranklin County, 
was born in this town, March 14, 
1857. He is a son of George W. and Mary 
D. (Jewell) Stanley, and is a descendant of 
an early settler of Winthrop, Me., his great- 
grandfather, Aden Stanley, who fought for 
American Independence at Lexington, Bunker 
Hill, and elsewhere, having been one of the 
first to locate in that town. Aden Stanley was 
a carriage-maker Ijy trade, as were all of his 
sons. He lived to the advanced age of ninety- 



two years. His son, Lemuel, the next in 
line to the subject of this sketch, was both a 
native and a lifelong resident of Winthrop. 
Besides carriage-making he was engaged in 
farming. He was an upright, conscientious 
man, thrifty and industrious, and was a promi- 
nent figure in the community in which he 
lived. In his religious opinions he was a 
Congregationalist. He married Mehitable 
Gilman, a native of Norridgewock, Me. 

George W. Stanley, father of Horace L., 
was born in Winthrop, October 28, 181 5. In 
early manhood he learned the carriage-maker's 
trade. .Shortly after his marriage he moved to 
Norridgewock, where he conducted business 
for ten years; and then, in 183-2, he came to 
Chesterville. Purchasing a lot in the \illage 
he built a large shop, and, engaging in the 
manufactiu-ing of carriages, did a flourishing 
business until 1S65, when he retired from that 
enterprise and bought the farm of one hundred 
acres which is now owned by his son. In 
1876 he erected a new residence, fashioned 
somewhat after the Queen Anne style, and 
subsequently used the old house for a shop. 
He carried on general farming very success- 
fully until his death, which took place August 
9, 1890. He was a man of good business abil- 
ity and of great personal worth. He took a 
lively interest in public affairs, and as one of 
the leading citizens of the town he was highly 
respected. Originally a Whig, he entered the 
ranks of the Republican party at its formation. 
In his religious affiliations he was a Free Will 
Baptist. His wife, Mary D., whom he mar- 
ried May 4, 1842, was a daughter of Robert 
and Nicy (Grover) Jewell. Her father was a 
native of Fox Island, Me., and a son of James 
Jewell, who came from England. Robert 
Jewell, who was twice married, became the 
father of twelve children, and Mr. Stanley's 
mother was the second daughter by his second 
union. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Stanley be- 
came the parents of ten children, as follows: 
Cyrus A., born in 1S43; Allen F., born in 
1844, died in 1863, while serving in the army; 
Mary F., born in 1S46; Sarah E., born in 
1848; Annette, born in 1850, died in infancy, 
all the foregoing being born in Norridgewock; 
George E., born in 1852; Addie J., born in 
1854; Horace L., whose nativity is clsewliere 




t^ 



^» 




GEORGE W. STANLEY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



59 



given; Lizzie S. , born in 1859; and Mdwarci 
R., born in 1863, the last five being natives of 
Chesterville. A portrait of the father of this 
worthy family is presented in connection with 
this article. 

Horace L. Stanley acqnired the elementary 
branches of his education in the common 
schools, and completed his studies at the 
Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents Hill. At 
the age of nineteen he began his independent 
career, finding work as a farm assistant, and 
was thus employed until attaining his major- 
ity. P'roni that time until he was twenty-five 
he assisted in carrying on the home farm. He 
then went to Boston, where he remained si.\ 
months, at the end of which time he was called 
home on account of serious injuries sustained 
by his father as the result of being thrown 
from his carriage. He has since resided here, 
taking charge of the homestead and having 
cared for his father during his last days. In 
1893 he received from his mother a full title 
to the property, including the stock, imple- 
ments, and machinery. This farm not only 
occupies a beautiful location, but is one of the 
most fertile and productive in this section. It 
includes a fine orchard of grafted fruit trees, 
and is fully sujsplied with all modern improve- 
ments. At present there are upon the place 
five splendid Jersey cows and three fine horses. 
As an energetic and thoroughly practical 
farmer Mr. Stanley is a distinct .success. 
Having advanced rapidly to a position of prom- 
inence among his fellow-townsmen he is re- 
garded by them with respect and esteem. In 
politics he acts with the Republican party, and 
his religious opinions are broad and liberal. 



jUFrANK L. WATSON, a successful 
1^ farmer and prominent resident of 
Hiram, O.xford County, Me., was born 
upon the farm he now owns and cultivates, in 
this town, March 28, 1837, son of Walter F. 
and Ruth (Hubbard) Watson. Mr. Watson's 
farm was cleared from the wilderness by his 
great-grandfather, who came to Hiram in 

1779. John Watson, Mr. Watson's grand- 
father, .son of the pioneer, was born here in 

1780, and died here in 1863, having resided 
upon the homestead property during his entire 



life. His wife, whose niaiilen name was Abi- 
gail l'"oss, died in Hiram in 1870. She was 
the mother of si.xteen children, of whom the 
only survivor is Seviah, the youngest, now the 
wife of Chauncy R. Berry, of Deering, Me. 

Walter V. Watson, son of John Watson, was 
born at the homestead in Hiram; and, with the 
exception of five years spent in the mining 
districts of California, he resided here and 
tilled the soil throughout the active jiericd of 
his life. He died July 4, 1880. His wife, 
formerly Ruth Hubbard, a native of Berwick, 
Me., was the mother of four children, as fol- 
lows: Francis, who died at the age of two 
years; I""rank L., the subject of this sketch; 
Zilpha, wife of Charles W. Deering, a pros- 
perous farmer of Gorham, Me. ; and Arabella, 
wife of Fdwin Woodman, a machinist of Bid- 
deford, Me. Mrs. Ruth H. Watson, surviving 
her husband but a short time, died in October, 
1880. 

Frank L. Watson acL|uired his elementary 
education in the common schools, and pursued 
a more advanced course of study at the Lim- 
ington Academy. At the age of si.xteen he 
left home and went to Biddeforil, Me., where 
he was emidoyed ujion a farm for two years; 
and he then returned to Hiram. He took 
charge of the home farm during the last three 
years of his father's absence in California, and 
has since continued to manage the property. 
He owns one hundred acres of desirable laiul, 
which is well adapted to the raising of staple 
jjroducts, such as hay, corn, and potatoes; and 
he ships a great deal of milk to Portland. He 
also does quite a large business as a dealer in 
mowing machines and agricultural implements. 

In May, 1856, Mr. Watson married Char- 
lotte Evans, a native of this town. Her par- 
ents, Oliver and Mary (Locke) Fvans, who 
were prosperous farming people of Hiram, are 
no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have 
had si.x children, namely: Cora, who was born 
September 16, 1857, married Cieorge R. Clem- 
ens, of Hiram, and died at the age of thirty- 
seven years; Mary E. , whose birthday was the 
Fourth of July, a year or two later, and who is 
now the wife of Charles 1-". Wakefield, a 
farmer in California; Charles W. , who was 
born February 26, 1865, and died October 9 
of the same year; Charles Walter, who was 



6o 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



born Octcibcr i, 1867, and diecl in July, i8<S4; 
John F., who was born September 25, 1869, 
and is assisting iiis father in carrying on the 
farm; and Eunice B., who was born October 
23, 1 87 1, and died February 21, 1892. 

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Watson has 
been [iromineiitly active in local jniblic 
affairs, having served as Chairman of the 
Hoard of Selectmen, Town Treasurer, and Col- 
lector for several years. He was made a 
Mason in 1865 in Mount Moriah Lodge, A. F. 
& A. M., of 13enmark, Me. As a citizen of 
worth and abilit)', he is highly esteemeil by 
his fellow-townsmen. 



\ ^ I farmer of New Sh? 
^— ^ this town, October 



/ fjTTT R 1 1 A M B A K V. R, a prosperous 

iaron,\vas born in 
13, I 81 5, son of 
i'llisha and Lydia (Winslow) Baker. Mr. 
Baker's grandfather, I'rince Baker, who was 
horn in 1742, moved with his father from 
Damariscotta, Lincoln County, to New Sharon 
when he was a young man. With three others 
Prince Baker bought the township, which, 
when sold, realized but twelve cents per acre. 
He died in Mercer, Somerset County, in 1829, 
at the age of eighty-seven years. 

Elisha leaker, Mr. Baker's father, was born 
in iJamariscotta, January 31, 1777. His boy- 
hood was passed upon his father's farm, and he 
acquired his education in the common schools 
of New Sharon. When a young man he 
bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, 
situated on the Sandy River Road, and con- 
ducted it for several years. He finally tradeil 
it to his father for the present homestead, 
where he resided until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1 86 1, at the age of eighty-five years. 
In politics he was a Republican, and in his 
religious belief he was a Free Will Baptist. 
During the War of 181 2 he reported for ser- 
\ice at Hallowell, where he was detained 
but a short time. He afterward received 
from the government a warrant for one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land. His wife, 
Lydia Winslow, who spent her childhood on 
the coast of Maine, near Boothbay Harbor, 
at a later date came to Industry with her 
father. .She had ten children: namely. Ex- 
perience, Nicholas W., Betsey, Sumner, Abel, 



Russell, Gorham, Gardner, and two others who 
died in infancy. 

Gorham Baker acquired a common -school 
education. Upon reaching his majority he 
began to work as an assistant upon the home- 
stead farm. Since succeeding to the property 
he has made various improvements, increasing 
the acreage by the purchase of more land, 
which now amounts to one hundred and sixty- 
six acres. On December r8, 1839, Mr. liaker 
wedded Harriet Stowers, daughter of John 
Stowers, of I'armington, this county. She 
has had seven children — Katherine K., F'lisha 
G. , Benjamin F., Mary E., John M., Amos 
L. , and Hattie F. Katherine E. , born in 1841, 
married Jason Lufkin, of Champlain, Minn., 
and has had two children, namely: Edwin B., 
now deceased, who was born July 5, 1869; 
and F'rank B., who was born March 27, 1871.. 
Elisha G. , born in 1842, served three years 
in the Sixteenth Regiment, Maine Infantry, 
during the Civil War, anti is now a blacksmith 
in the village of New Sharon. Benjamin !•". 
was born in 1844. Mary E. and John M., 
twins, were born in 1849. The latter died in 
infancy. Amos L. was born in 185 i. Hattie 
F., born in 1858, is now the widow of the late 
Theodore T. Prince, and resides at the home- 
stead. She has three children, namely: 
Blanche E., who was Ijorn March 26, 1S80; 
Nina M., who was born May 25, 1884; and 
Mildred T., born January 3, 1894. Mr. Bakeii 
is highly respectetl by his neighbors, and is 
regarded as one of the most successful farmers 
of this locality. 

KRANCIS MARION NOBLE, a prac- 
tical and progressive farmer at Noble's 
Corner, Norway, Me., was born in this 
town, March 31, 1845. His paternal grand- 
father, Nathan Noble, second, born near Port- 
land in 1761, was a son of Nathan, first, a 
native of New Milford, Conn. Grandfather 
Noble and his wife, Hannah Hobbs, reared a 
large number of children, among them being 
Nathan, Jr., the father of the subject of this 
sketch. 

Nathan Noble, Jr., was engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits in North Norway for several 
years, but later opened a store of general mer- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



61 



cliandise at what is now known as Noble's 
Corner, the place having been named in his 
honor. After continuing in mercantile busi- 
ness for some years, he sokl out his store and 
resumed farming, in which he was engaged 
until his demise, March 31, 1883. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Mary Jordan, was 
born in Otisfield, Cumberland County, Me., 
and dieii I''ebruary 16, 1890, in the town of 
Niu'way. They had ten children, eiglit of 
whom are now deceaseil, namely: Isannali C. , 
who married in 1843 Uriah Holt Upton; Cor- 
delia D., who niarrietl Simon Hukins; Eliza- 
beth A., who was the wife of the late Moses 
Harmon; Gilbert, who died at the age of 
twenty-one years; Aurelius C, who married 
Elizabeth McAllister; Caroline, who married 
Nathaniel G. Frost, of Oxford village; Martha 
J., who died in 1888; and Mary Ellen. The 
survivors are: William H. and Francis Mar- 
ion. William H. Noble, now living with his 
brother, married the late Julia Boothby. He 
served bravely in the late Rebellion, being 
a member of Company G, One Hundred and 
Tenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and later of 
Company G, Twenty-ninth Maine Volunteer 
Infantry, and at the battle of Cedar Creek lost 
his right arm, for which injur\" he now re- 
ceives a pension. 

Francis Marion Noble, whose course in 
life is now to be briefly set forth, was the 
Jenth and youngest child of his j^arents. 
When but a stripling of si.xteen years, he en- 
listed in his country's service, joining Com- 
]iany G, Fourteenth Maine V'olunteer Infantry, 
under Captain Cheney and Colonel Nickerson. 
He was mustered in at Augusta, Me., when he 
went to Ship Island, and then to New Orleans, 
going from there to Baton Rouge, where they 
met a body of Confederate troops, under com- 
mand of Colonel Breckinridge, with whom 
they had a pitched battle, August 5, 1862. 
In the summer of 1863 he was engaged in the 
siege of Port Hudson, La. Crossing the 
country to Petersburg, Va., the regiment was 
with Sheridan's forces in the Shenandoah \'al- 
ley, where they remained three months, taking 
an active part in various engagements. While 
there Mr. Noble received a serious gunshot 
wound, which necessitated his being taken 
to the McClellan Hospital in Philadelphia. 



Five months later he rejoinetl his regiment at 
Savannah, Ga., where he was stationed until 
the close of the war. He was not in any 
battle after the one at Winchester, where he 
was wounded. On August 25, 1865, he re- 
ceived his discharge at Darien Ridge, Geor- 
gia. On being mustered out of service, Mr. 
Noble returned to his native place, and soon 
afterward bought his present farm, consisting 
of one hundred and eighty acres, on which he 
has faithfully labored. I'"ortune has smiled 
on his undertakings, his estate being finely 
improved, and much of the land under cultiva- 
tion. He carries on the various branches of 
general agriculture, paying some attention to 
dairying, and being quite an extensive stock- 
raiser. 

On SepteuTber 17, 186S, Mr. Noble married 
Miss Myra Pike Hall, who was born March 4, 
1850, in Norway,- daughter of William and 
Mary I'. (Towne) H.ill, both natives of this 
town, the father being a well-known farmer. 
He died in 1856. Mrs. Hall died on Novem- 
ber 12, 185S. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have five 
children, as follows: Frank G., born July 25, 
1869; Fred H., born March 23, 1873; Nathan 
A., born October 28, 1876; Willie M., born 
June 12, 1 886; and Lona E., born February 
7, 1888. Frank G. Noble, now a farmei- in 
Norway, married Emma L. Symonds, and they 
have one child, Dora Frances; and Fred H. 
Noble, also a Norway farmer, married Chris 
B. Tubbs, and has one child, a daughter, Ca- 
lista Marion. 

In politics Mr. Noble is a steatlfast Repub- 
lican, and takes an intelligent antl active part 
in town affairs. F"rom 1883 until 1886 he 
was a member of the Board of Selectmen, and 
he has also served the community in minor 
official capacities. He is a member of the 
Norway Grange, Patrons of Husbandry: and 
of the Henry Rust Post, No. 54, Grand Army 
of the Republic, of Norway. Mr. Noble and 
his family attend the Congregational church. 




EORGI<: HENRY BILLINGS, a re- 
tired jeweller, who has a very pleas- 
ant home in South Waterford vil- 
lage, O.xford County, Me., was born in Water- 
ford, May 26, 1837, the only son of George 



62 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



C. and Rebecca (Whitcomb) Billings. 11 is 
father was born in Waterford, his mother in 
Sweden, Me. His paternal grandfather was 
Daniel Billings, a Massachusetts man, who 
settled in Waterford. George C. Billings 
was a carpenter, and followed his trade in 
his native town. He died in Lowell, Mass., 
in June, 1841 ; and his wife passed away in 
1847. They had but two children — George 
Henry, of South Waterforil ; and Sarah E., 
born May 26, 1839, now the wife of Charles 
Gibbs, an ice dealer of Bridgton Centre, Me. 
George Henry Billings, the subject of this 
sketch, received a limited common-school 
education, being left fatherless at the tender 
age of four years and motherless before he 
entered his teens. When only si.\ years of 
age he was put out to work on a farm in ()tis- 
field, where he remained until nineteen. The 
two years ensuing he was employed as clerk 
in a store in Waterford City; and he then re- 
turned to farm work, which he followed until 
the second year of the Civil War. July 17, 
1S63, he enlisted in Company F, Ninth Maine 
Regiment, under Colonel Granger and Captain 
Barrows; and he was two years in active mili- 
tary service, participating in the siege of 
Fort Fisher, the battle of the Wilderness, and 
the protracted siege of Petersburg. Although 
the rebel bullets touched him not, he suffered 
severely from the physical strain caused by 
forced marches and camping in malarial dis- 
tricts in Virginia and North and South Caro- 
lina; and when his term of service was ended 
his health was very nearly destroyed. He was 
discharged at Raleigh, N.C., in August, 1865, 
and after his return to his native place was in 
ill health for three years, unable to do any 
kind of work. After that he learned the jew- 
eller's trade, in following which he has had a 
variety of experiences. He was in the employ 
of William H. Nevers for several years, then 
managed a store of his own in Harrison vil- 
lage. Me., for two or three years. The ten 
years that followed he worked at his trade in 
a ]iawnship in Boston, Mass.; and, if he were 
gifted with the pen of a Dickens, he would 
have many strange stories to relate concerning 
the pieces of jewelry that received new leases 
of life from his deft fingers. His ne.\t field 
of labo.' was in Aldrich, Minn., where he was 



also employed in a general store, and was 
Postmaster four years. From Aldrich he re- 
turned to Boston, remaining two years, and 
finally settled in Waterford City, Me. Though 
at present practically retired, he still works a 
little at his trade He has never fully recov- 
ered his health, and is now in receipt of a 
pension from the government on account of 
his military service. 

Mr. Billings was married December 22, 
1892, to Mrs. Lillie K. Plummer Horr, who 
was born in Brighton, Mass., November 6, 
185 1. Her parents, Charles and Laura 
(Smith) Plummer, moved to Waterford when 
she was an infant. Her father was a native of 
this town, and was engaged here for years in 
the pursuit of agriculture. He died in Febru- 
ary, 1895. Her mother, a native of Cam- 
bridge, Mass., is living in Cornish, Me., with 
two of her daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Plummer 
had seven children — Nellie and Nettie (de- 
ceased); Lillie E., Mrs. Billings; Annie, 
with her mother in Cornish; Augusta, Post- 
mistress of Waterford City, widow of Charles 
Young, Jr.; Nellie, also living with her 
mother; and Susia, wife of Percy Bailey, a 
clerk in a store in Harrison village. Me. 
Mrs. Billings's first husband was Freeman F. 
Horr, a native of Waterford, the son of Daniel 
Horr. He died April 30, 1889, leaving one 
child, Loise Plummer Horr, who is the wife 
of M. M. Grimes, Postmaster at West Med- 
ford, Mass. 

Mr. Billings votes the Democratic ticket. 
While in Aldrich, Minn., he served as Town 
Clerk, Assessor, and Justice of the Peace. 
He is a meriiber of Bridgton Post, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of Bridgton, Me. ; 
and he and his wife belong to Bear Mountain 
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, of Waterford. 




IVERETT A. CHANDLER, a stirring and 
capable young business man, who has 
recently settled in Wilton, Me., on 
the farm which he bought of his father about 
three years ago, is rapidly making for himself 
a record as one of the most successful farmers 
of this town. He was born in Perkins Planta- 
tion, Franklin County, December 25, 1861, 
son of Augustus M. and Martlia (Richards) 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



63 



Chandler, and is a descendant of Culonial an- 
cestry, who were early ])ioneers in develiiiiing 
the agricultural resources of the State of New 
Hampshire. Later generations of the family 
have heen likewise em])loyed in the I'ine Tree 
State. 

Mr. Chandler's great-grandparents — I^ben 
and Damaris (Howe) Chandler, the former of 
wlioni was born in Wilton, N. H. — remo\'ed 
l)revious to 1830 to the town of Temple, in 
this county, where Eben Chandler constructed 
a log house upon a tract of wild land. He 
cleared and improved a good farm, upon which 
he realized a comfortable prosperity as the re- 
sult of his energy and perseverance, and both 
he and his w^fe lived to reach an advanced age. 
Their children were — Ebenezer, Luke, John 
P., James, Flummer, Rodney, and Eliza. 

Luke Chandler, the second son of L]ben, and 
the next in this line, was born in Wilton, 
N.H. Coming to Tem])]e in 1S32 he bought 
and cleared a tract of unim])roved land located 
in the neighborhood of his father's farm; but 
after tilling the soil with energy and success 
for forty years, he sold the farm in Temple, in 
order to pass his last days in his native State, 
and, returning thither, purchased a homestead 
which he occupied for the rest of his life. 
He died at the age of seventy-four years. He 
married Rebecca Melendy, who lived to be 
eighty-three years old, and was the mother of 
twelve children, namely: Luke V. ; Augustus 
M. ; Abigail, Perham ; George P.; Melvina 
and Elvira, twins; Rebecca J.; Sumner 15., 
B. Laforest ; Augusta; and Adah. 

Augustus M. Chandler, second of the twelve, 
was born in Wilton, N.IL, I""ebruary 16, 1830, 
and grew to manhood in Temple, Me. Pos- 
sessing an unusual amount of energy and am- 
bition in his youth, he had previous to attain- 
ing his majority bought and begun improve- 
ments upon a tract of wild land in Perkins 
Plantation, where he erected a house, and 
cleared a considerable space for tillage pur- 
poses. He cultivated this farm for twenty- 
eight years, at the expiration of which time he 
sold the property, and, removing to Wilton, 
Me., bought the Harwood farm, which he im- 
proved by remodelling the buildings and other- 
wise enhanced its value. In 1893 he sold the 
property to his son, Everett A., and purchased j 



for a residence the !•'. I'aine house on Depot 
Street, where he is now enjoying the rest and 
freedom from care to which his long and use- 
ful period of activity so justly entitles him. 
Although the effects of a laborious life have 
in a measure impaired his physical condition, 
he is otherwise bright and active, and still 
occupies a prominent position among the lead- 
ing residents of this town. He has rendered 
his share of service in town affairs, and is held 
in hearty respect and esteem by his fellow-cit- 
izens. In politics he is a Republican. He is 
a member of the Methodist Plpiscopal church, 
and is connected with Williamson Lodge, No. 
20, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His 
first wife, Martha Richards, died at the age of 
thirty-six years, leaving five children, namely: 
Calista R. ;■ M. Rebecca ; PIverett A., the 
subject of this sketch; lillsworth R. ; ;nid 
Charles V. For his second wife he married 
Mrs. PLlvira Russell, born Tuck, daughter of 
James Tuck, of Farmington, Me. 

I^lverett A. Chandler in his early years at- 
tended the district schools and the Wilton 
Academy, acquiring a good practical education. 
At the age of twenty he went to Nashua, 
N. H., where he was employed in a sash and 
blind factory for three years, and he then be- 
came interested in a livery business there. 
Trading this a short time later for a milk 
route, he leased a dairy farm, and for the suc- 
ceeding three years retailed an average of two 
hundred quarts of milk per day, a part of 
which was ]irodiiced upon his farm and the re- 
mainder was bought of his neighbois. Selling 
out his milk business he went to lioston, 
w'here he was for some time engaged in trade, 
and he later gave his attention to the brass 
polishing business, which he carried on with 
success for seven years employing several 
hand.s. In 1893 he bought his father's farm 
of one hundred and twenty acres in Wilton, 
P"ranklin County, Me., together with the old 
town house and lot which he now uses for stor- 
age purposes, and, removing to Wilton in 
1895, he began the work of imjiroving and cul- 
tivating his farm. Thus far during the pres- 
ent year, 1896, in addition to the usual work 
of planting and harvesting, he has erected a 
new stable and carriage house, also raised his 
barn and built on an addition. His dairy is 



64 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



])robal)l\' unsuriMssed in this vicinity, as he 
keeps twenty head of fine Jersey cattle. 

On .April 30, i8go, Mr. Chandler was mar- 
ried to Nellie M. Howes, daughter of William 
and Dora (Tarcher) Howes, the former of 
whom is a retired farmer. Mrs. Chandler has 
six briithers; namely, Herbert M., John C, 
William H., .Maurice J., Charles E., and 
Harry M. Howes; and two sisters, Gertrude 
L. and ]\Iaud S. Howes. Mr. and Mrs. 
Chandler have two children, as follows: Clyde 
Roy, who was born August 16, 1892; and 
Madeline Marie, who was born September 4, 
1895. Politically, Mr. Chandler acts with the 
Republican party. He is cimnected with the 
Patrons of Husbandry, and both he and Mrs. 
Chandler are members oi the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. 




ILLIAM W. WHITMARSH, pro- 
prietor of the Elm House, Norway, 
w-as born here. May 27, 1835, son 
of John and Charlotte (Stevens) Whitmarsh 
and grandson of Ebenezer and Mary (Hum- 
phrey) Whitmarsh. Ebenezer Whitmarsh, a 
native of Bridgewater, Mass., was among the 
first to settle in the town of Norway, purchas- 
ing a tract of new land, which he cleared and 
brought into a good state of cultivation. He 
followed farming throughout the active years 
of his life. To him and his wife, Mary 
(Humphrey) Whitmarsh, there were born two 
sons and three daughters; namely, Betsey, 
John, Thomas, I'olly, and Lydia. 

John Whitmarsh, the eldest son of Eben- 
ezer, was born in Norway, August 20, 1793. 
He learned the trade of carpenter, which, with 
farming, he followed until he reached middle 
age. He then went to North Norway and 
opened a jewelry store. After conducting 
this for a short time he came in 1856 to Nor- 
way, and built a store on the site of the pres- 
ent Opera House Block. Here he carried on 
a very successful business in jewelry and sil- 
verware for over a score of years, retiring 
from active business at the end of that time. 
He bought the Bacon house on Cottage Street, 
wdiich has since beea known as the Whitmarsh 
stand. He served for a time as Selectman of 
the town and in a number of minor offices, 



' and he was a communicant of the Congrega- 
tional church. The following children were 
born to him and his wife, Charlotte: Martha 
S., Olive H., William W., and \'ictoria A. 
He died on January 2, 1880. 

William W. Whitmarsh was the only son 
of his parents. He was educated in the Nor- 
way schools. After leaving school he worked 
at carpentr}' until 1S61. Enlisting May 27 
of that year in Company G, First Maine Regi- 
ment, he was made Sergeant of the company. 
On October 4 following he was created Sec- 
ond Eieutenant of Company G, Tenth Maine 
Regiment; and seventeen days later he was 
advanced to the rank of 1^'irst Lieutenant. 
On May 8, 1863, he was discharged with the 
regiment. He re-enlisted December 16, 1863, 
in the Twenty-ninth Maine Regiment, receiv- 
ing the Captaincy of Company G, and served 
imtil March 3, 1866, when he resigned. Soon 
after returning home Mr. Whitmarsh pur- 
chased the Eim House, which has borne that 
name since its doors were first thrown open to 
the public in 1846. He has remodelled it, 
built an addition,^and refurnished it, so that 
at the present time there are twenty-four 
finely arranged sleeping-rooms, fitted up in a 
homelike manner, with every convenience for 
the comfort of the traveller or boarder. Mr. 
Whitmarsh has the reputation of being one 
of the most obliging and entertaining land- 
lords in the county, and of keeping a first-class 
house. 

Plans for the advancement or improvement 
of the town of Norway have always interested 
Mr. Whitmarsh. He was one of the pro- 
moters and is a stockholder and Director of 
the corporation that erected and own Norway 
Opera House. He is also financially inter- 
ested in the Norway water works, of which 
he has been Treasurer and superintendent. 
For eight years he held the office of Town 
Clerk, in 1885-86 he was a Representative to 
the lower house of the State legislature, and 
during the past ten years he has been one of 
the County Commissioners. His political 
principles are those of the Rej^ublican party. 
He is Past Grand of Norway Lodge, No. 16, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Past 
Chief Patriarch of Wildey Encampment, No. 
21, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and a 



BICXJRAI'IIICAL REVIEW 



6S 



comrade of Harry Rust Post, No. 54, Grand 
Army of the Republic, in all the offices of 
which he has served. 

On September 22, 1868, Mr. VVhitmarsh 
was joined in marriage with Miss Martlia C. 
]51akc, who was born August 29, 1846, in 
15ethel, Me., daughter of Jonathan and Eliza- 
beth (Crockett) Blake. Her father was a 
l)rosperous farmer. Of the three children that 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitmarsh, 
Lizzie C, the first-born, whose birth occurred 
November 9, 1872, is living. She is now the 
wife of M. \V. Sampson, of Norwa}'. Charles, 
born May 20, 1878, died June 10, 1878. The 
third child died in infancy. 




UGUSTUS N. FRENCH, M.D., of 
Norway, is a successful and jjopular 
physician. He was born here, June 
21, 1845, son of Washington and 
Mary (Henley) French. His great-grand- 
father, James French, a native of Andover, 
Mass., came from there to Norway in 1798, 
and took up a tract of new land, on which he 
built a log liouse. In his early days James 
French engaged in teaching, and also worked 
at carpentry. He married Miss Abigail 
F"letcher, who bore him nine children; 
namely, James, Jacob, Abigail, Esther, 
.Sarah, Charles, George, Alice, and Clar- 
issa. Ill jiolitics he was a Democrat, in his 
religious belief a Methodist. He was over 
ninety years of age at his death. His son, 
James French, Jr., who was born December 
19, 1785, inherited the homestead, and be- 
came a large land-owner and farmer. He 
and his wife, Annis (Whitney) French, lived 
to a good age. They were the parents of ten 
children — George, James, Washington, Perley, 
Martha, John A., Martha A., Moses O., Will- 
iam P., and Moses. All lived to marry; and 
it may be mentioned that the eight sons at 
tended their father's funeral, when it was ob- 
served that time had silvered their heads. 
The father was a Democrat and a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Washington F'rench, who was born in 
Norway, May 16, 181 3, purchased a farm in 
North Norway, where he resided until 1847. 
He then removed to Albany, Me,, and pur- 



chased a farm of four hundred acres, and was 
extensively cngagetl in farming and lumbering 
up to the time of his death, March 10, 1887. 
His wife, Mary Henley French, born Febru- 
ary 13, 1823, died in March, 1875. She was 
a daughter of Jeremiah ami Mary (Blanchard) 
Henley. It is a matter of family history that 
her father was brought to Norway in an ox 
cart about a century ago, when only eighteen 
months old. She bore her husband seven 
children — Harriett R., George W., Augustus 
N., Mercy K., Gilber H., M. Kstella, and 
Edwin I^. The father was a member of the 
Congregational church, and in politics he was 
a Republican. 

When but two years old, Augustus N. 
French removed with his parents to Albany, 
Me., so that his early education was obtained 
in the Albany schools. He subsequently at- 
tended the Norway Liberal Institute, which 
was at tliat time in charge of Professor George 
F. Leonard. After leaving the institute lie 
engaged in teaching school for si.\ years. He 
then began the study of medicine with A. M. 
Peables, M.D., of Auburn, Me., who at that 
time had an office in Norway. He also at- 
tended the Maine Medical College, from 
which he was graduated in June, 1871. In 
September of that year he located at Lovell, 
Me., succeeding Dr. J. L. Bennett. Having 
practised there for fourteen years, in the 
course of which he acquired a large patronage, 
he came to Norway in August, 18S5. Here 
he has been still more successful. He pur- 
chased the Dr. Pike place, which was burned 
in 1894. Since then he has erected a three- 
story, seventeen-rooin house, fitted up in 
modern style, and lighted by electricitx'. 

On New Year's Day, 1874, Dr. French was 
married to Miss Malinda Bassett, a daughter 
of Joseph Bassett. .She died in October, 
1876, leaving one child, Liitie Ma\-, who was 
born December 27, 1875, and has since gradu- 
ated from Colby Lhiiversity. Dr. French 
afterward entered a second marriage, con- 
tracted with Miss Nellie E. Fox, a liaughter 
of Edward l^^j.x. They have one child living, 
Eva M., born February 2, 1884. Addie M. 
died at the age of seven 3'ears. Dr. French is 
a Democrat. He served as Supervisor of 
.Schools for three years. He is well known 



66 



BlOGRAl'llRAL KKVIKW 



in Masonic circles, being a Past Master of 
Mount Tirnu Lodge, A. F. & A. M.: a mem- 
ber of Oriental Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; 
of Oxford Council, Ro\'al and Select Masons; 
and of Lewiston Commandery, Knights Tem- 
plars. He has also affiliation with Lewiston 
Lodge of Perfection, Auburn Council of 
Princes of Jerusalem, Chapter of Rose Croix, 
and ALaine Consistory, thirty-second. He is 
Past Grand and Noble Commander of Reiser 
Valley Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, and has filled the different chairs in 
Pennesseewassee Lodge, Knights of Pythias, 
and in Norway Commandery, United Order of 
the Golden Cross. 




'SA W. DUTTON, Justice of the 
Peace, one of New Sharon's most 
respected citzens, occupies a pleas- 
ant residence at Four Corners, 
situated on elevated ground overlooking the 
town. He was born in New Sharon, which 
lies in the south-eastern part of Franklin 
County, Maine, on February 25, 1833, a son 
of Asa and Lucy (Spaulding) Button. 

His father, Asa Dutton, was born in Anson, 
Somerset County, on February 25, 1797, and 
was an infant when his parents moved to 
Starks, a few miles south, where, as he grew 
up, he attended the common schools. At an 
early age he went to Norridgewock, and en- 
gaged in harness-making and farming, being 
employed there by Squire Danforth. Pur- 
chasing a tract of one hundred acres in New 
Sharon shortly before his marriage, and mov- 
ing on to it very soon after that event, he 
built a house and barns, and cultivated quite 
a large portion of the land, conducting his 
harness-making business at the same time, for 
he was a man of great energy. He was in 
political affiliation a Whig and afterwards a 
Republican, and in his religious faith a Con- 
gregational ist. 

He was married to Miss Lucy Spaulding, 
of Norridgewock, on March 25, 1821, and in 
the ensuing nineteen years they became the 
parents of eight children, namely: Lucy S., 
born January 19, 1822, and now the widow of 
Cephas C. Buck, of Strong, and residing in 
New Sharon; Sarah W., born November 18, 



1823, who died June 15, 1875: Asenath 11, 
born September 26, 1825, living at the old 
homestead in New Sharon; Annette B., born 
May 17, 1828, who died August 24, 1873; 
Sophia, born March 28, 1830, who died May 
16, 1855; Frances M., born September 4, 
1838, who died September 23, 1861 : and 
George, born March 23, 1840, who married 
Miss Lida Hill, of Charlestown, W.Va., and 
is now a resident of Allegheny City, Pa. 

The father's namesake, Asa W. Dutton, 
spent his boyhood on the home farm, and 
was educated in the common and high schools 
of New Sharon. At twenty years of age he 
found employment on the Atlantic & St. 
Lawrence Railroad, now known as the Grand 
Trunk Line. For a season he remained in 
its employment as a section hand, returning 
then to New Sharon, and securing work dur- 
ing the winter in the harness shop of Josiah 
Flint. In the following spring he went to 
Cape Elizabeth, where he worked in the steam 
saw-mills of the Speare Brothers until the 
autumn, when he again returned to his home, 
going to Mercer some time later. In Mercer 
he plied his old trade of harness-making, re- 
maining there until spring, when he removed 
to Haverhill, Mass., and was employed by 
Bodfish & Dickey in a steam saw-mill. In 
the fall he went back to New Sharon, where 
he formed a partnership with Horace N. 
Plummer in the harness-making business. In 
the following year his connection was dis- 
solved, Mr. Dutton being subsequently em- 
ployed by Mr. Plummer for a year. 

He now took up a branch of his trade, that 
of carriage trimming, of which he made an 
immediate success. So well did he do his 
work that he soon had the largest trade in this 
line in this section of the State of Maine. 
For a quarter of a century he carried on this 
lucrative business, increasing his finances 
each year. In 1866 Mr. Dutton bought a 
farm of one hundred and fifty acres, to which 
he moved. He lived there only two years, 
however, as he sold the property at an ad- 
vance, the investment having been a wise 
one. In the fall of 1868 he purchased his 
present residence at the "Four Corners," as it 
is called. 

He was united in marriage with Miss Mary 








ASA W. DUTTON. 



lUOC.RAI'lllCAL REVIKW 



J. Lancaster, a ilaughter of Thomas Lancaster, 
of New Sharon, on the 2i.st of December, 
1858. Mr. and Mrs. Dutton have one child, 
a daughter, Winnie F., born March 6, 1863, 
in New Sharon. Miss Dutton was graduated 
from Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female 
College in 1883, with the degree of Bach- 
elors of Arts, having taken a full college 
course, and three years later she received the 
degree of Master of Arts. Since the comple- 
tion of her education she has spent most of 
her time at home with her parents, though fin- 
several terms she has taught in the district 
schools. 

Mr. Dutton now holds the office of Justice 
of the Peace, and does a general law business, 
mostly in the Probate Courts. He was Town 
Treasurer one year, and was Chairman of the 
Board of Selectmen in i8go and 1893. He is 
a Congregationalist in religious belief, and is 
a strong Republican in political convictions. 
He has won for himself the esteem and respect 
of all who know him and his measure of wordly 
success is due to his industry and ability. 




RANCIS H. HOLDKN, who, after 
a number of years' experience in 
Western farming, is now extensively 
engaged in agricultural pursuits in Farm- 
ington, Franklin County, Me., was born 
in Lunenburg, Mass., March 26, 1826, son of 
William Warren and Sophia (Adams) Holden. 
Mr. Holden's father was a native of Shirley, 
Mass. He was born December 9, 1797, and 
learned the carpenter's trade in young man- 
hood. Later removing with his family to 
Weld, Franklin County, Me., he bought a 
farm, and carried it on in connection with his 
trade until his death, which took place April 
II, 1862. He was an able mechanic, a suc- 
cessful farmer, and a useful citizen. In his 
last years he acted with the Republican party 
in politics, and in his religious views he was 
a Methodist. His wife, formerly Sophia 
Adams, who was born in Massachusetts, Feb- 
ruary 23, 1798, became the mother of four 
children, as follows: Elbridge P., who was 
born November 3, 1821 ; Francis H., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; William Milo, who was 
born March 3, 1834: and Sophia E. , who was 



born April 22, 1842. Mrs. Soiihia Atlams 
Holden died February 22, 1868. 

Francis H. Holden was the second-born son 
of his parents. He acquired in his youth a 
common-school education, and for some time 
in early manhood he followed the sea, engaged 
in the coasting trade. He was also emplo)'etl 
in the factories of Massachusetts, and worked 
at the carpenter's tratle with his father, always 
being able to earn a good living at whatever 
he undertook, and giving [)eifect satisfaction 
to his employers. He accompanied his par- 
ents to Weld, and, buying a farm of eighty 
acres in that town, occupied himself with its 
management for five years, at the exjjiration 
of which time he sold the property, and, re- 
moving to Temple, continued to till the soil 
there for the same length of time. He then 
migrated to Kossuth County, Iowa, where he 
bought one hundred and si.xty acres of land, 
and carried on general farming with good re- 
sults until the present vear, 1896, when he 
returned Ivist. Shortly after the arrival of 
the family in Maine, Mrs. Holden purchased 
the Ahnon Dyer farm of two hundred and 
eighty-five acres, which is one of the best lo- 
cated and most elesirable estates in the town of 
Farmington, and here they are already en- 
gaged in conducting various branches of farm- 
ing industry with their accustomed energy and 
success. 

Mr. HoUien and Rebecca Ivxdes, daughter 
of Joseph and Hannah (Staples) Fades, were 
married on November 15, 1854. Her father 
was born in Stoddard, N.H., -September 10, 
1783, and her mother was born in Durham, 
N. H., March 2i<, 1786. Joseph Fades was 
one of the early setters and progressive farmers 
of Temple. He and his wife reared a family 
of seven children, as follows: Hannah B., who 
was born June 27, 1813; Joseph J., who was 
born June 23, 181 5; Gideon, who was born 
October 22, 1818, and died August 31, 1819; 
Elizabeth, who was born August 22, 1820; 
Mary, who was born November 26, 1822; 
Catherine, who was born February i, 1S25: 
and Rebecca, now Mrs. Holden, who was born 
August 28, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Holden have 
four children, namely: Charles H., who was 
born January 28, 1856, and Matilda F. , who 
was born A]iril 9, 1858, both of whom are 



7° 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



living at home; Josepli E., wlio was born De- 
cember 30, 1861, and also resides witli his 
parents; and Elizabeth S., who was born Oc- 
tober 21, 1865, and is now the wife of Frank 
Rizner, a prosperous agriculturist of Farm- 
ington. 

In politics Mr. Holden is a Republican, and 
in his religious views favors the Free Will 
Baptist church. Mrs. Holden is a Congrega- 
tionalist. 



-AMES L. CHASE, of Paris, a good 
representative of the younger genera- 
tion of agriculturists in the county, 
was born in Portland, this State, June 
II, 1861, son of William and Ellen (Eaton) 
Chase. Timothy Chase, his paternal grand- 
father, who was a native of Falmouth, Me., 
became a pioneer settler of Oxford County. 
He came here from Yarmouth, and, after 
working at the mason's trade for several years, 
returned to Portland. Thirty years after, he 
again came to Paris, where he subsequently 
died at the age of seventy-five. His first 
wife, Eucy (Porter) Chase, who was born in 
Falmouth, died in Portland, at the age of fifty 
years. His second marriage was contracted 
with Eucy Chase Doble. He reared the fol- 
lowing children, all by his first wife: Sewall, 
Mary Ann, Susan N., Hannah, lulward, Will- 
iam, Anna P., and Granville N. Susan N. 
and Edward are living, the latter a resident 
of Portland. 

William Cliasc was born in Paris, Novem- 
ber I, 1820. He was reared and educated in 
Portland, and was afterward one of its most 
substantial business men. He was an exten- 
sive importer of sugar and molasses for thirty 
years. In 1870, retiring from commercial 
life, he returned to Paris, and here purchased 
the old Hanibal estate. Here he lived until 
his death, March 12, 1876, caused by an acci- 
dent, in which he was run over by cars, and 
lost both his legs. He was held in high esti- 
mation as an honorable, straightforward busi- 
ness man and a loyal citizen. In politics he 
was a Republican. He was a member of the 
Congregational church, toward the support of 
which he was a generous contributor. His 
connection with fraternal organizations was 



limited to membership in the Ortier.of Odd 
Fellows. His wife, Ellen, a daughter of 
George and Elizabeth (Trowbridge) Eaton, 
was born July i, 1820, in Portland, where the 
marriage was performed November 2, 1843. 
They became the parents of ten children, two 
of whom are now living, namely: Edwin A., 
born in Portland, now a real estate dealer in 
Dedham, Mass. ; and James L., the subject of 
this sketch. 

James E. Chase was educated in the schools 
of Portland and Paris Hill. Since his early 
manhood he has devoted his attention to agri- 
cultural pursuits. In addition to other prop- 
erty he has a fine farm of sixty acres, beauti- 
f Lilly located, and commanding an excellent 
view of the White Mountains. He carries on 
general farming, hay and apples being his 
principal crops, and is .somewhat engaged in 
dairying, keeping from ten to twelve head of 
full-blooded Jerseys. His house is a popular 
resort for boarders from the city during the 
summer season. Each year the applications 
to him for rooms far exceed the number of 
guests that he can accommodate. He enter- 
tains his hoarders in a most genial and gener- 
ous manner, making the house so pleasant for 
them that all are glad to come again. One 
family has spent fifteen ■ consecutive summe'rs 
with him. 

Mr. Chase was married January 17, 1883, 
to Anna P. Rawson, a daughter of Job H. and 
the late Mary E. (Garland) Rawson. Mr. 
Rawson, born in Paris, September 30, 1833, 
was for thirty years the proprietor of the stage 
line running to South Paris, and was for many 
years in a mercantile business. He is now 
living in the village of Paris, where he is ac- 
tively engaged as a veterinary surgeon, and in 
preparing the medicines, ointments, etc., 
used in connection with his business. Mrs. 
Rawson, who died in Paris, January 5, 1887, 
was born April 8, 1829, in Pyron, this county. 
They had five other children; namely, Samuel 
H., Fanny, Nellie H., Charles, and Hiram J. 
After the death of his first wife Mr. Rawson 
married Mrs. Martha Weeks, of Paris. In 
politics he is a Democrat and in religion a 
Universalist. Mr. and Mrs. Chase have three 
children — William H., born March 20, 1887; 
Eouisa E., born December 11, 1889; and 



BIOGRA P M 1 ( • A L R EV I FAV 



7' 



Susie T., Ixjrn August 7, 1890. Three otliers 
are deceased, namely: Mary K. ; and two that 
died in infancy. Mr. Chase is an earnest 
supporter of the Republican party. Both he 
and his wife are liberal in their religious 
beliefs. 



■OllX Y. WOOD, a wealthy farmer and 
fruit grower in the town of Buckfield, 
was born August 16, 1842, in Hart- 
ford, this county, son of Charles and 
Sarah (Thurlow) Wood, respectively natives 
of Gorham and Hartford. His grandfather, 
Charles Wood, Sr., was one of the early set- 
tlers of Gorham, whence he afterward re- 
moved to Hartford, dying in the latter place 
at a good age. Four of Grandfather Wood's 
children grew to maturity, but all have now 
passed away. Charles Wood, Jr., the young- 
est son, was a good, jjractical farmer, and 
spent the active years of his life in Hartford. 
He died at the home of his son in Ruckficld, 
aged eighty-six years; and his wife died aged 
about fifty years. They were members of the 
Free Will Baptist church at Federal Corners. 
In politics he was first a Whig and later a 
Republican. They had a family of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters. The 
daughters and one son are living, namely: 
Mary, the widow of Nathan Sampson, and 
now a resident of Aroostook County; Ruth T., 
who married William Woodbury, and resides 
in Turner, Me. ; Amanda M., the widow of 
John S. Drake, of Auburn, Me.; and John Y., 
the subject of this sketch. The deceased chil- 
dren were: Albion, Charles V., and George 
H. George H. served as a soldier in the 
Civil War, and was accidentally killed while 
on his way home. 

John Y. Wood, the youngest child, grew to 
manhood in Hartford, receiving his education 
in the common schools of that town. In 1864 
he enlisted in the Thirty-second Maine Regi- 
ment, Company E, under Captain Keyes, and 
was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- 
vania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. He 
served until the close of the war, receiving an 
honorable discharge in July, 1865. He then 
returned to his native town, and up to 1879 
was engaged in carrying on the old homestead 



farm. On lea\-ing there, he moved to his 
present farm in Buckfield, containing two hun- 
dred and sixty-two acres, where he is engaged 
in general farming, fruit growing, and dairy- 
ing. He has about ten acres planted with 
fruit, inchuling apples, plums, and cherries; 
and in his dairy he keeps from thirty to thirty- 
five head of full-blooded and grade Jerseys. 
The rich meadow lands, well filled barns and 
storehouses, together with the neatly kept 
buildings and surroundings, all give evidence 
of intelligent management and unstinted 
labor. 

In October, 1865, Mr. Wocjil married AI- 
mira S. Young, who was born in Hartford, 
daughter of Joseph Young. Three children 
were born to them, as follows: George V., 
Herbert H., alid one who died in infancy. By 
his second marriage, contracted with Mary 
Phillips, there came four children — Edwin J., 
Forrest P., Mary li., and May. May died at 
the age of eight years. In his religious views 
Mr. Wood is liberal. He is a Republican in 
politics, and has membership in Nezinscott 
Lodge, No. 104, Independent Order of Odd 
F"ellows, of Buckfield; and in Turner Grange, 
of Turner, Me. 




|OSCOE F. STAPLES, Secretary and 
Treasurer of the .S. K. King Com- 
pany, Town Treasurer and Post- 
master of Oxford, was born in this 
town, January 19, 1859, son of John G. and 
Sophia (Woodsum) Staples. His father, who 
was born in Oxford in 18 18, during his active 
life was an energetic and industrious farmer. 
His mother, a native of Falmouth, Me., born 
in 1822, died at the age of fifty-three years. 
Of her nine children, Roscoe F., the subject 
of this sketch, is the only one living. 

Roscoe F. Staples acquired his education 
in the district schools and at the Oxford High 
School. Having completed his studies in 
1873, he entered the store of Silas E. King as 
an employee. For nearly twenty-five years 
he was in Mr. King's employ, rising to the 
post of confidential clerk, and gaining the 
confidence of his employer by his business 
ability and integrity. When the S. ¥.. King 
Company was formed in 189(1. he was ap- 



72 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



pointed the Secretary and Treasurer of the 
corporation, Mr. King being made President 
and George L. Wilder \'ice-President. The 
S. E. King Company, which includes among 
its stockholders several wholesale merchants 
of Auburn and Portland, conducts a large 
general store. Mr. Staples"s long connection 
with the business enables him to fill his re- 
sponsible position with ability. The com- 
pany deals in merchandise of nearly every de- 
scription, having ample facilities for supply- 
ing promptly such articles as are not in their 
stock. The establishment is divided into de- 
jjartm-^nts, which include groceries, hardware, 
dry goods, farming implements, flour, grain, 
and feed. The purpose of the management is 
to supply every article necessary for domestic, 
agricultural, and mechanical use. 

On January 27, 1879, ^^^- Staples was 
united in marriage to Mattie L. Everett, who 
was born November 30, 1858, in Casco, Me., 
daughter of Henry R. and Sarah E. Everett. 
He has one son, P'verett C, who was born 
March 29, 1880. In public affairs Mr. 
Staples is very prominent. He was for one 
year a member of the Board of Selectmen. 
He is serving his fourth term as Town Clerk, 
his third year as Town Treasurer, and he has 
been Postmaster and Justice of the Peace for 
the past seven years. His political princi- 
ples are Republican. He is a niemi^er of the 
Masonic fraternity, being connected with the 
Blue Lodge at Mechanic h'alls. He has also 
affiliation with Golden Rule Lodge, No. 7^, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Lewis- 
ton ; Pennesseewassee Lodge, No. 18, Knights 
of Pythias, of Norway, Me. ; and Maple 
Lodge, No. 180, New England Order of Pro- 
tection, at Welchville. In their religious 
belief I\Ir. and Mrs. Stajiles are Baptists. 




ILLIAM I. SARGENT, a prosper- 
ous farmer of Madrid, Franklin 
County, Me., and a descendant of 
one of the pioneer settlers, was born in this 
town, June 6, 1839, son of Isaac and Hannah 
(Davenport) Sargent. Mr. Sargent is of Eng- 
lish descent. His grandfather, John Sargent, 
who was a native of New Hampshire, came to 
Maine when a young man, and lived upon the 



coast for some time before coming to Madrid, 
where he was one of the first to take up land. 
He cleared a farm, and resided here until his 
death, which took place when he was seventy- 
three years old. He reared a family of four 
children, none of whom are living. 

I.^aac Sargent was a son of John Sargent. 
He was born in Damariscotta, Me., and came 
to Madrid with his parents at the age of 
four years. Having grown to maturity, he 
followed agricultural pursuits during the ac- 
tive period of his life, and was well and favor- 
ably known as an able, industrious farmer, and 
a worthy, upright man. He lived to be 
seventy-four years old. In politics he was a 
Democrat, but never interested himself in 
public affairs, beyond casting his vote. His 
wife, who was before marriage Hannah Daven- 
port, became the mother of four children, all 
of whom are living in Madrid, namelv: Jo- 
seph D. ; John; William I., the subject of 
this sketch; and Sybil A. 

William I. Sargent was educated in Madrid, 
and at an early age began to assist in carrying 
on the home farm. Eventually succeeding to 
its ownership, he has given his attention to 
the cultivation of general farm produce, in- 
cluding wheat and herd's grass seed, and the 
raising of excellent cattle and sheep. His 
property, which consists of one humlred and 
forty-three acres, is reganled as one of the 
best located and most productive farms in 
Madrid. 

Mr. Sargent and his wife, Vesta Lufkin, of 
this town with whom he was united in mar- 
riage on March 2, 1S62, ha\e reared a family 
of nine children, as follows: George E. , born 
December 28, 1863, who is married and lives 
in Madrid; Herman O. , also of Madrid, who 
on November 29, 1894, married Ora B. Will- 
iams; Charles A., who married Grace V.. 
Davis on January 16, 1895, and resides in 
Fitchburg, Mass. ; Samuel J., who on Novem- 
ber 13, 1892, was united in marriage with 
Gertrude E. Monroe; Ada, wife of S. Gross, 
of Jay, Me. ; and Mary E. , William I., Anna 
B. , and Nettie A., all living at the parental 
home. In politics Mr. Sargent is a Demo- 
crat; and he has rendered able service to the 
town as Highw^ay Surveyor. The family at- 
tend the P"ree Will Baptist church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



73 



George K. Sargent, oldest son of William 
I. Sargent, was born in Madrid, December 
28, 1863. He attended school in Madrid, 
Phillips, and Rangeley, and, since completing 
his studies, has given his attention to agri- 
cultural pursuits at the homestead. On Sep- 
tember 19, 1887, he was married to Dora B. 
Welts, of Madrid, who has become the mother 
of two children, namely: Carl E., aged nine; 
and Harold E. , aged five years. In politics 
he votes with the Democratic party. He has 
served upon the School Board four years and 
uijon the Board of Health for three terms. He 
is an active and progressive farmer and one of 
the leading young men of Aladrid. 




A M U E L A. B U M P U S, an es- 
teemed resident and farmer of the 
town of Paris, was born in this 
]ilace. May 2, 1828, a son of Na- 
thaniel and Elizabeth (Warren) Bumpus. His 
paternal grandfather, Morris Bumpus, was 
iDorn and reared to man's estate in Taunton, 
Mass. After the close of the Revolution, in 
which Morris Bumpus was an active partici- 
pant, he settled in the town of Hebron, this 
county, becoming thereby one of its earliest 
pioneers. The district was then in its origi- 
nal wildness. Game of all kinds was abund- 
ant, and the Indians far outnumbered the 
white settlers. The nearest market and mill 
were thirty miles distant. In going to the 
latter, the round trip was made on foot by a 
trail marked by blazed trees; and the grist 
was carried on the back. Grandfather Bumpus 
cleared a good farm from the wilderness, and 
lived here until his death, at the age of 
eighty-five years. His wife, Huldah, attained 
the same venerable age. They had nine chil- 
dren, seven of whom reached maturity; 
namely — Morris, Nathaniel, Samuel, Jesse, 
Daniel, Martha, and Eliza. 

Nathaniel Bumpus was the second son born 
to his parents. He learned the blacksmith's 
trade when a young man, and afterward fol- 
lowed it in conjunction with farming. Re- 
moving from Hebron, the place of his nativ- 
ity, to Paris, he settled in the south-eastern 
part of the town, and purchased a farm, which 
he managed successfully for many years. 



Here both he and his wife tlied, in the eighty- 
sixth year of their respective ages. He was 
a Democrat in politics antl in religion a sin- 
cere Universalist. His wife, who was a na- 
tive of Buckfield, Me., bore him nine chil- 
dren, of whom si.\ are dead; namely, Morris, 
A.xel, lithel W., N. Grecnleaf, John, and 
Jane. The survivors are: Phcebe, the widow 
of Orra Hall, of South Paris; Huldah, the 
wife of Erastus Cummings, of West Paris; 
and Samuel A., the subject of this sketch. 

Samuel A. Bumpus was educated in the 
common schools of Paris and at the Hebron 
Academy. At the age <>f twenty years he 
went to Massachusetts, where he spent the 
succeeding five years in a woollen-mill. 
During the ne.xt si.x years he was engaged in 
the same occupation at South Paris. In all 
he was employed eleven years in the mills, 
having served for eight years of the time in 
the capacity of foreman. By eccmomical man- 
agement he saved much of his earnings, and 
in 1859 he bought the farm where he now 
resides. His first purchase of one hundred 
and forty acres of land has been increased to 
two hiuidred acres, and has been much en- 
hanced in value by improvements. He pays 
especial attention to fruit growing, his vines 
and orchards yielding a large supply of fruits 
that grow in this northern climate. His 
taste for this branch of industry may have 
been inherited from his grandfather, who 
planted on his wild land in Hebron the first 
orchard seen in that town. Mr, Iknnpus is 
a member of the Paris Lodge, No. 44, Patrons 
of Husbandry. In politics he is not a party 
man, but votes for the best men and measures. 
Both he and his wife are Universalists. 

Mr. Bumpus was married November 16, 
1854, to Julia A. Harriman, who was born 
January iS, 1834, in Litchfield, Me Her 
father, Levi Harriman, after spending his 
entire life in Litchfield on the farm where he 
was born, died January 21, 1855, aged sixty- 
one years. He was one of the most respected 
farmers of the place and an active member of 
the Whig party. His wife, in maidenhood 
Mary Hale, who was born in Richmond, Saga- 
dahoc County, in 1S07, and died June 16, 
1882, had eight children, three of whom are 
now living. These are: Julia A., now Mrs. 



74 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Bunipus; Mrs. Luclla AI. Googin, of Litch- 
field; and George VV. Harriman, of Brighton, 
Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Bumpus have three chil- 
th"L-n, namely: Ella E., born August 21, 1S56, 
who is now the widow of Edgar A. Tapley, 
and with her two children — Herbert W. and 
Edgar A. — lives at Quincy, Mass. ; George 
F., born F"ebruary 11, 1858, who was married 
December 29, 1885, to Georgia .Stewart, and 
now lives in Brighton, Mass. ; and Carrie L., 
born March 25, 1867, who lives with her 
parents. 



/^TeORGE BERRY, who has spent his 
\ '*) I long and useful life of nearly four- 
score years in the town of Paris, has 
been actively identified with the agricultural 
interests of 0.\ford County, and has materially 
assisted in maintaining its reputation as a 
superior farming region. He was born May 
25, 18 1 8, in the town where he now resides, 
son of William and Deborah (Drake) Berry. 

William Berry was born April 16, 1783, 
and, when a young man, settled in Paris, Me., 
coming here when the country was new, find- 
ing his way by means of marked trees. With 
the energy and vigor of the true pioneer he 
felled the trees from a portion of the timbered 
land that he bought, uprooted the sod, and 
was thereafter successfully employed in till- 
ing the soil, living here .until his death, 
March i, 1848. Deborah Drake was born 
January 30, 1786, and died in Paris, Decem- 
ber 6, 1857. Both she and her husband were 
Baptists in religion; and in politics he was 
at first a Democrat, but in his later years he 
affiliated with the Republicans. They had 
the following children : Scillman, Harvey, 
Mary, George, Sarah, William, Olive, Elveci, 
and Zeri. Mary, George, and Zeri are the 
only ones now living. 

George ]5erry, here numbered as the fourth 
child of his parents, was reared and educated 
in Paris, obtaining in his early years a fair, 
common-school education and a practical 
knowledge of agriculture. He began earning 
his own living when but a youth, for several 
years working for the neighboring farmers, 
who at first paid him for his services twelve 
ilollars per month. By prudence and economy 



he was enableil to save a portion of his wages 
each season, in the course of time having a 
sufficient sum to warrant him in buying a 
farm, on which he was engaged in his chosen 
occupation for many years. In 1874 he sold 
that property, and purchased his father's 
homestead. He now owns about one hundred 
acres of choice land, on which he has made 
the more valuable of the improvements. A 
self-made man, having steadily climbed the 
hill of success by his own industrious efforts, 
Mr. Berry is now numbered among the well- 
to-do farmers of this vicinity, owning other 
i-eal estate besides his well-appointed farm. 

Mr. Berry has been twice married. His 
first wife, whose maiden name was Melissa 
Buck, died in 1847, having borne him two 
children, namely: Cynthia, wife of Addison 
Abbott, of North Paris; and a child that died 
in infancy. On January 7, 1850, Mr. Berry 
married Mary Hannah Marshall, who was 
born in this town, April 9, 1831. Her father, 
Nathan Marshall, was a son of David Mar- 
shall, who emigrated from Scotland to 
America in Colonial days. David Marshall 
married Mary Mason, and settled first on land 
in Bethel, Me., but was compelled to leave 
that place on account of trouble with the 
Indians. His wife was the first white woman 
to spend a night in the town of Paris. Re- 
moving to Hebron, he became identified with 
the leading business interests of the town, 
building saw-mills, a grist and shingle mill, 
and a carding machine. He served in the 
Revolutionary War, and was at the battle of 
Bunker Hill. He assisted in building the 
Baptist meeting-house of Hebron, he and his 
wife being among the original members of the 
church. Each lived to the age of fourscore 
years. They had twelve children, nine of 
whom grew to maturity; namely, David, Wal- 
ter, Miriam, Lucy, John, Nathan, Asahel, 
Aaron, and Moses. 

Nathan Marshall, the fourth son as here 
mentioned, Mrs. Berry's father, was born in 
Hebron, January 16, 1795. In his early man- 
hood he was interested in milling with his 
father. In 181 8 he came to Paris, and, pur- 
chasing the farm now owned and occupied by 
his son, Samuel D. Marshall, was thencefor- 
ward engaged as a farmer and blacksmith 




*8ll -^aiUh. 



^.)r 




JOHN A. ROBERTS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



77 



until his ilcatii, at the age of sixty-eight years. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Zilpha 
Dunham, lived to the age of seventy-six 
years. Mr. Marsiiall was a stanch abolition- 
ist, and he was a Deacon of the Free Will 
Baptist church; while his wife was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. They 
had five children, two of whom are living — 
Samuel D. and Mrs. Berry. The others are: 
Nathan I.., Eleazer D., and Hiram D. 

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Berry ten 
ciiildren have been born, as follows: Nathan 
L., who is deceased; Eleazer, also deceased; 
George W. ; Frederick L. ; Frank E. ; Edwin 
R.; Ella Z. ; Hiram M. ; Jennie E., who 
died in i8S6, aged eighteen years; and Clara. 
In politics Mr. Berry has always been identi- 
fied with the Republican party since its forma- 
tion. Both he and his wife are active mem- 
bers of the Free Will Baptist church. Mr. 
Berry is not connected with any of the social 
organizations of this locality, but Mrs. Berry 
is a member of the West Paris Grange. 




rrs^l"ON. JOHN A. ROBERTS, of Nor- 
way, Me., State Senator, recently 
elected, is a gentleman of liberal 
education, a lawyer by profession, 
also a practical farmer, and has had much ex- 
]5erience in the conduct of local public affairs 
and in the leadership of social organizations. 
He was born in Gardiner, Me., on September 
lO, 1S52, son of John M. and Mary E. 
(Potter) Roberts. His paternal grandfather 
was Simon Roberts, who settled in Water- 
boro. Me. He was a successful farmer; and 
he also followed the trade of carpenter and 
joiner, accumulating quite a large property. 
He lived to be seventy-three years of age, but 
his wife died at the age of sixty-nine. Their 
children were: May, Esther, John M., Syl- 
vester, Abigail, lilmira, and Betsy. 

John M. Roberts, the father, afore-men- 
tioned, was a native of Waterboro, born on 
June 25, 1828. For some time in his youth 
and early manhood he worked in a saw-mill, 
eventually running a mill until his marriage, 
when he bought a farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres in Andover, Me. He built a new 
house, remodellina; the barn: and he and his 



worthy helpmeet are tliere living at this day 
in the enjoyment of good health. They have 
had four children — one who died an infant; 
John A.; Arthur M.; and Augustus F., de- 
ceased. Mr. John M. RoJDerts is a man of 
prominence in the Republican party antl in 
the Congregational church. 

At the age of eighteen, after being gradu- 
ated from the high school, John A. Roberts, 
the special subject of the present sketch, en- 
tered the Oxford Normal Institute at South 
Paris, Me., and fitted for college, matriculat- 
ing at Bowiloin College in 1873. He was 
graduated in 1877. During his college 
course and for several terms thereafter Mr. 
Roberts taught school, subsequently reatling 
law with M. T. Ludden, of Lewiston. Being 
admitted to "the bar of Oxford County in the 
fall of 1878, he began practice in Mechanic 
Falls; but a year later, his health having 
failed, he was obliged to seek life in the open 
air. In 1880 Mr. Roberts bought the Henry 
Pike place on the west side of Norway Lake. 
Here he still lives and manages the farm, 
though since 1890 he has been employed as 
book-keeper in the oiifice of C. B. Cummings 
& Sons. The estate is beautiful for situation, 
and the buildings have been remodelled and 
improved until it is a model country home. 

Politically a Republican, Mr. Roberts has 
shown marked ability in the management of 
town affairs, officiating as attorney for two 
years, as President of the public library, and 
as superintendent of schools. In 1893 and 
1894 he was a Representative to the State 
legislature, and in the autumn of 1896 was 
elected .State Senator, a merited honor, as he 
is untloubtedly well qualified for a seat in the 
upper house. Fraternally, he is promi- 
nently connected with the order of Patrons of 
Husbandry, having been Master of Norway 
Grange for six years, being now Master also 
of the county grange, and Overseer of the 
State grange, elected in December, 1893, and 
re-elected in 1895. In 1893 he was elected 
President of the Oxford County Agricultural 
Society, and in 1895 he was re-elected to this 
important post. 

On August 24, 1 88 1, Mr. Roberts was 
united in marriage with Miss Carrie Pike, a 
daughter of Henry and Sarah E. (P^orbes) 



78 



. BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Pike and a member cif one of the leading 
families in the town. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts 
have one child, Thaddeus B., who was born on 
November 20, 1884, and is now a promising 
lad of twelve vears. 



Me. 



-O.SEPH W. MINI'S, of West Farm- 
ington, the proprietor and manager of 
one iif the largest department stores in 
Franklin County, was bom in Hartford, 
March 6, 1850. He is a son of Hiram 
H. and Fanny (Woodsome) Hines, a grandson 
of Hollingsworth and Ruth (Hall) Hines, and 
a great-grandson of Richard and Abigail (Jen- 
kins) Hines. The children of his great-grand- 
parents were — Hollingsworth, John, Thad- 
deus, Polly, Abigail, Chitman, Prudy, and 
Richard. Hollingsworth Hines was born in 
Buckfield, ^le. , August 12, 1781 ; and his wife 
was born in the same place, P^ebruary 17, 
1788. Their children were — Enoch, Barnum, 
Hiram H., I'hrebe, Calista, Mary, Joseph, 
Sarah, P'mily, Clara, Zilpha, and Plnoch H. 

Hiram H. Hines, a native of Bu.xton, Me., 
was a man of large stature. During his early 
manhood he taught school in winter, working 
at farming in the summer. Having saved a 
considerable part of his earnings, he in time 
was able to purchase a farm in Hartford. Soon 
after he started a store, which he managed for 
eighteen years. He then sold his Plartford 
property, purchased a large farm in Buckfield, 
and carried it on for fifteen years, conducting 
a store for a part of this period also. At the 
end of that time he retired from active work; 
and, selling his farm, he purchased a home in 
Lewiston, Me., where he quietly jjassed his 
declining years, dying at the age of seventy- 
seven. He was an active Republican. While 
living in Hartford he was elected to the State 
legislature, and ser\-ed the town as Selectman 
and Treasurer. His wife met her death in 
1867, the result of falling down stairs, being- 
then sixty years old. Both were members of 
the P'ree Will Bajitist church. They had 
eight children, of whom two died in infancy. 
The others were — Rufus, Nancy, Catherine, 
Washington B., Joseph W. , and Calista E. 

Joseph W. Hines received a good practical 
education in the schools of Buckfield, at He- 



bron Academy, and at Bates Commercial Col- 
lege at Auburn, Me. He was subsequently 
emjjloyed as clerk in his father's store until 
March, 1876, when he formed a partnership 
with A. ¥. Gammond ; and the)' purchased the 
stock in trade of 1{. Searles, and started in 
business in the building at West Farmington, 
of which a lease was taken. The venture 
proving very successful, they afterward bought 
the building. In 1882 he purchased his part- 
ner's interest; and, before the railroad was 
l)uilt through the northern part of the county, 
he had probably the most extensive produce 
trade in this section. When the railroad 
changed the conditions of traffic, he met the 
change with a new line of goods to suit. He 
now has a large and varied stock, comprising 
groceries, dry goods, crockery, ready-made 
clothing, boots and shoes, paints and oils — in 
fact, everything found in a general store. He 
occupies two buildings for the sale of his 
goods, besides large storehouses. His trade 
has increased greatly since he started, and he 
has been obliged to enlarge the original 
building. 

On December 25, 1877, Mr. Hines was 
united in marriage with Miss Emma H. 
Dodge, daughter of Andrew and Jessie Dodge, 
of West F"armington. Three children have 
blessed his union — Hiram P^arl, Ralph G., 
and Joseph W. In politics Mr. Hines is a 
Rejiublican. He is a thirty-second degree 
Mason, and belongs to Maine Lodge, P"ranklin 
Chapter, the council, and P'armington Com- 
mandery. On religious subjects he holds lib- 
era! views. He has a handsome residence on 
Water Street, which was formerl)- known as the 
Ira Russell place. The house has been re- 
modelled since it came into his possession. 




(^7X ^'^^^^^ CASWELL, a prosperous gen- 
eral farmer of Waterford, now serving 
as Third Selectman, is a native of 
Winthrop, Me., born July 14, 1828. 
Richard Caswell, his father, was born in 
Mansfield, Mass., April 27, 1792, son of 
Bowden Caswell, who was engaged in farm- 
ing in Mansfield until his latter days, which 
were spent with his son in Winthrop, Me. 
Richard carried on farming in Winthro|) up 



BIOGRAPHKWI, RF.VIEW 



79 



t(j 1840, at which time he rcmiivcd to Mercer, 
Me., and was there engaged in farming until 
his death on July 20, 1858. Ho married 
Miss Sarah Hodges, who, born in Norton, 
Mass., March i, 1794, died August 3, 1865. 
They were the parents of seven children, 
namely: George, born April 25, 1820, who 
died June 11, 1889; Almon, born April 28, 
1S22, who died November 12, 1892; Har- 
riett, born April 9, 1S24, now the wife of 
Stephen Messer, of Madison, Me., who died 
August 5, 1896; Charlotte, born April 17, 
1826, who died February 13, 1847; Albert, 
the subject of this sketch; Edward, born July 
9, 1 83 1, living in Lynn, Mass., who married 
Miss Nancy L. Sanford, now deceased; Susan 
H., born March 23, 1835, who died Septem- 
ber 16, 1868. 

Albert Caswell receivetl his education in 
the common schools of Mercer, Me. At the 
age of twenty-one he went to Belgrade, Ken- 
nebec County, to accept the position of station 
agent on the Maine Central Railroad, which 
he afterward held for nineteen years, giving 
the utmost satisfaction. In 1872 he went to 
Lewiston, Me., where he remained for four 
years, conducting a shoe business. From 
Lewiston in 1876 he came to VVaterford, and 
settled on his present farm in the southern 
part of the town. He now owns about sev- 
enty-five acres of land, which he devotes to 
general farming and dairying. 

On July 10, 1854, while in Belgrade, Mr. 
Caswell was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary F. Swan, of Conway, N.H., where her 
birth occurred May 8, 1831. She died March 
18, 1864, leaving five children, two sons and 
three daughters. These were: Ellen IVL, 
born October 6, 1855, who is now the wife of 
B. F. Yeaton, of Stark, Me. ; Charles Dud- 
ley, born March 8, 1857, who married Miss 
Fannie Dyer, and is now living in Holbrook, 
Mass. ; Alice Josephine, born February 27, 
1859, who died February 6, 1883; Albert 
Danforth, born June 10, i860, who married 
Miss Mary E. Varney, and is now living in 
Lebanon, Me. ; and Mary Swan, born January 
8, 1862, who married George Yeaton, and 
lives in Ik'lgrade, Me. On November 6, 
1864, Mr. Caswell was married a second time 
to Miss Mary P. Swan, of Waterford, who was 



born November 3, 1836, daughter of Thomas 
and Eliza (Sanderson) Swan. Her father was 
born in Waterford September 11, 1810, and 
followed farming here throughout the active 
years of his life. He also engaged in the 
stone cutter's trade, and superintended the 
building of the roads in Oxford County. He 
ilied April 15, 1896, aged eighty-five years. 
Mrs. Swan, who was born in Sweden, Me., 
and became a resident of Waterford while 
young, died January 6, 1878. Mrs. Caswell's 
children are: Byron Sanderson and Fannie 
Eliza. The son, born Sejitember 24, 1865, 
married Miss Sadie Low, of New Bedfiud, 
Mass., and is now living in Boston, Mass. He 
is an electrician of that city. l<"annie Eliza, 
born October 7, 1866, conducts a dressmaking 
shop in Harrison village, and makes her home 
with her parents. 

The citizens of VVaterford have shown their 
appreciation of Mr. Caswell's sterling charac- 
ter and ability by electing him to various po- 
sitions of trust and responsibility. He now 
holds the office of Third .Selectman, to which 
he was elected in March, 1896. Li 1867 and 
1868 he represented Belgrade in the .State 
legislature. His political ]")rinciples are 
Democratic. He is a member of Relief 
Lodge, No. 108, A. F. & A. M., in Belgrade; 
and of Oakland Chapter, Royal y\rch Masons, 
of Oakland, Me. 




TEl'HEN D. flUTCHINSON, a 
venerable antl valued resitleiit of 
■' ' Paris, bearing with ease antl dig- 
nity his burden of fourscore and 
four years, has the distinction of being tlie 
oldest man actively engageil in business in 
Oxford County. He was born -September 25, 
181 2, in the neighboring town of Hebron, 
son of Stephen and Asenath (Gilbert) Hutch- 
inson, both natives of the State, born res|iec- 
tively in Gorham and Leeds. His grand- 
father, a native of Massachusetts, served in 
the French and Indian War, and afterward 
went to Nova Scotia, where he lived for a 
time. Returning to the States, Grandfather 
Hutchinson settled in Gorham, Cumberland 
County, purchasing a tract of timber land, 
from which he cleared a homestead. lie 



8o 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



labored with the courage and perseverance 
characteristic of the sturdy pioneer, and also 
served as local preacher of the Free Will 
Baptist denomination. His children were: 
Josepli, Lydia, Samuel, Stephen, Betsey, 
Daniel, Henry, John, and Rebecca. 

Stephen Hutchinson was a farmer through- 
out his life. When a young man he came 
from Gorham to this county, first locating in 
Hebron and afterward in Buckfield, where 
he died at the age of seventy years. He was 
an unswerving Democrat in politics. At first 
his religious faith was that of the Free Will 
Baptists, of whose church at Hebron he was 
a member; but later he became a Universal- 
ist, and belonged to that denomination at the 
time of his death. He was Selectman for 
many years, and also filled less important 
oflices.' His first wife, Asenath (Gilbert) 
Hutchinson, died at the age of forty-six 
years, leaving six children — Stephen D., 
Chandler, Horace, Mark, Albion P., and Bet- 
sey. Betsey died in infancy. Of the num- 
ber, Stephen D. and Albion P. are the only 
survivors. After the death of his first wife 
the father married Jeanette Alden, daughter 
of Benjamin Alden, a Quaker. By this mar- 
riage there were four children — Jeanette, 
Angusta, Vesta, and Aseneth. Of these the 
eldest and youngest are living. 

Stephen D. Hutchinson grew to man's estate 
in Buckfield, obtaining his education in the 
district school, and at home evenings by the 
light of pitch pine knots. He first worked at 
harvesting for one William Loring, receiving 
a third of a dollar per day for his labor. In 
1835 Mr. Hutchinson entered into a partner- 
ship with H. H. Hutchinson, Jr., with whom 
he conducted a mercantile business in Buck- 
field for five years. In 1840 he leased a farm 
in the same town, and for a few years carried 
on general farming. At the same time he 
added to his income by taking boarders in 
the summer season and teaching school dur- 
ing the winter terms. In 1845, having been 
elected Registrar of Deeds of O.xford County, 
he removed to Paris, the county seat, and for 
eleven years retained that ofifice. He next 
embarked in mercantile business at Paris Hill 
with Frank Bates, with whom he was asso- 
ciated two years. In 1S60 he established his 



present store, which he has since successfully 
conducted, building up a good local trade. 
Mr. Hutchinson was married in June, 1835, 
to Mary Atkinson, who, born in Alinot, Me., 
September 17, 1808, died at Paris Hill, July 
18, 1874. She bore him five children — Mary 
Annette, John R., Winfield S., George W., 
and Kate W. John R., who was born April 
II, 1840, died March 2, 1896. Mr. Hutchin- 
son has witnessed many changes throughout 
this locality, and has contributed his full 
share as a good citizen toward the development 
of his native county. While living at Buck- 
field he served as Town Clerk and as a member 
of the School Committee. He is a firm ad- 
herent of the Democratic party. 



C\RLFS A. .Axn GEORGE W. 
A'HIBLEY are well-known and ex- 
ceedingly prosperous business men 
of East Wilton, Franklin County, 
Me., the former of the mercantile firm of 
Whibley & Brown, and the latter an exten- 
sive manufacturer of tinware ami a dealer in 
stoves, hardware, paints, and oils. These 
successful merchants are «ons of the late 
George and Julia A. (Morrison) Whibley. 

George Whibley, their father, who was for 
some years engaged in trade here, was born in 
London, England, August 2, i8ig. When a 
young man he emigrated to the United States 
with the view of obtaining a livelihood in a 
country where the opportunities for acquiring 
wealth were more equally distributed than in 
the Old World. After his arrival on these 
shores he served an apprenticeship at the car- 
penter's trade, upon the completion of which 
he began work as a journeyman in Skowhegan, 
Somerset County, Me. Having no friends or 
relatives in this country, he was obliged to 
make his way wholly through his own ability 
and perseverance, which he eventually suc- 
ceeded in accomplishing by a strict adherence 
to principles of honesty and the faithful dis- 
charge of his duties as a workman; and when 
he had thoroughly mastered the trade in every 
detail he became ambitious to advance. Es- 
tablishing himself in Skowhegan as a con- 
tractor and builder, he soon had a large and 
profitable business under his control; and dur- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



8i 



ing his residence in tliat tnwn he erected man}' 
of the principal buildings standing there 
to-day. As he advanced in years he grew stout 
of figure, which prevented him from climbing, 
as required in the work of construction ; and, 
being obliged upon this account to relinquish 
the pursuit of his calling, he settled in Madi- 
son, where he was engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness until i860. In that year, removing to 
East Wilton, he bought of John Perley the 
building now owned and occiqiied as a place of 
business by his son, Charles A. ; and ]nitting 
in a full stock of goods he conducted iluring 
his remaining days the largest general store in 
this section. His death took place July 21, 
1879. His wife, Julia A. Morrison, who was 
born December i, 181 5, was a daughter of 
Mary and John Morrison, of Farmington. She 
became the mother of four children, as follows: 
Elizabeth, who was born November iS, 1846, 
and died September 13, 1866; George \V. and 
Charles A., who are the subjects of this 
sketch ; and Amerilla, who was born May 8, 
1857, and died September 30 of the same year. 
Mrs. Julia A. Morrison Whibley died Novem- 
ber 13, 1895, at the age of eighty years. 

Charles A. Whibley was born in Skowhe- 
gan, Me., November 3, 1852. After finishing 
his education he began working as a clerk in 
the store, remaining in chat capacity until his 
father's death, when he purchased the business, 
which he carried on alone for about si.xteen 
years. In 1.895 he formed a ])artnership with 
E. B. Brown, his present business associate. 
The firm of Whibley & Brown carry the 
largest stock of general merchandise, including 
groceries, grain, feed, crockery, and other 
wares, to be found in this section. 

Charles A. Whibley wedded Rose E. Brown, 
daughter of Almon H. and Sylvia (Gould) 
Brown. By his honorable business methods 
Mr. C. A. Whibley has gained the confidence 
of his numerous patrons, and has attained 
merited success. Besides his mercantile in- 
terests he owns one-half of the late Fred Gor- 
don farm. He is a member of Williamson 
Lodge, Independent Oi'der of Odd Fellows, is 
independent in politics and liberal in his. relig- 
ious views. 

George W. Whibley, the elder of the two 
brothers, was born in East Madison, Me., De- 



cember j8, 1X48. He accpiired betimes a 
good practical education, and while still in his 
youth began to learn the carpenter's trade. 
Not liking that craft, howe\er, he relinquished 
it and learned the trade of a tinsmith; and 
after working as a journeyman for ten years he 
bought the .Macomber place in this town, 
where he fittetl up a small shop. Manufactui- 
ing tinware during the winter, he travelled 
through the countr\' with a jiedler's team, 
selling" it in the summer season. Two years 
later be rented the luastman store, which he 
stocked with a full line of stoves, general hard- 
ware, paints, oils, and \'arious other articles of 
merchandise, in which he has a good trade. 
Aside from this he manufactures tin pails and 
pans, keejaing a team upon the road ; and he 
also is engaged in setting up furnaces and con- 
ducting a general plumbing and roofing busi- 
ness. 

George W. Whibley married Elzoda Ma- 
comber, daughter of David and Hannah G. 
(Allen) Macomber, highly reputable and well- 
to-do farming peo]:)le of this town. Two chil- 
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whil>- 
ley, namely: Clai'cnce M., who died at the 
age of si.x montlis; and (ieorge M., whose 
birth occurred on (Jctober 13, 1881. 




|^y^:RSIAN V. EVERETT, of Hebron, 
' ' a veteran of the Civil War, now en- 
gaged in general farming antl fruit 
growing, was born in Hebron, July 
5, 1847, son of Hiram M. I':verett. Mr. 
I'Lverett is a descendant of John I'^verett, a 
Frenchman by birth, who accompanied Gen- 
eral Lafayette to America, and served during 
the Revolutionary War in the Continental 
army, losing an arm in the struggle. John 
Everett afterward settled among the pioneers 
of Norway, Me., where he died at an advanced 
age. His wife, who was probably the first 
school teacher in Norway, reared three chil- 
dren — John, Su.sannah, and Peter. Peter 
Everett, the grandfather of Persian V., was 
born in Norway, and was for many years a 
prosperous farmer of that town. His last days 
were passed in Poland, Me., where he died at 
the age of seventy-four years. He married 
Charlotte Parkhurst, who reached the age of 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



sixty-three years, and had eleven children, 
five of whom are living. 

Hiram Millett Everett was born in Norway, 
November 2, 1818. While still young he 
learned the cooper's traile, which he followed 
during the winter season until he was twenty- 
six years old, spending the summer season at 
farm labor. With his savings he then bought 
his father's property in Norway. Afterward 
he resided for short intervals in Poland, East 
Hebron, and Minot Corners. He learned the 
trade of a shoemaker in the last-named place, 
and subsequently worked at it in Hebron, 
where also, having bought a farm, he culti- 
vated it until his death in April, 1893. In 
politics he was a Republican, and he held for 
several years the offices of Constable and Col- 
lector. In religious faith he was a Baptist. 
Of his four children the only survivor is Per- 
sian \'., the subject of this sketch. The 
others were: Anna Delphina, Justin, and 
Anna Bethany. The mother is still living, 
and resides in Hebron. 

Persian \'. Everett passed his boyhood in 
Hebron. At the age of seventeen, while 
attending the academy, he enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company A, Thirtieth Regiment, 
Maine Volunteers, with which he served dur- 
ing the last years of the Rebellion. After he 
was honorably discharged in 1865, he resumed 
his studies at the academy for a time, and 
then engaged as a general storekeeper in 
Hebron. At the end of three years he sold 
his business; and, after working in a shoe 
factory for six and a half years, he went to 
Auburn, Me., where he engaged in the same 
business. In 1879 he moved his family to his 
present farm. He spent about fourteen years 
in Auburn, after which he returned to Hebron, 
where he has since resided permanently. As 
a general farmer he has been quite prosperous. 
He now owns one hundred and fifty acres of 
fertile land, which he devotes to tiairying and 
fruit growing, while he makes a specialty of 
breeding fine horses. 

On February 19, 1868, Mr. Everett wedded 
Ella H. Haskell, of Paris, Me., daughter of 
Joel and Margaret D. Haskell. i\Irs. Everett 
lias had four children, as follows: Minnie, 
who married O. W. Fernald, resides in Ber- 
lin, N. H., and has one daughter, Marion P.; 



Ernest L., who died at the age of two years; 
Charles H. and Margaret L. , who both re- 
side with their parents. In politics Mr. 
Everett is a Republican. He is a comrade of 
Post No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic, of 
Mechanic Falls. Both he and Mrs. Everett 
attend the Baptist church, of which she is 
a member. 



■JiYOSKJ'H TREFETHEN, one of Wilton's 
able farmers and a well-known citizen, 
was born on Monhegan Island, Me., 
September 22, 1833, son of Henry and 
Ann (Baxter) Trefethen. The family is of 
French origin, and descends from early set- 
tlers upon the coast of Maine, who were mostly 
seafaring men and fishermen. 

Mr. Trefethen's father was reared a fisher- 
man, and in early manhood he engaged in fit- 
ting out vessels for the cod-fishing banks. He 
later became the owner of several vessels, and, 
erecting a fish-house on ]\Ionhegan Island, 
where he received, cured, and prepared the 
fish for market, conducted a very profitable 
business for many years. His death occurred 
at the age of eighty. He was three times mar- 
ried, and by his union with .Ann liaxter, his 
third wife, had three children, of whom the 
first-born, a daughter, died in infancy. The 
others were: Joseph, the subject of this 
sketch ; and Abraham Baxter. Mr. Tref- 
ethen's mother married for her second hus- 
band George Eegrow, and, removing to Wil- 
ton, died here at the age of about seventy 
years. 

Joseph Trefethen, the elder of her two sons, 
was reared and educated in Wilton. In young 
manhood he bought a farm of one hundred and 
thirty acres, which he improved; but after oc- 
cupying it for some time he exchanged it for 
a smaller piece of property located nearer the 
village. This farm he has also improved, 
increasing its productiveness, and making va- 
rious alterations in the buildings; and in con- 
nection with tilling the soil he has worked at 
the carpenter's trade to some extent. 

On March 12, 1854, Mr. Trefethen was 
united in marriage with Susan B. Webster, 
who was born in Wilton, June 29, 1831, 
daughter of Thomas E. and Lois (Scales) 



BIOGRAPHICAL RKVIKW 



83 



Webster. Mrs. Trefethen's father was a 
native of VVeare, N. H. He settled in Wilton 
when a young man and became one of the most 
energetic and progressive farmers of his day. 
The present Webster homestead, which is one 
of the best estates in town, was cleared and 
improved by him. He was a man of much 
political prominence and social worth. He 
died in 1.S70, aged sixty-three years ; and his 
wife died at the age of fifty-four years. .She 
was the mother of six children, namely: -Susan 
B. , who is now Mrs. Trefethen ; Annie M. ; 
Henry, who is a leading farmer of this town, 
and occupies the homestead; \'olina M. ; \'a- 
nander; and Octavia C. 

Mr. and Mrs. Trefethen have six children, 
as follows: Henry E., Professor of Languages 
at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, Kent's Hill, 
who was born June 10, 1855, married Alice 
Porter, and has six children — Evangeline, 
Henry P., M. Louise, Webster, Ruth, and an 
infant; ImccI E., a resident of Wilton, who 
was born March 19, 1857, married Addie M. 
Bump, and has seven children — LaviniaA., 
Verner A., Harry J., Miriam E., Leon 15. , 
Lawrence W., and Irene E. ; PLlla S. , who was 
born November 7, 1858; Annie, who was 
born March 22, 1861, and is now the widow 
of C. L. Snow, who died in i8g6; William J., 
M.D., a graduate of the Baltimore Medical 
School, who was born October 20, iH6(\ mar- 
ried Sarah Smith, and is now a practising 
physician of New Portland, Me. ; and Mel- 
vina, who was born January 12, 1871, married 
Herbert J. I'.llsworth, and has two children — 
Vivian and Jennie. 

In politics Mr. Trefethen is a Republican, 
and in his religious views he is liberal. He 
is a member of Williamson Lodge, Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd P\dlows, and of the en- 
campment. 




^HARLES T. MELLEN, who was a 
lifelong resident of the town of Paris, 
was born at Paris Hill, November 
20, 1820, son of Alanson and Mary 
(Bisco) Mellen. Alanson Mellen was born in 
Hopkinton, Mass. In his early manhood he 
removed to this town, where he was engaged 
in mercantile ])ursuits many years. He sub- 



sequently made his home on Paris Hill, where 
he died December 9, 1851. I*'or more than 
thirty consecutive years he was Registrar of 
Deeds, and he was Town Clerk for a long 
term of office. In religion he was very lib- 
eral, while in politics he was a stanch Demo- 
crat. His wife, Mary, who spent her life in 
this town, and died March 12, 1826, had six 
children, as follows: Leonard, born in 181:;, 
who died in 1843; Jonas B., born in 1814, 
who died in 1824: Eunice E. , born in 1816, 
who died in 1893; Mary M., born in 1818, who 
died in 1844; Charles T. , the subject of this 
brief sketch; and George L., born in 1823, 
who is the only one now living. 

Charles T. Mellen grew to man's estate in 
his native town, acquiring his education in 
the public schools. He worked with his 
father in the Registry of Deeds for several 
seasons, and was subsequently Postmaster at 
Paris for several years. In politics he was an 
active member of the Democratic party and 
in his religious views was liberal. 

Mr. Mellen was married June 7, 1855, to 
Lucretia Jackson, who was born in the village 
of Paris, September 29, 1S24, daughter of 
Joseph and Lucretia (Brett) Jackson. Her 
paternal grandfather, Lemuel Jackson, was the 
first person to settle and erect a house on Paris 
Hill. He cleared a good homestead, on which 
he and his wife, previously Miss Willis, spent 
their last days in the ]ieaceful occupations of 
farm life. Joseph Jackson, who was also a 
farmer by occupation, after his marriage 
bought the farm where his son's widow, Mrs. 
Hiram Jackson, now lives. Here he and his 
wife spent the rest of their lives, he dying at 
the age of fifty-five years, and she at the ven- 
erable age of eighty-six. He was liberal in 
his religious belief, while she was a member 
of the Baptist church. They had four chil- 
dren — Eliza, Hiram, Lucretia, and Isabelle. 
Lucretia, now Mrs. Mellen, is the only sur- 
vivor. Mr. and Mrs. Mellen have had two 
children — Charles J. and Mary I. Charles 
J., born p-ebruary 20, 1857, was engaged in 
teaching until his accidental death by drown- 
ing while skating, December 17, 1881. 
Marv L, born May 2, i860, has always lived 
at home. She was employed in the Registry 
of Deeds for thirteen years, but is now Post- 



84 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



mistress at Paris, which ajipointment she re- 
ceived in November, 1S93. The father died 
February 21, 1893. A man of sterling, up- 
right character, he was highly esteemed 
throughout the district. Mrs. Mellen and her 
daughter attend the Universalist chtirch. 



4^ 9 ^■» 




^/T I'l''^^'-*-'^ S. BEAN. — Striking in- 
stances of individual enterprise set- 
ting in motion wide circles of in- 
dustrial life are found here and 
there in the State of Maine. The town of 
West liethel, Me., largely owes its present 
[irosperity to Mr. A. S. Bean, a self-made 
man, who has developed the lumber industry 
here to colossal proportions, established a 
large and prosperous general store, stimulated 
the building interest by erecting cottages for 
his employees, and increased the attractions of 
the place as a summer resort by buikling a 
tirst-class hotel, beautifulh- situated. Be- 
sides these local interests Mr. Bean is con- 
nected with financial enterprises in other parts 
of the State, and what he touches seems 
always to succeed. He was born in Bethel, 
January iS, 1846, and is a son of the late 
Daniel F. and Polly P. (White) Bean. 

The Ik'ans are one of the old established 
families of New England. Daniel F. Bean, 
who was a native of Bethel, spent his entire 
life in this town, attaining the advanced age 
of eighty-four years. He was a well-to-do 
farmer, and dealt largely in cattle. His wife, 
who was born in Gilead, this county, died at 
the age of seventy-five. • Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 
F. Bean were members of the Congregational 
church. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, namely: Roy, who died at the age of 
fifty; Emily J., who was called to rest in her 
thirty-si.xth year; A. S., the subject of this 
sketch; P'annie E., wife of Thomas B. Mor- 
rill, of Charlestown, Mass. ; Susie E., wife of 
Fred W. Perkins, of Worcester, Mass. ; and 
Daniel F. 

A. S. Bean accjuired a common-school edu- 
cation in his native town. He displayed 
some ability as a financier in his youth, man- 
aging quite a business in eggs and poultry; 
and when he was twenty-one years old he en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits in West Bethel. 



After trying this a year he went to California, 
but six months' residence in that State de- 
cided him that he could do better at home. 
Returning, he jnu-chased the store in West 
Bethel which is now under his charge, and 
which under his able management has aggre- 
gate sales of over fifty thousand dollars a year. 
He owns twenty thousand acres of timber land 
in this vicinity, on which are seven mills, 
four run by steam, three by water. Of these 
five are birch-mills and manufacture spool 
stock, and two are saw-mills. He sells quan- 
tities of timber from his land for outside 
manufacture, cutting in one winter four mill- 
ion feet, two million of which he shipped to 
Scotland, and eight thousand cords of pulp 
wood for the Rumford Falls mills. He has 
lately shipped five million feet of spool stock 
to Scotland. He owns mills in different parts 
of this county, and has an interest in a bobbin- 
mill in Shelburne, N.H. Mr. Bean has a 
large number of men in his enii^lo}'; and the 
cottages which he has built, uniformly 
painted, make a very pretty village at West 
Bethel. About three miles away is a charm- 
ing little pond at the foot of Pine Mountain, 
and here Mr. Bean has made such improve- 
ments as have developed the place into a beau- 
tiful summer resort. He owns several large 
farms, including three hundred acres of grass 
land, from which he annually cuts hundreds 
of tons of hay; and he has the best farmer's 
barn in Oxford County. 

Mr. Bean was married November 14, 1871, 
to Miss Lucinda Mason, of Gilead, this 
county, daughter of Moses and Martha 
(Walker) Mason. It is a notable fact that 
the wife's influence has much to do with mak- 
ing or marring a man's career. Mrs. Bean is 
always alive to her husband's best interests, 
and her intelligent co-operation smooths the 
road to success. 

In politics Mr. Bean favors the Republican 
side. He has been Postmaster of West Bethel 
for twenty years, holding his office under both 
Republican and Democratic administrations. 
Though not a church member, he is in sym- 
pathy with religious enterprises, to which he 
liberally contributes. There has never been 
a church in West Bethel, the efforts, made 
]3rincipall_\' b\- some devoted Christian women, 



\ 



>- 




ALPHEUS S. BEAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



to raise funds to build one having been unsuc- 
cessful; but the need of a house of worship 
will soon be met, for Mr. Bean is erecting a 
substantial edifice, which he intends to pre- 
sent when finished to the struggling little so- 
ciety. One of the wealthiest men in the 
county, he does not hoard the jiroperty which 
he has worked hard to accumulate, but contrib- 
utes freely toward all worthy enter[5rises; 
and his large-heartedness and fine social qual- 
ities have drawn to him manv friends. 




ILLIAM M. GREENE, who until 
1 892 had been an esteemed farmer 
of Norway township for more than 
twoscore years, was born February 11, i<Si9, 
in Portland, Me., son of Captain William M. 
and Hannah R. (Gould) Greene, both natives 
of Cumberland County. His father was for 
many years captain of a vessel, but he eventu- 
ally settled in Portland, where both he and 
his wife spent their closing years. 

Mr. Greene was bred and educated in Port- 
land, and was there employed for some years 
as a clerk in a grocery store. Inheriting his 
father's love for the sea, he subsequently 
became master of a vessel. He was engaged 
in seafaring for more than thirty years, during 
which he visited many parts of the globe. He 
was shipwrecked twice, the last time in De- 
cember, 1S48, when he lost "everything." 
Not discouraged by this misfortune, however, 
he continued in his calling until 1850, some 
two years after his marriage. Mr. Greene 
then came to Oxford County, locating in 
North Norway. Here he purchased land, 
erected a row of buildings, and was afterward 
engaged in tilling the soil and working at 
the carpenter's trade for five years. Moving 
in 1855 to the western part of the town, he 
bought a farm, on which he lived for twenty- 
two years, successfully engaged in agricult- 
ure. Selling out there, he bought the pres- 
ent home farm occupied by his widow and her 
son, and here lived until his death, which 
occurred July 21, 1892. This farm is located 
near the centre of the town, and contains 
forty-two acres of land, well suited for grazing 
and dairy purposes. Mr. Greene was a stanch 
adherent of the Republican ])arty. He was 



a member of the Congregational church at Nor- 
way Centre, to which his widow still belongs. 
On August 27, 1848, Mr. Greene was mar- 
ried to Miss Abiah L., born in Norway, Jan- 
uary 26, 1829, daughter of Edmund and 
Annie P. (Lovejoy) l-'rost. Her parents 
were esteemed farming peojjle of Norway, 
where they spent their last years. Her 
mother came here from Andover, Mass., 
where she was born and educated. Mr. 
Greene's children are: I'^rank 'P., born No- 
vember 14, 1849, who married Mary A. 
Parker, of Waterford, this county, and is now 
a carpenter in Norway; Herbert W., born 
June 15, 1855, who married Alfretta Keith, 
and is now engaged in the grocery business 
at Boston, Mass. ; lulmond V. C, born May 
22, 1859; and-I'LIfannah, born April 25, 1S68, 
now living at home, who is a trained nurse. 
Edmond F. C. Greene has had charge of the 
home property for some years, his father's 
health having been jjoor a long time before 
his demise. He carries on general farming, 
paying a good deal of attention to his dairy. 
He sells cream throughout the county, and 
likewise deals largely in stock. In politics 
he is a Republican, and has held several of 
the minor offices of the townshi]^. He is a 
member of the grange at Norway village, and 
is an active worker in the Second Congrega- 
tional Church. On the maternal side he is 
descended from a Revolutionary hero, his 
mother's grandfathei', Jacob Frost, who re- 
ceived a bullet wound in the hip at one of the 
battles in that famous struggle, and was after- 
ward pensioned. 



^OHN STE\'ENS, one of the worthy and 
respected residents of the tcnvn of 
Paris, where he has lived for nearly 
thirty years, was born January 22, 
1818, in China, Kennebec County, son of 
Daniel and Almira (Stevens) Stevens. His 
grandfather, Thomas Stevens, served three 
years in the Revolutionary army, participating 
in the battles at Brandywine, Monmouth, and 
other engagements. Thomas subsequently 
removed to this county, locating at Paris, 
where for the rest of his life he worked at 
the carpenter's trade and at farming. 



8<S 



ISIOCJRAl'HICAL REVIEW 



Daniel Stevens, a son of Thomas, was 
born in Worcester, Mass., where his father 
was then living. He came with his parents 
to Paris, where he resided in his early life. 
After receiving; a j^eneral education he studied 
me.liciuc, and in due time began the practice 
(if it. Shortly after he settled in China, Me., 
which was then in its infanc)', and was there 
engaged in his profession until his death, at 
the age of si.xty years, having been successful 
and popular as a physician. He was a public- 
sjiirited and patriotic citizen, and served in 
the War of 1812. A man of jirominence in 
his adopted town, he was a Selectman and 
Trustee of the Academy. He was an active 
member of the Baptist church, in which he 
frequently preached. His first wife, Almira, 
who was born in Paris, died in China, aged 
thirty-two years. She was a daughter of Cyp- 
rian Stevens, a pioneer physician of Paris, 
and one of its prominent early settlers. His 
second wife, whose maiden name was Sally 
Stimpson, lived to the age of forty-two years. 
Daniel Stevens became the father of seven 
children by his first marriage and of five 
more by his second. (3f the whole number 
two are living, namely: John, the subject of 
this sketch; and Thomas, a ranchman of 
California. Of the others, four reached ma- 
turity; namelv, -Stowell, Harriet, Mar\-, and 
Jane. 

John Stevens remained under the jiarental 
roof-tree until nineteen years of age. He then 
went to Old Town, Penobscot County, where 
he obtained employment at cutting logs in 
winter and working in a saw-mill when not 
otherwise engaged, his compensation being 
ten dollars a month. He subsequently worked 
for other people for twenty-five years before 
settling in life for himself. Being prudent 
and economical, he accumulated some money, 
with which in 1863 he bought fifty acres of 
land in China, where he carried on mi.xed 
husbandry four years. Coming then to Paris, 
he purchased his present farm, containing sev- 
enty-five acres of land. Here he has made 
many of the improvements, and has since 
carried on general farming and fruit growing 
with marked success, of recent years hiring 
most of the manual work done. 

Mr. Stevens was married in November, 



1866, to Mrs. Sarah (Buck) Merrill, who was 
born in Norway, this county, December 18, 
1824. She is a daughter of Jared M. and 
Sally (Stevens) Buck. By a [srevious mar- 
riage, contracted with Charles Merrill, who 
died, she had one child, Charles D. Merrill, 
v/ho died at the age of twenty-two years. The 
•only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens was 
a girl, Sarah L. , who lived but seven years. 
In politics Mr. Stevens is a stanch Republi- 
can, while regarding religious matters he 
holds liberal views. He has served his fel- 
low-townsmen in several of the minor offices 
of his district, and is a member of the South 
Paris Grange. 




UGKNE M. DUDLEY, the enterprising 
and popular proprietor of the Lake 
House at Waterford Plat, was born 
in Bridgton, this State, June i, 1854. He 
is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Earle) Dud- 
ley, both natives of Maine, the former born 
in Waterford, the latter in Plymouth. Joseph 
Dudley lived in his native town until after 
his marriage with Elizabeth Earle, when he 
established a home in Bridgton. He was a 
competent farmer, and was engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits in Bridgton up to the time of 
his death, August 20, 1876. His wife passed 
away in September, 1890. They had seven 
children, namely: Ada, the wife of Sumner 
Spurr, now of Otisfield, Me. ; Eugene M., 
the subject of this sketch; Mary, in North 
Bridgton ; Walter and Albert, residents of 
Harrison, Me.; Nellie, now deceased; and 
P'red, residing in Hollis, N.ll. 

Eugene M. Dudley received a common- 
school education in his native town. At the 
age of fourteen he obtained employment as a 
weaver in a woollen-mill of Bridgton. Sub- 
sequently he set about learning the tinsmith's 
trade in Cornish, Me.; but, after six months 
of his apprenticeship had expired, he took a 
position in a harness shop, where he continued 
employed about three years. He then opened 
a harness shop of his own in Harrison, Me., 
where he conducted a successful business for 
ten years, accumulating sufficient money to 
start in hotel keeping. He did this by pur- 
chasing the Lake House, an old and famous 



BIOGRAl'IIICAL REVIEW 



89 



hostelry. Since then he has made many im- 
provements in the building and surroundings, 
developing the place into a model summer 
hotel. While it is open all the year round, 
its most prosperous season is the vacation 
time. Mr. Dudley has a good livery in con- 
nection with the hotel. He also owns a farm 
of seventy-five acres, one of the best estates 
in the locality. An alert and enterprising- 
man, one who does well whatever he under- 
takes, he also seems to have the enviable 
faculty of making and keeping friends. 
Under his management the Lake House has 
attained a remarkable degree of prosperity, 
and his fame as a host has spread through 
Oxford and Cumberland Counties. 

Mr. Dudley was married February 14, 
1882, to Judith C, daughter of Edwin Jack- 
son, a farmer now living in North Bridgton, 
Me. Mrs. Jackson died some time since. 
Mrs. Dudley, who is a native of Springfield, 
Me., has two children — Guy E., born March 
II, i8iS6; and Annie L., born October 6, 
1889. In pcditics Mr. Dudley is a stanch 
Democrat. He belongs to. one social organ- 
ization, the Independent Order of Odd Fc]- 
lows, being a member of Ossipee Lodge, No. 
54, of Cornish, Me. He is one of the self- 
made men of 0.\ford County, having won his 
way from a hard-working boyhood to a matu- 
rity of established prosperity. 



)/lLLIAM A. BOYINGTON, a well- 
i! known and resjiected resident of 
New Sharon, Franklin County, was 
born in Stark, Me., November 30, 1828, son 
of John S. and Jane (Witham) Boyington. 
His grandfather was William Boyington, a 
native of Wiscasset, Lincoln County, from 
which place he removed to New .Sharon abt)ut 
the year 17S0, being one of the first three 
settlers of the place. Here the grandfather 
bought about one hundred and si.xty acres of 
land, built a log cabin, and cleared a patch of 
about ten acres, wliich he forthwith proceeded 
to cultivate. His children were: Jeremiah, 
William, Joshua, John .S. , Benjamin, Re- 
becca, Susan, Sally, and Martha. 

John S. Boyington was born in New .Sharon 
in 1 80 1, and was educated at the common 



schools of the town. ^\t a maturer age he 
learned the trade of barn building, and this 
he carried on tor a numbei" of years in connec- 
tion with larming. When twenty-four years 
old he went to Stark, antl there bought a farm. 
I'his he sold in 1837, and mo\-ed back to his 
native town of New .Sharon, where he pur- 
chased annther farm of sixty acres in extent. 
Here he was engaged in general farming for 
the rest of his life, which closed in 1855, 
when he was fifty-foLU' years old. 

He was joinetl in matrimony with Jane 
Witham, a daughter of Jesse Witham, of Fair- 
field, Me., and by her became the father of 
eight children, six of whom are living. They 
were — Jesse, William A., Samuel, Leonard, 
Elizabeth, I\Iary J., Perluma, and R. Frances. 

William A." J5oyington spent bis early boy- 
hood on his father's farm in -Starks, and re- 
ceived his early education in the same town. 
He went with his father to New .Sharon in 
1837, and attended school there until he was 
eighteen years of age. 15eginning then, he 
worked with his father on the home farm until 
he attained his majority- After this he was 
employed on adjoining farms and in logging- 
camps until he was twenty-four. After his 
marriage he took the farm of Almond Saunders 
for a year, at the end of which he moved with 
his wife to Lewiston. Here he worked for 
another year, hauling wood on contract from 
the forest with his own oxen. During his 
second sunimer at Lewiston he hel]3ed to haul 
the stone with which the new coint-housc and 
jail of the town were built. A short while 
after he returned to New Sharoi-i, where he 
bought a farm of forty-five acres, which he 
successfully conducted for five \'ears. Then 
he sold it, and bought the place where he now 
lives. He tore down all the old barns that 
stood ujion this property, and built more com- 
modious ones. He also made considerable 
impro\'ements in the residence, including the 
flagging of his cellars and laying pipes from 
his well into the house. The place is now 
one of the finest and most modern estates in 
this part of the county. He has carried 01-1 
general farming for many years. Owing to the 
fact that he has removed all rocks and stones 
from the land, the farm is easily worked. Pie 
owns eight head of handsome cattle and a large 



9° 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



flock of sheep, fie also moves and builds 
barns, a business at which he is an expeit, and 
which brings him a good income. 

(_)n November 30, 1853, his twenty-fifth 
birthday, Mr. l^oyington married Miss Ada- 
line .S. Gordon, daughter of Ithiel Gordon, a 
farmer of New .Sharon. Like his father he is 
a Republican in politics. His religious faith 
is that of the Free Will Baptists. He has 
been a notoriously hard-working man all his 
life, and all his success is due solely to his 
own efforts. 




SA PACKARD, a well-known farmer 
and carpenter, residing in Greenwood 
township, was born here, June 19, 
1830, son of Asa Packard, Sr., and 
FLleanor (Bradbury) Packard. His paternal 
grandfather, James Packard, who came from 
Bridgewater, Mass., was the first of the family 
to settle in this locality. After carrying on 
farming here for a few years. Grandfather 
Packard removed to the adjoining town of 
Norway, where he spent his last days. 

Asa Packard, Sr., was born and reared in 
Oxford County. In his younger days he 
worked at the shoemaker's trade, but afterward 
turned his attention to agriculture, buying 
the farm on which his son Asa now lives. 
He subsequently moved to Harrison, Cumber- 
land County, where he died June 17, 1870. 
His wife, in maidenhood Eleanor Bradbury, 
who was a native of Norway, died in 1857. 
She bore him ten children, namely: James, 
who died in infancy; Malinda, who died at 
the age of seventy years; James (second), now 
engaged in farming in Norway; Nathaniel 
Morrill, who died at the age of twenty-three 
years; Charles, also deceased; Amos, an 
attorney-at-law, who resides in Baltimore, 
Md. ; Asa and Eleanor, twins, the former 
being the subject of this sketch, and the 
latter the wife of Henry Porter, of Norway 
township; George, who lives in Bridgton, 
Me. ; and Henry C, w-ho is a resident of 
Harrison, this State. 

Asa Packard acquired his education in the 
common schools of his native town. In his 
early manhood he worked as a farm laborer 
in Paris township. Going thence to Hing- 



ham, Mass., he was employed with his father 
for a time in that village. Soon after his re- 
turn to Greenwood he married and settled on a 
farm, where for ten years he was successfully 
engaged in agriculture. He then bought his 
present estate, containing one hundred acres 
of land. It lies in Norway and Greenwood 
townships, the residence being within the 
limits of Greenwood. Mr. Packard carries on 
general farming and dairying, and is some- 
what interested in poultr)' raising. He 
learned the carpenter's trade when a young 
man, and has worked at it more or less 
during his life. In 1878 he built his jiresent 
comfortable and convenient dwelling. Polit- 
ically, he is a strong advocate of Democratic 
])rinciples. He belongs to the Independent 
Order of Odd P'ellow^s of West Paris and to 
the Patrons of Husbandry of Norway. 

Mr Packard was married I'ebruary 27, 
1855, to Miss Sarah E. Doughty, who was 
born March 25, 1835, in Greenwood township. 
Her parents. Major Charles and Jemima 
(Young) Doughty, were lifelong residents of 
this town, where they were engaged in farm- 
ing. Mr. and Mrs. Packard have four chil- 
dren; namely, Frank .S., Emma, Dora A., 
and Edward D. Frank S., born April 21, 
1857, married Lizzie Fogg, of Norway, and 
they live on the home farm; Emma, born 
March 7, 1859, is the wife of P'rank H. Hill, 
a barber in West Paris, and has one child, 
Dora Irene; Dora A., born No\-ember 16, 
1 86 1, died at the age of eighteen years; and 
Edward D., born February 27, 1863, married 
Elvesa D. Curtis, and they also, with their 
little son, Elmer D., live on the home farm. 




TOWNE, who has been 
closely identified with the agricult- 
ural interests of Norway township 
throughout the greater part of his 
acti\e life, was born February 17, 1829, on 
the farm where he now resides. His father, 
Daniel Towne, was a son of Peter Towne, 
who was a farmer and a lifelong resident of 
Andover, Mass. During the Revolutionary 
War Peter Towne was a teamster in the army, 
and received a serious injury while serving 
in that ca]mcity. 



BlOGRAPil IC AL KKVl K\V 



91 



Daniel Townc was born and eilucatcd in 
Andovcr, from which place he came to Ox- 
ford County in 1808. lie settled in the 
northern part of Norway township, where he 
cleared and improved a homestead, worked at 
the blacksmith's trade, and lived here until 
his death in 1859. He married Susan Gur- 
ney, a native of Minard, Me., who, having 
survived him a few years, died in l'"ebruary, 
1865. Their eight children were: Daniel G., 
who was a successful physician of Lowell, 
Mass., and died in Lovell, Me.; I^'annie, who 
is the widow of P. D. Judkins, and lives at 
Newtonville, Mass.; Abiah, who is the widow 
of Louis Frost, and resides in Lowell, Mass. ; 
Honor P., who married JoLd W. Chadbourn, 
of Waterford, Me., both now deceased; Jona- 
than G., who married Abbie Crockett, also 
both deceased; Ksliburn !'., now a resident of 
Mississippi, who married the late Caroline 
Dresser, of Lovell, this county; Rollin, the 
subject of this sketch; and Andrew Jackson, 
who died at the age of ten years. 

Rollin Towne acquired his education in the 
district schools of Norway, and on the home 
farm obtained a practical knowledge of agri- 
culture. On attaining his majority he went 
to Milford, Mass., where he worked at farming 
for a year. His services being needed at 
home, he returned there; and from that time 
until the death of his parents he cared for 
them, at the same time conducting the farm. 
He has since assumed possession of the home- 
stead property, which contains seventy acres 
of land, and is in a fine condition, owing to 
his diligent and persevering efforts. Mr. 
Towne did much of the manual labor himself, 
working early and late, until 1880, since when 
rheumatism has obliged him to depend largely 
upon hired help. He has been a stanch Re- 
publican since casting his first Presidential 
vote for Franklin Pierce in 1852. He has 
never been an office-seeker, but has served in 
several of the less important town, offices, 
l^oth he and his wife attend the Congrega- 
tional church near their home. 

On September 26, 1852, Mr. Towne mar- 
ried Miss Nancy J. Hayes, who was born Jane 
7, 1830, in Poland, Me., which was also the 
birthplace of her parents, Isaac and Martha 
(Swett) Hayes. After working for many 



years at the carpenter's trade in Poland, where 
he resided until '1864, Mr. Hayes purchased 
a farm in Greenwood towushij), and lived there 
for ten years. Coming then to Norway, he 
was engaged in general farming for some time. 
Subsequently he removed to Lewiston, this 
State, and there lived with a daughter until 
his demise in 1884. He had surviveil his 
wife, who passed away in 18S0. Mr. and 
Mrs. Towne have si.\ children, namel)-: 
Charles H., who married Lillian Bai'stow, and 
is overseer of the Bates Mills at Lewiston; 
George R.. who died at the age of twenty- 
four years; Carrie I., who is the wife of Sam- 
uel J. Caldwell, the manager of a large stable 
at South Boston, Mass. ; Fannie !•'., the wife 
of Horace G. Dinsmore, an enterprising- 
farmer of Norway township; William P""rank, 
who married Nellie Merrill, of Gardiner, Me., 
and is now running a milk wagon in Arling- 
ton, Mass. ; and Emma E., the vvife of Gilbert 
LJpton, of Tulare, Cal., where he has a large 
ranch. 



^^HARLES E. PERKINS, an enter- 
I kJ prising young farmer of New Sharon, 
V^lj, was horn at the family homestead 

in this town, July 16, 1866, son of 
Samuel F. and Annette (.Smith) Perkins. His 
grandfather, .Samuel Perkins, who was a native 
of Woolwich, Me., came here from that town 
and bought the land now owned by his grand- 
son. This property Samuel cleared and im- 
proved into a good farm, which he cultivated 
with industry during the rest of his active 
period. His last days were spent in this town, 
where he died in i86g, aged sevent}'-nine 
years. 

.Samuel V. Perkins, who was born in Wool- 
wich, June I, 1825, accomjianied his parents 
to New Sharon, being then fifteen years old. 
Beginning at the age of seventeen, he assisted 
on the farm until 1862. In that year he en- 
listed as a private in the Twenty-eighth Regi- 
ment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, and after- 
ward served one year in the Civil War. After 
returning to civil life he resumed his former 
occupation. At his father's death he suc- 
ceeded to the homestead, and conducted it 
prosperously until a year previous to his death, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



when he sold it to his son and retired from 
active labor. He tiled I'ebniary 27, 1S89, 
aged sixty-four years. In politics he acted 
with the Reimblican party, while his religious 
beliefs were those nf a liberal. His wife, 
Annette, whom he married December 21, 
1863, was born in New Sharon, June ti, 1836, 
daughter of William and Mary (Dyer) Smith, 
both natives of this town. She became the 
mother of three children, as follows: Mary 
C, born October 11, 1864, who married Cory- 
don Bailey, of Industry, and has three children 
— Charles, Leon, and Clarence; Charles E., 
the subject of this sketch; and Lura M., born 
August 25, 1873, who married Frank M. Teb- 
betts, of Norway, Me., and has one son, Ray. 
Mr. Perkins's mother is still living, and re- 
sides with her son at the homestead. 

Charles K. Perkins was educated in the 
schools of New Sharon, and was reared to farm 
life. He has always resided at the homestead, 
which he now owns, having purchased it from 
his father, as already stated. The farm is 
well located, and takes rank among the most 
productive in this part of the county. Besides 
raising the usual crops, he cultivates an or- 
chard containing seven hundred grafted fruit- 
trees, and keeps a large flock of coarse-wool 
sheej), four head of cattle, and three excellent 
horses. Since taking possession of the prop- 
erty he has improved the buildings and much 
increased the fertility of the soil. Progressive 
and enterprising, he is constantl}' alert to avail 
himself of all opportunities for advancement. 
In politics Mr. Perkins takes an indei)endent 
course. He is regarded as one of the rising 
young men of this town. 




|HESLP:Y H. FERNALD, of Albany, 
Oxford County, Me., is one of the 
representative citizens of the town, 
who by toiling industriously from 
early boyhood has attained prosperity and po- 
sition. He was born in Lincoln, Mc. , March 
18, 1833, the son of George VV. and Mary 
(Kneelanil) Fernald. 

George W. Fernald, who was a native of 
Lincoln, Me., and in early manhood was there 
engaged in farming, removed from Lincoln 
to Albany when his son, Chesley H., was 



about five years old, settling on a farm in the 
southern part of the town. At the time of 
the Civil War he left his pleasant home and 
family for the disease-breeding fields of the 
South; and he )iever greeted his wife and 
children again, for he was taken ill in the 
army and ilied. His wife breathed her last 
in Albany, Me. Seven children were born 
to this couple, namely: Chesley H., whose 
name a]5]3ears at the head of the present 
sketch ; Nancy Jane, widow of Clark C. 
White in Raymond, N.H. ; Oliver N., who is 
in the shoe business in Danvers, Mass. ; 
George W., a dentist, in Bethel Hill village. 
Me. ; Julia E., who was born April 9, 1850, 
and died December 3, 1867; Hersey E., an 
engineer in PennsyLania; and an unnamed 
child, who died in infancy. 

Chesley H. Fernald in his boyhood re- 
ceived a limited conmion-school education. 
He helped about the home farm in early man- 
hood, and remained in his native town until 
1876, when he went to Milton, N.IL, staying 
there three years, engaged in making shook; 
and he was subsequently in Ebensburg, Pa., 
seven months, engaged in the same intlustry. 
He then returned to Albany, where he has 
since resided; and in 1880 he erected a saw- 
mill near his home, forming a partnership 
with Parker N. Flint. The firm makes a 
specialty of spool lumber, and has a growing, 
prosperous business. Mr. Fernald is exten- 
sivelv engaged in farming, owning some five 
hundred acres of land, much of which is 
highly improved, and also raising live stock. 
A hard-working and persevering man, he has 
added to his property little by little until he 
has become one of the foremost manufacturers 
and real estate owners in the town of Albany. 

He was married on November 22, 1855, to 
Elizabeth J. Meader, of Stoneham, this county, 
the daughter of George P. and Martha (Cross) 
Meader. George P. Meader, who was a Mas- 
sachusetts man, settled in Stoneham at an early 
day, and was there engaged for years in the 
pursuit of agriculture. He died in 1S93, and 
his wife also has passed to the world beyond. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fernald have two children — 
Alton, the elder, born October 12, 1859, who 
lives with his father, married Miss Lydia Mar- 
shall; Nellie A., born in September, 1862, is 




CHESLEY H. FERNALD. 



BIOGRAPHICAI> REVIEW 



95 



the wife of Parker N. Flint, Mr. l''ernaUrs 
business partner. Mr. Fernald is a Republi- 
can, and though he is not an office-seeker, he 
served as Third Selectman of Albany one year. 
He is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 6i, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of North 
Waterfortl. 




FIVER P. FARRINGTON, a well- 
known horse dealer of Oxford County 
and an influential citizen of the town 
of Greenw^ood, was born September 
1 6, 1851, in Andover, Me., son of Samuel 
F'arrington, Jr. His grandfather, .Samuel 
P'arrington, Sr., who was born and reared to 
man's estate in Stow, this county, subse- 
quently became a resident of Andover, where 
he cleared and improved a homestead, living 
there until his demise. Grandfather Farring- 
ton's wife, whose maiden name was Dresser, 
had four children; namely, Matilda, Hannah, 
Abigail, and Samuel, Jr. Hannah became 
the wife of Lorenzo Hanson, of Andover. 

Samuel Farrington, Jr., who died in 1862, 
was a native of Andover, where he owned a 
farm for many years. P'rom childhood he had 
a strong tendency toward religious work, and 
for many years travelled throughout his native 
State as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
denomination, preaching in the country towns. 
He married Susanna Coffin, a native of Milan, 
N.H. She survived him, and is now the wife 
of John Abbott, a retired farmer of Bethel, 
this county. Her children by Samuel Far- 
rington are: Jennie, the wife of Calvin San- 
born, of Bethel, Me. ; Oliver P., the subject 
of this sketch; Abbie, the wife of Gilbert 
Coffin, living at Locke's Mills, this county; 
Charles, a resident of Brockton, Mass. ; and, 
Earl P., a farmer, living at Greenwood, who 
married Mabel Herrick. By her second mar- 
riage she has one child, Morton T. Abbott. 
Oliver P. Farrington attended school until 
eleven years old, when, his father dying, he 
began to fight life's battles by himself. Until 
seventeen years old he worked on neighboring 
farms, and then went to Locke's Mills, where 
he obtained a position in the spool factory, 
and for ten years or thereabout was engaged 
in turning spools. He has continued his resi- 



lience at this place, but has since been en- 
gagetl in horse dealing and general farming. 
He owns a fine farm of one hundred and forty 
acres in Bethel townshii), where he raises 
many horses of the Patchen stock. In his 
speculations, which have been very successful, 
he deals in all breeds. A lover of horses and 
well acquainted with their characteristics, he 
has little trouble in breaking and training 
them, developing their good qualities, ami 
controlling their refractory tendencies. 

Mr. Farrington was married August 18, 
1878, to Miss Alice M. Crooker, who was 
born in Bethel, this county. She is a daugh- 
ter of Washington anil Serena (Bartlett) 
Crooker, lifelong members of the farming 
community of Bethel. In politics Mr. P"ar- 
rington active-ly supports the principles of the 
Democratic party. He has served acceptably 
in many of the local offices, including that of 
Collector, which he held for three years. He 
is now a member of the Board of Selectmen. 



'^OHN O. STAPLES, one of the prosper- 
ous general farmers of Temple, I'rank- 
lin County, was born April 6, 1827, 
ujion the farm in this town now occu- 
pied by his brother, Gideon K. Staples, son 
of Gideon and Sarah (Oakes) Staples. His 
grandparents, Gideon and Susannah (Staples) 
Staples, who originally resided in Dover, 
N.H., moved from there to Maine, first set- 
tling in North Berwick, and later removing to 
Temple. The township was l)ut thinh' settled 
when they arrived here. They settled upon 
the hill where their grandson, Gideon K. , now 
resides; and there Grandfather Staples cleared 
a good farm from the wilderness. He died 
here aged seventy years. His wife lived to 
the age of ninety-eight. Their children were: 
Susannah, Nathaniel, Gideon, Susannah (sec- 
ond), Susannah (third), Betsey, Gideon 
(second), Hannah, William, George, Daniel, 
and Joanna. 

Gideon Staples, Mr. Staples' s father, was 
born in Dover, N.H., December i, 1785. 
When a young man he bought and cleared 
one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining 
his father's property, and also worked at the 
carpenter's trade. His land was originally 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



covered with pine and spruce timber. He 
took advantage of the fact by building a small 
saw-mill on the creek near by, and manufact- 
uring from this timber the material for a 
frame house, which is still standing. He 
tilled the soil successfully for many years. 
When not needed at home it was his halnt to 
go to tlie coast towns and engage in the work 
of a ship-carpenter. His last job at the car- 
|K'nter"s trade was the construction of the 
frame of the house now occupied by his son, 
Gideon K. His death occurred here in No- 
vember, 187.2. His wife, Sarah, who was a 
daughter of John Oakes, became the mother of 
seven children; namely, Hannah B. , Mary 
M. , Gideon K., Sarah 1'., Eleanor, Jotham S. , 
and John O. She died January 19, 1877. 
Hoth parents were members of the Congrega- 
tional church. 

John O. Staples acquired his education in 
the district school. When old enough to be 
of use he began to assist upon the farm. He 
resided at home until he was thirty-one years 
old, and then bought the Lock farm of one 
hundred and si.xty acres, where he has since 
lived. l^eginning improvements soon after 
taking possession of the property, he set out 
an orchard of three hundred trees, the most of 
which were grafted, rebuilt the barn and 
other out-buildings, and in 1869 erected his 
present residence. He has been quite suc- 
cessful in raising abundant crops of an excel- 
lent quality. 

On November 29, 1858, Mr. Staples wedded 
Cordelia Cook, who was born in Madrid, Me., 
daughter of Nathaniel and Matilda (Doyen) 
Cook, the former of whom was a carjjenter and 
a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Sta]jles have had 
three children, as follows: William, who died 
in infancy: Eva C, born February 26, 1865, 
who married Henry C. Norton, and has one 
daughter, Blanche I., whose birth occurred 
September 10, 1889; and Blanche E., who 
died at the age of si.xteen years. Both parents 
are members of the Congregational church. 
In politics Mr. Staples is a Republican.- He 
served the town as a Selectman for six years 
and as head of the School Committee for 
eleven years. He takes a warm interest in all 
matters relating to the general good of the 
community. 



■s^OSHUA C. HEALD, who, in com- 
pany with his brother, conducts a saw- 
mill and block manufactory at North 
Buckfield, was born in Buckfield, 
March 24, 1830, son of Washington and 
Eliza (Allen) Heald. His grandfather, Ben- 
jamin Heald, who was a native of Massachu- 
setts, served in the Revolutionary War when 
he was seventeen or eighteen years old. Ben- 
jamin moved from Carlisle, Mass., to Sumner, 
this county, of which place he was a pioneer. 
He tilled the soil of a good farm with in- 
dustry for many years, was one of the first 
saw-mill operatives in Sumner, and died there 
in 1842 at a good old age. The maiden 
name of his wife was Rebecca Spaulding. 

Washington Heald was born in Sumner in 
1803. In young manhood he began to work 
in the mills in his native town. In the course 
of time he became an expert mill man, and 
subsequently, in 1835-36,- having settled in 
Buckfield, he built the saw and grist mills at 
North Buckfield. A stirring, energetic busi- 
ness man, who did much toward developing 
the industrial resources of this locality, he 
carried on a thriving business until his death, 
which occurred when he was seventy-four 
years old. He was a Democrat in politics, 
and held the appointment of Postmaster here 
for several years. His wife, I'-liza, who was 
born in Plymouth, Mass., became the mother 
of nine children, six of whom are living; 
namely, George W., Joshua C, Caroline D.. 
Benjamin F., William P., and Enos D. The 
others were: Betsey, Rebecca, and Eliza Jane. 
The mother reached the age of eighty-three 
years. Both parents attended the Universal- 
ist church. 

Joshua C. Heald was educated in the dis- 
trict schools, and grew to manhood in Buck- 
field. When a mere boy he began working in 
the mills with his father, acquiring a general 
knowledge of every part of the trade. At the 
present time he is one of the best all-round 
mill men and one of the finest wood turners 
in this section of the State. He and his 
brother, Benjamin F. Heald, succeeded to the 
ownership of the mill property, which they 
now carry on, making a specialty of producing 
blocks of a superior quality, and doing an ex- 
tensive general saw-mill business. On Octo- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



97 



ber 22, 1854, I\Ir. Healtl wedded Olynthia 
A. Swallow, wiio was born in Buckfield, No- 
vember 12, 1S35, daughter of Larnard and 
Drusilla (Keen) Swallow. Mr. Swallow was 
an industrious farmer of Buckfield, which was 
his native place: and he died at the age of 
fifty-four years. His wife, who was born in 
Sumner, lived to be eighty-two years old. 
Mr. and Mrs. Heald have had si.x children, 
as follows: Fred E., born July 25, 1855, who 
is married, lives in North Buckfield, and has 
one daughter, Nellie M., born September 25, 
1895; Clinton .S., born June 10, 1858, who 
died November 19, 1862; Anna R., who, 
born May 18, 1861, died October 1, 1S91, 
having married C. A. Bonney, of West Sum- 
ner, b)' whom she had one daughter, M. Eliza- 
beth, born August 24, 1887; Preston C, born 
December 19, 1864, who is a miller at North 
Buckfield; Harry M., born December 14, 
1870, who is now a student of the Maine 
Medical School at Pirunswick; and Isa Maud, 
born July 5, 1873, who is an accomplished 
teacher and musician, and resides at home. 
In politics Mr. Heald is a Democrat, and 
has served with ability as a member of the 
Board of Selectmen for one term. The saw- 
mill and block factory conducted by him and 
his brother constitute the leading industry in 
this vicinity. He is counted among the prom- 
inent and representative residents. ]5oth he 
and Mrs. Heald are Universalists. 



-QHN W. BENNETT, one of the larg- 
est lumber dealers in the State of 
Maine, present Postmaster at Gilead, 
O.xford County, his place of residence, 
has carved his fortune with his own hands; 
and his career strikingly illustrates what may 
be accomplished by persevering and honorable 
ambition. He was born in Portsmouth, N.H., 
March 28, 1847, and is a son of Stephen and 
Sarah A. (Berry) Bennett. 

Stephen Bennett, his father, was born in 
Stanstead, Canada, but was reared and edu- 
cated in Wakefield, N.H. In early manhood 
he settled in Portsmouth, opening a carriage 
shop, which he operated for a great many 
years, winning fair success. In 1863 he re- 
moved to Jefferson, N.H., where for some time 



he was engaged in carriage work and also in 
farming; and in 1881 he jnirchased a farm in 
Gilead, Me., on which he is now living, hav- 
ing attained the advanced age of eighty-two 
years. In politics he is a stanch Republican. 
His wife, who was born in Milton, N.H., is 
an esteemed member of the Methodist- Epis- 
copal church in Gilead. l~ive of the seven 
sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett dietl 
young. Of the living, John W. is the 
younger. The other, Albert, is a farmer in 
Gilead. 

John W. Bennett acquired the greater part 
of his education in the common schools of 
Portsmouth. He started to earn a livelihood 
when nineteen years of age, and worked for a 
few years in a starch factory. In 1872 he set- 
tled in Gilea'd, and engaged in the lumber 
business, establishing the nucleus of his pres- 
ent colossal trade. Two years later he opened 
the general store which is still operated in 
his name, and which is now one of the largest 
and best-equipped stores of the kind in this 
section. He now owns two thousand acres of 
land in Gilead, a part of which is undei' culti- 
vation and part grass lanil, about one hundred 
and fifty acres in New Hampshire, large tracts 
of pine timber in Alabama, and has mining 
interests near Helena, Mont. He buys and 
sells a great deal of pulp timber, logs, cord 
wood, and hemlock bark, and owns four saw- 
mills in this county and New Hampshire. 
He makes a specialty of spool stock, shipping- 
great quantities to Bowling, Scotland, and is 
one of the largest handlers of that kind of 
lumber in the State, buying a great deal from 
other manufacturers. He also manufactm-es 
hard-wood shook for sugar hogsheads, which 
he ships to the West Indies. 

On August 10, 1886, Mr. Bennett was mar- 
ried to Miss Laura J. Nuttnall, of Manistee, 
Mich. One daughter has blessed this union, 
Mildred E. As one of the trustees of the 
large estate of his wife's father in Michigan, 
Mr. Bennett has cares in addition to those of 
his own business interests, which he manages 
with equal efificiency and promptitude. 

A Republican in politics, he served two 
years as Treasurer of Gilead, but has de- 
clined to serve again in public office, his busi- 
ness requiring all his attention. As a Mason 



98 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



he belongs to Blazing Star Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M., of Rumford, Me.; and as an Odd 
Fellow he is a member of Mount Abram 
Lodge of Bethel, Me. 




ILLIAM S. SEWELL, a lumber 
dealer and bridge builder of Keith's 
Mills, Franklin County, was born 
in Chesterville, June 5, 1824, son of Oliver 
and Betsey (Sylvester) Sewell. The Sewell 
family is of Puritan origin. Its founder, who 
was Mayor of Coventry, England, came to this 
country at an early date in the Colonial 
period. The descent comes from him, through 
his son Henry, John, Nicholas, and Henry, to 
the Rev. Jothani .Sewell, grandfather of Will- 
iam S. Sewell. 

The Rev. Jotham Sewell, born in York, 
Me., January 1, 1760, was at an early age 
thrown upon his own resources. Although he 
learned the mason's trade, he was desirous of 
entering the ministry, and saved his earnings 
in order to defray the expenses of his educa- 
tion for that calling. He attained his wish, 
and was ordained an evangelist, January iS, 
1800. His labors were begun in Chesterville, 
Me., and were afterward continued in various 
Congregational churches in New England and 
the Southern States. Returning finally to 
Maine, he settled upon Locke Hill, in the 
town of Chesterville, where he bought a tract 
of land mostly in a wild state. He was suc- 
cessful in converting this into a good farm, 
and subsequently erected upon it a set of sub- 
stantial frame buildings. The rest of his ac- 
tive period was passed in the avocations of an 
industrious farmer, and he died at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-one years. In ]iolitics 
he supported the Whigs. His wife, who 
reached the age of sevent}', gave birth to 
twelve children; namely, Oliver, Nathan, 
Jotham, Henry, Jennie, Julia, .Sarah, Mary, 
Otis, Rachel, Betsey, and David. 

Oliver Sewell was born in Chesterville, 
July 10, 1788. He acquired a good educa- 
tion, became a land surveyor and a general 
conveyancer and writer of deeds, which occu- 
pations he followed for several years. He also 
worked for some time at the carpenter's trade. 
Later in life he bought a farm of seventy acres 



in his native town, and thereafter conducted it 
with success until his death, which occurred 
May 29, 1861. He was one of the most 
prominent citizens of Chesterville in his day. 
The town enjoyetl the benefit of his services 
as Selectman for twelve years. He was also 
Town Clerk for a time, and he represented his 
district in the legislature, hi politics he fol- 
lowed the majority of the old Whig element 
into the ranks of the Republican party at its 
formation. He was a member of the Congre- 
gational church, and acted as a Deacon for 
many years. His wife, Betsey, who was born 
in 1788, bore him si.\ children; namely, Har- 
riet G. , Eliza J., Maria, George O., Calvin 
D., and William .S. 

William S. Sewell was educated in the town 
schools. He remained with his parents at the 
homestead until his majority. After serving 
an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, he 
has followed it as a journeyman more or less, 
in connection with other lines of business. 
Some time ago, with funds saved from his 
earnings, he bought an interest in a mill. 
He has been engaged in repairing mills and 
in bridge building. He has built several 
well-known bridges in this part of the county, 
including the Red Bridge in Farmington, two 
at Fairbanks, and one at Russell's Mills. 
For some time past he has given his attention 
to the lumber business, keeping in his yards 
at Keith's Mills a good supply of all kinds of 
manufactured stock for building purposes. In 
1857 he erected his present comfortable resi- 
dence and spacious barns. 

On January 14, 1858, Mr. Sewell wedded 
Augusta P. Allen, daughter of Reuben and 
Joanna (Harris) Allen. Mrs. Sewell's grand- 
father, William Allen, who was a native of 
Massachusetts, and served as a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War, settled at Poland .Springs, 
Me., where he reclaimed a farm from the 
wilderness. He was an extensive farmer and 
a progressive citizen, and he lived to be 
eighty-seven years old. He married Peggy 
Woodworth, who was seventy-five years of age 
when she died. Their children were: John, 
Reuben, Zadock, William, Peggy, and Mary. 
Reuben Allen, Mrs. Sewell's father, born in 
Poland Springs, inherited the homestead con- 
taining one hundred and twentv-five acres. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



99 



and became a prosperous general faiiner. In 
politics he was a Whig. In his religious con- 
victions he was a Congregationalist, and he 
died at the age of fifty-five years. He mar- 
ried Joanna Harris, and reared, besi'dcs Mrs. 
Sewell, six other children; namely, Charles 
G., John H., Mandana, Sarah W., Samuel C, 
and Abbie A. The mother lived to be 
seventy-three years old. Mr. and Mrs. 
SewelTs children are: Cora M., a music 
teacher, who resides at home; and Nettie, 
who is also engaged in teaching. Mr. Sew- 
ell's political sympathies are given to the Re- 
publican party, and he takes a liberal view 
of religion. He has been one of the most 
stirring and energetic business men in this 
locality. 



KEWIS M. MANN, the proprietor of the 
wood-working mills at Paris and West 
^ Milton, was born in Jaffrey, N.H., 
December 6, 1848, son of Tulwin 
and Caroline M. (Sibley) Mann. Edwin 
Mann, who was born in Troy, N. H., Septem- 
ber 20, 1S20, was for some years the owner of 
the Mountain House in Jaffrey, N.II. He- 
sides conducting this establishment he was 
also engaged in farming and manufacturing. 
After a time he retired from the hotel busi- 
ness, and gave his exclusive attention to his 
manufacturing enterprise in Troy, whithei' he 
removed with his family. He was acciden- 
tally drowned at his mills in 1S56, leaving a 
widow and four children. Enterprise and 
business ability were his distinguishing char- 
acteristics. In politics he supported the 
Whig party. His wife, Caroline, who was 
born in Troy, September 3, 1827, had four 
children, namely: Melissa, the wife of John 
Beals, of Leominster, Mass.; Lewis M., the 
subject of this sketch: Ella C, who is now 
the widow of William F. Reed, and resides 
in Somerville, Mass. ; and Walter E., who 
died at the age of thirty-nine. 

The subject of this sketch, Lewis M. Mann, 
acquired his education in the schools of Troy. 
Since young manhood he has been identified 
with his present business. He began by mak- 
ing pail handles by contract in Troy. He 
entered upon his first business venture in 



1870 at Norway, Me., by engaging in the 
manufacturing of pail handles and clothes- 
pins, which he carried on for two years. 
Then, moving to Snow's l'"alls, tliis county, 
he continued the enterprise there for two years 
more, after which he removed to West Paris, 
this county. In 1S80 he again changed his 
location, going this time to Milton I'lantation, 
where, in company with his bi'other, the late 
Walter IC. Mann, he carried on jjusincss until 
1892. He then re-established his business in 
West Paris, and since his brother's tieath in 
1894 he has conducted manufactories in both 
places. Besides his specialties, clothes-pins 
and pail handles, he turns out other wooden 
articles. In 1895 thirteen hunclred cords of 
white and yellow birch and poplar were used 
in the production of boxes alone; and his two 
mills, which employ thirty hands, finished and 
shipped an output of twenty thousand dollars' 
worth of goods during the same year. The 
mills are equipped with the latest imjiroved 
machinery. That in the West Paris plant 
includes apparatus of his own invention. A 
progressive and energetic business man, he is 
much esteemed by the residents of Paris. 

On November 19, 1872, Mr. Mann was 
united in marriage to Mary A. Towne, who 
was born in Norway, Me., in 1847. S'"'^ died 
March 31, 1893, leaving two sons, namely: 
Arthur L., who is now attending Bryant & 
Stratton's Business College; and lidwin J., 
who is a student of the Slate college at Orono, 
Me. Both in society and business circles Mr. 
Mann is very ])opular. In being a self-made 
man his success in life is particularly merito- 
rious. He is a Republican in politics, is con- 
nected with the lodge of Odd Fellows in West 
Paris, and attends the Universalist church, 
as did his late wife. The family occupies a 
ver}' pleasant residence in West Paris. 



/§Yo 



FORGE W. THOMAS, a successful 
\ '*) I farmer of Oxford, was born in He- 
bron. Me., June 12, 1S32, son of 
George W. and Margaret A. (Blankenberg) 
Thomas. The family descends from Colonial 
ancestry. Holmes Thomas, the grandfather 
of George W., was born in Plymouth, Mass., 
June 12, 1755. He served as a soldier in the 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Continental army during the Revolutionary 
War, afterward receiving a pension in recog- 
nition of .his services. About the year 1788 
he settled upon one hundred and sixty acres 
of vviUl land situated in the south-east part of 
Oxfiird, which was then in the township of 
Hebron. Having cleared a farm, he culti- 
vated the land and made shoes until 18 12. 
He then sold his property and moved to Dix- 
field, Me., where he cleared and improved 
another farm from the wilderness. He spent 
his last years at the home of his son, George 
\V. Thomas, Sr., where he died March 26, 
1856. I le was a sturdy and industrious man, 
who attained prosperity through hard work; 
and he was a Deacon of the Baptist church. 
On July 10, 1777, he married Susannah 
Churchill, who was born January 19, 1758. 
She reared eleven of her twelve children, 
none of whom are living, and died September 
ig, 1839. 

George W. Thomas, Sr., was born in Ox- 
ford, April 20, 1801. I-"ollowing the occupa- 
tion of farmer, he spent the most of his life 
in Kast Oxford, where he owned a good farm 
of eighty acres, lie was widely and favorably 
known throughout this locality as one of its 
most prominent and useful residents; and his 
death, which took place August 17, 1876, was 
the cause of general regret. In politics he 
was originally a supporter of the Whigs; but 
he joined the Republican party at its forma- 
tion, and adhered to its principles throughout 
the rest of his life. In religious belief he 
was a Baptist, and for many years was an ac- 
tive member of that church. His wife, Mar- 
garet, who was born in Portland, Me., March 
15, 1808, became the mother of ten children, 
all of whom are living. They are: George 
W., the subject of this sketch; Simeon P., 
who was born November 6, 1S33; Cyrus, who 
was born April 20, 1835; William W., who 
was born June 4, 1838; Helen M., who was 
born December 28, 1840; Mary C. and Robert 
C, twins, who were born I'ebruary 10, 1S43; 
John 1-"., who was born Juni; 24, 1845; Ade- 
laide C, who was born September 6, 1847; 
and Lenora, who was born September 20, 
1851. The mother died January 14, 1886. 

George W. Thomas attended the district 
schools of his native town. When seventeen 



years old he began earning his living by work- 
ing in a stone quarry for his uncle, William 
Thomas, receiving fifteen dollars per month 
for his services. From 1 849 to 1870 he fol- 
lowed various occupations in Massachusetts 
and elsewhere, his last employment, previous 
to his return to Maine, having been that of 
ship calker. At this he worked all along the 
coast from Portsmouth, X.H., to Brooklyn, 
N.Y. Having saved a considerable portion 
of his earnings, he in 1872 bought his present 
farm in Oxford. He has one hundred acres 
of well-improved land, desirably located and 
exceedingly fertile. Here he carries on gen- 
eral farming, keeps several cows, and sells 
milk and cream to good advantage. 

On November i, 1858, Mr. Thomas was 
united in marriage to Abbic P. Thayer, his 
first wife, who was born in Oxford, June 17, 
1838. She died October 22, 1863, leaving 
one son, Elmer I^. The latter, who was born 
July 8, 1S61, married Minnie Wormwell, and 
is now clerk at Swett's Hotel in Portland. 
Mr. Thomas's present wife, Nancy S. 
(Dresser) Thomas, whom he wedded Octo- 
ber 9, 1876, was born in Stoneham, Me., Jan- 
uary 4, 1835. She has had one child, Abbie 
M., who, born January 4, 1878, died January 
28, 1896. Mr. Thomas is connected with the 
Masonic fraternity, being a member of South 
Paris Lodge, No. 92. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. An able and progressive farmer, 
he is held in high regard by the cnmiuunit\'. 




LI COOK, formerly a well-to-do farmer 
of New Sharon, was a native of Bruns- 
wick, Me., where he was born in the 
year [810. His father, Eli Cook, Sr., served 
for eight years and eight months in the Con- 
tinental army, directly under General Wash- 
iilgton, and was wounded several times. Set- 
tling at Brunswick immediately after the war, 
Eli, Sr. , resided there until he reached middle 
age. He then moved to a farm of one hundred 
and thirt}'-five acres in the town of New 
.Sharon, where he passed the rest of his life. 

Eli Cook, Jr., was a youth when he accom- 
panied his parents to New Sharon. He was 
reared to agricidtural pursuits, and subsequently 
began life for himself when a young man. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



liulustriuus and cnt;ri;etic, he was able b\' fann- 
ing to accumulate a cunsidei'able amount of 
j)ropei"ty before his death on December 22, 
1 89 1, at the age of eighty-one year.s. He was 
highly respected, and served with ability as 
Road Surveyor for a number of years. 

In February, 1838, he was united in mar- 
riage with Margaret J. Johnson, who survives 
him. -She was born in Harpswell, Me., on 
April 14, 1818, daughter of Cajitain Isaac antl 
Ik'tsey (Nichols) Johnson. Her grandfather, 
also named Isaac, who was a sailor and was 
lost at sea, left a family of five chiUlren, 
among whom were Margaret and Jane. Cap- 
tain Isaac Johnson was born in Harpswell, and 
in early life began to follow the sea. Becom- 
ing a capable ship-master while still a young 
man, he was engaged in the West India trade, 
in which he realized a good fortune. He 
owned the ship in which he sailed, together 
with the large farm in Harpswell, which was 
carried on by hired assistants. He died at the 
age of thirty years. His wife, Betsey Nichols, 
w'hom he married in 1S17, became the mother 
of two children, namely: Margaret J., who is 
now Mrs. Cook; ami Harlow, who died young. 

After the settlement of the estate, follow- 
ing upon her father's death, Mrs. Cook re- 
moved with her mother from Harpswell to 
Portland, where she was educated. .She first 
met Mr. Cook while upon one of her visits to 
her aunt, Lucy Lake. She has had eight chil- 
dren — Isadore, Adeliza, Alphonso B. , Ella 
H., Scott F., Howard C, Addie O. , and p:tta 
J. Isadore successively became the wife of 
Charles O. Lortl, of \Vashington, D. C. , and 
lulwin M. Truell. FHla H. Cook married for 
her first husband Henry VV. Richardson, and 
for her second Wallace W. Campbell, of Fo.\- 
croft, i\Ie., and had five children. Addie O. 
became the wife of Albert S. U]iham, a pros- 
perous agriculturist of Farmington. Etta J., 
born May 7, 1858, at the homestead, where she 
is now residing, married on July 3, 1879, 
F'rank Collins, of this town, wlio is carrying on 
the farm successfully. Mr. and Mrs. Collins 
have two children, namely: Bertha M., who 
was born November 8, 1880; and Olan T. , 
who w-as born July 4, 1895. Mrs. Cook re- 
sides at the homestead, and is widely known 
and respected throughout this district. She 



has a large circle of friends, who, knowing her 
worth and many admirable ([ualities, entertain 
for her a sincere affection. 




XRV JOHNSON BANGS, one of 
le most enteiprising and successful 
tradesmen of Norway, O.xford 
Count)-, Me., a leading dealer in 
groceries and provisions, was born in Wayne, 
in this State, on (October 20, 1869, son of Rob- 
ert and Sarah (iilson (Jdhnson) Bangs. The 
paternal grandfather nf Mr. Bangs was Syl\'a- 
nus Bangs, born in JUixtun un June 17, 1780. 
He married Ann;i Fogg, who was ten years 
younger than himself, having been born in 1790. 

Their son, Roljert Bangs, w^^s boiii in 
Wales, Me., <)n April 15, 1827. He learned, 
when he had arrived at an age of maturity, the 
trade of blacksmithing, which he carried on in 
his native town for some time. In cnnnection 
with this he aisii learned the art nf building 
wagons, by which he maile quite a good deal 
of money. After some little time he sold out 
and moved to Wayne, wheie he worked at 
making shovel handles for ;i number of x'ears. 
Then he came to Norway, wheie he finalh' 
settled, carrying (jn his old business (jf black- 
smithing in the heart of the village, in 
Crooke's shoj:), until his health gave way under 
the stress of hard work. He purchased a home 
on Water Street, and also built a tenement- 
house there. 

On October 7, 1853, he married Mrs. .Sarah 
Johnson, the widnw nf a ])idniinent citizen, 
and the daughter ot Homan Gilson, of Wayne. 
Three children were the result nf this mai'- 
riage — Jutlson, born March 16, 1856; Sumner, 
born September 22, 1859; ami Henry Jolinson, 
born October 20, 1869. Robert Bangs was a 
Republican in i)r)litical principles, and in re- 
ligious faith a Baptist. He was a very hard- 
working, earnest man, and thoroughly deserved 
the measure of success that he attained. He 
died in the year 1893. His wife followed him 
two years later, at the age of si.\ty-nine years. 

Henry Johnson Bangs, the latest-born nf 
their three sons, received his early education 
in the public schools of Norway, and then went 
as a boy clerk into the grocer's store that 
he now owns and runs. At that time it was 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



in the pcjssessiiin of and managed by I'. H. 
Noyes, who shortly after sold out to A. C. 
Green. Both of his employers found the 
young clerk faithful almost to a fault, a first- 
class salesman, and alwaj's ready and anxious 
to do what was required of him. He stayed 
on with Mr. Green, ofificiating as his clerk 
until 1 891, when he bought out his employer, 
and immediately enlarged his ])lace. He ac- 
tjuiied the stores adjoining on each side and 
reconstructed them, fitting them up in the best 
possible manner for his own business. The 
one on the south side of his old shop he rents. 
In the Frost Corner store on the north side he 
has made extensive improvements. Mr. Bangs 
has so extended his patronage with the sensible 
increasing of his stock in trade and the added 
facilities for the better advantage of his cus- 
tomers that he now keeps two clerks to assist 
him, and also has found it necessary to get a 
delivery wagon. He carries an excellent line 
of groceries, provisions, antl crockery. 

He is undoubtedly one of the most alert, 
active, and cajKible young business men in 
the county, and has earned all his prosperity 
with the labor of his own hands and brain. 
His integrity is unquestioned. Mr. Bangs and 
Miss Minnie C. Dean, the daughter of Ro- 
manzo Dean, of Buckficld, Me., were married 
on January i, 1890. They have two children 
— Mildred, born May 7, 1S91; and Helen 
Vaun, born July 13, 1894. 

Mr. Bangs is a Republican in politics, and 
takes a genuine interest in the important issues 
of the day, being always willing and anxious 
as a citizen to do the best he can to promote 
the common weal. He was elected Town 
Treasurer in March, 1896. He is a member 
of the local lodge of Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, and is a communicant of the 
Baptist church. He and his wife are promi- 
nent, not only as church people, but also as 
factors in the social circles of Norway. 



-|^1':NJAMIN TUCKI'R, a prominent 
''^N. agriculturist and extensive land- 
\\^ J holder of Oxford County,' Maine, 
proprietor of Norway Lake Milk 
Farm, was born March 11, 1831, in Buckfield, 
only a few miles from his present jilace of resi- 



dence. He comes of Massachusetts ancestry, 
his paternal grandfather, Benjamin Tucker, 
first, having been born and bred in Canton, 
Norfolk County, in that State. I*"rom there he 
came to the town of Norway, Me., about the 
year 1800. He was a harness-maker by trade, 
and, having opened a shop in the village, con- 
tinued in business until his demise. 

15enjamin Tucker, second, son of the first 
Benjamin, worked at harness-making in his 
early years, and eventually succeeded to the 
entire business of his father, which he contin- 
ued at the old stand throughout his years of 
activity. He married Miss Sarah Millett, a 
native of Norway, and the following children 
were born to them : Benjamin, third, the spe- 
cial subject of this sketch ; Melissa, who died 
in 1866; William, a harness-maker in Marl- 
boro, Mass. ; Angel ia, widow of the late James 
M. Favor, living in Norway village ; Cyrus S., 
who is engaged in harness-making in Norway 
village, and of whom a brief sketch may be 
found elsewhere in this volume; Henry, a har- 
ness-maker and dealer in carriages in Logans- 
port, Ind. ; and Mary Alice, widow of Frank 
Oxnard, of Norway village. The father died 
in 1876, and the mother has also deijarted this 
life. 

Ikmjamin Tucker, the third of the name, 
acquired his education in his native town, con- 
cluding his school life at the village academy. 
Naturally energetic and ambitious, he was 
habitu.ally employed in his later youth at some 
profitable labor; and for seven years after at- 
taining his majority he was engaged in freight- 
ing between Norway and South Paris. Soon 
after his marriage Mr. Tucker bought a farm 
in the neighboring town of Waterford, where 
he carried on general husbandry for fifteen 
years or more. In 1875 he returned to Nor- 
way, and here bought his present homestead 
property, which is beautifully located near Nor- 
way Lake. This estate contains about two hun- 
dred and thirty-five acres of land, and in addi- 
tion Mr. Tucker owns six hundred acres of land 
in Waterford and seventy-five acres in the town 
of Oxford. He carries on general farming, 
but makes dairying his specialty, keeping on 
an average forty milch cows and selling milk 
daily to regular customers in Norway village. 
Politically, Mr. Tucker is a stanch Republi- 





\ 



BENJAMIN TUCKER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'°5 



can, actively working for the best interests of 
his paity. While living in Watcrford he 
served as Selectman two years, and he has held 
the same office in Norway one year. Frater- 
nally, 'he is a member of Oxford Lodge, A. V. 
& A. M., No. iS, of Norway, and of the 
grange. Patrons of Lliisbandry, of Norway vil- 
lage. Of Hear Mountain Grange of Watcrford, 
instituted in 1874, of which he was a charter 
member, he was elected tirst Master; and he 
has kept his membership in tlie order ever 
since. Religiously, he and his wife may he 
classed as liberal Christians, attending the 
Universalist church. 

On December i, 1858, Mr. Tucker married 
Miss LLannah E. Merrill, who w-as born in 
Gray, Me., on November 15, 1S35, a daughter 
of James IL and Mary (Bodge) Merrill, both 
natives of Gorham, Me. Mr. Merrill was an 
overseer in a woollen-mill in Gorham for man)' 
years, and was also during the course of his 
life connected with mills in different parts 
of the State. He finally established himself 
in mercantile business in Norway \-illage, 
where both he and his wife spent their closing 
years. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have si.\ chil- 
dren — Fannie M., Frank L., Arthur, Ada U., 
Alton B., and Wilbur M. The two elder 
children and the youngest two are at home. 
Arthur Tucker, a can-maker by trade and the 
manager of a corn-canning factory at Strong, 
Me., married Miss Effie Marston. Ada LL, 
now living in New York City, is the wife of 
Edwin Stiles, a F'ree Baptist missionary, who 
is devoting himself to his work in India. 
Alton B. Tucker is an insurance airent. 



YgTlRAM RAMSDELL, of Farmington, 
l-^-| one of the oldest and most extensive 

|ls I ch-y-goods dealers in Franklin 
' County, was born in this town, 
February 12, 1829, son of Abner and Hannah 
(Corbett) Ramsdell. Mr. RamsdelFs great- 
grandfather, Kichard Ramsdell, was a resident 
of Truro, Mass. ; and his grandfather, Abner 
Ramsdell, was born in Truro in 1758. About 
the year 1796 the grandfather came to Farm- 
ington, and purchased the Church Brainard 
River lot. No. 38, on the east side, which is 
now owned by Mr. Manter. He died Septem- 



ber 4, 1S02. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Jerusha Collins, survived him many years, 
and died in 1857, at the age of eighty-three. 
Their ten children were severally named: 
Richard, Rcliecca, Jerusha, Abner, John, 
Benjamin, WilHam, James, Sarah, and 
Joanna. 

Abner Ramsdell, the father of Hiram, who 
was born in Truro, November 17, 1795, was 
brought to I'armington by his parents when 
an infant. In early manhootl he settled at the 
homestead, where for many years he was suc- 
cessfully engaged iji the manufacture of brick. 
He finally retired from that business, and 
moved to Farmington village. Here he built 
a house, in which he dwelt for the rest of his 
life, and died April 22, 1884. He was an 
able, energetic, and exceedingly prosperous 
business man and a worthy, upright citizen, 
who gained the respect and esteem of his fel- 
low-townsmen. His wife, Hannah (Corbett) 
Ramsdell, whom he married February 15, 
1819, was a daughter of John Corbett, of this 
town. She became the mother of eight chil- 
dren; namely, Cyrus C, Angeline, Sylvester, 
Hiram, Abner C. , John C. , Joel W. , and 
.Sarah H. She had attained an advanced age 
at her death. 

At the age of thirteen Hiram Ramsdell went 
to live with his brother-in-law, I'eter P. Tuffs, 
with whom he remained until he was twenty- 
one years old. He obtained his education in 
the district school and at the Farmington 
Academy. During the two years succeeding 
the com]3letion of his studies he was engaged 
in teaching school and assisting his brother 
Cyrus in brick-making and farming. He then 
went to Columbus, Ohio, and was employed 
there as an assistant in an asylum until failing 
health caused him to seek some out-door occu- 
pation. With this object he went to Jasper 
County, Iowa, where he took up a large tract of 
land, and was engaged in farming and school 
teaching for seven years. In that time he 
erected a good set of buildings upon his farm. 
After regaining his health he decided to re- 
turn once more to his native State. There- 
upon he sold his property, and came back to 
Farmington. In 1863 he and W. H. Hutchin- 
son bought a half-interest each in the old 
Cutler store, and together conducted it for si.x 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



years, whcti his associate sold out to iTim. 
At a later tlate he admitted H. H. Rice as a 
partner, but after some years became again 
the sole proprietor. Since 1876 he has occu- 
jjied iiis present store in Belcher Block, hav- 
ing two entrances, one on Main Street and the 
other on Broatlway. l^he establishment em- 
braces probably the largest amount of. floor 
space used in similar enterprises in this 
county. It is heavily stocked with a varied 
line of dry goods, including cloaks and dresses. 
Ranisdell's Dry-goods Store is widely known 
throughout a broad district, with Farming;- 
ton for its centre, as a reliable and satis- 
factory place to deal with. By closely adher- 
ing to the rule of showing courtesy and an 
accommodating spirit to all, and seeking his 
profit by quick sales, the proprietor has 
amassed a handsome fortune. He has also 
dealt in real estate quite extensively. 

On May 28, 1867, Mr. Ramsdell wedded 
Sarah C. Boardman, daughter of Melzer and 
Sarah (Da\^is) Boardman. Mrs. Ramsdell, 
from her own choice and a natural aptitude 
toward business pursuits, ably assisted her hus- 
band in his business. She is an accomplished 
saleswoman and a general favorite with cus- 
tomers. Their residence, which is situated at 
the corner of High Street and Broadway, is a 
fine brick structure built by Cyrus C. Rams- 
dell in 1858. Since it came into his posses- 
sion, Mr. Ramsdell has remodelled the house; 
and he has otherwise improved the estate by 
purchasing and beautifying the adjoining 
land. He has also dealt in real estate quite 
extensively, and his many profitable transac- 
tions have brought him into prominence as 
one of the most wealthy and influential capi- 
talists here. Politically, he is a firm believer 
in Republican princii)les, supporting that 
party with vigor. Both he and Mm. Ramsdell 
attend the Congregational church. 




iHARLES B. ATVVOOD, a leading 
merchant and prominent resident of 
^ Buckfield, Me., in the south-eastern 

part of O.xford County, was born in 
this town, April 8, 1825, son of Nathan and 
Ruth H. (Rogers) Atwood. The family is an 
old and highly reputable one in these parts, 



Mr. Atwood's father, who was born in Liver- 
more, Me., in the adjoining county of Andro- 
scoggin, in May, 1800, having become a stir- 
ring and successful business man of Buckfield. 

Commencing life for himself at an early age 
as clerk in a general store carried on Ijy 
Deacon Barrell in Livcrmore, Nathan Atwood 
came to Buckfield when he was twenty-one 
years old, and for a short time was employed 
in the same capacity by a Mr. Phelps. In 
company with Zadoc Long he ne.xt went into 
business for himself, later conducting the 
store alone; and, finally selling out, he was 
engaged in the cutting and sale of wood for 
fuel purposes, until his buildings were de- 
stroyed by fire. Once more entering mercan- 
tile business, he continued in trade for some 
time, or until his retirement. He died in 
Buckfield at the comparatively early age of 
forty years. He acquired a wide reputation as 
an able and upright business man and a 
worthy citizen. He supported the Demo- 
cratic party in politics, and in his religious 
views he was a LTniversalist. His wife, Ruth 
H. Rogers, who was born in Berwick, Me., 
May 17, 1797, became the mother of five chil- 
dren, of whom the only survivor is Charles B. , 
the subject of this sketch. His sister, Helen 
M., was the mother of George M. Atwood, 
one of the proprietors of the Oxford Dcdio- 
crat. Mrs. Ruth H. Atwood li\-ed to reach 
the age of eighty-seven years. 

Charles B. Atwood resided at home and at- 
tended school until he was in his twelfth year, 
when he shipped as a cabin boy on board the 
whaling-vessel "Columbia," commanded by 
Captain Thomas R. Hussey. The "Colum- 
bia," which was fitted for a two years' cruise, 
sailed from New York, September 26, 1836, 
and on December 25, 1838, was wrecked on 
the coast of Chile, both ship and cargo becom- 
ing a total loss. Happily rescued from the 
fury of the waves, young Atwood was on Jan- 
uary 3, 1839, placed on board of the ship 
" Kdward Ouesnell," of Fall River, which 
was homeward bound ; but, strange to say, on 
May 9 of the same year that ship and cargo 
met a similar fate six miles west of Mon- 
tague, L.I., eleven of the twenty-three souls 
on board being drowned. Reaching home on 
June 26, 1839, after passing through a series 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of disasters quite sufficient, one would tliink, 
to deaden his ardor for sea life, he remainetl 
on shore until 1841, when he shipi)ed as a 
harpooner 011 the bark "Minerva," of New 
Bedford, Captain Horton, for a whaling; voy- 
age in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Re- 
turniui;' after a successful cruise of twenty 
months, he next made a voyage to the west 
coast of South America on board the brig 
"Samos," of Salem, Mass., Captain Horton; 
and, after coming back with a cargo of giuino, 
he went to Africa and up the Congo River 
with Captain Wood on another Salem bark, 
the "Seamen," which returnetl alter a voyage 
of eight and one-half months'. His last voy- 
age was as second mate of the bark "T. O. 
Brown," Captain Horton, bound from Port- 
land, Me., to Cienfuegos, Cuba. Arriving in 
Philadelphia in 1846, the cruise having been 
a prosperous one, he relinquished a seafaring 
life. Returning to Buckfiekl, he on Septem- 
ber 5 of that year engaged with a partner in 
mercantile business, later carrying on trade 
alone until 185 i, when he went to California, 
vk'here, however, he did not long sojourn. 
From the time of his leaving the Pacific Coast 
till 1884, with the e.\ce]3tion of about eight 
months, in which he was engaged in business 
in Chicago, he conducted mercantile enter- 
prises in Portland and Auburn, spending five 
years in each city. Since 1884 he has carried 
on a successful business at his present stand 
in Buckficld, being now in partnershij) with 
his son, under the firm name of C. B. .Atwood 
& Co. They have a large and well-stocked 
general store, which receives a most liberal 
patronage from the people of this town and 
the out-lying districts. 

On August 20, 1847, .Mr. Atwood was 
united in marriage with Juiiily I). Irish, who 
was born in Buckfiekl, June 27, 1827, daugh- 
ter of Joshua Irish. Six children have been 
born to them, namely : Horace, Charles, and 
Harold, who are no longer living; Sarah E., 
wife of John H. Moore, of Buckfiekl; Fred 
H., a member of the firm of F. H. Atwood & 
Co., grocers and provision dealers of Rumford 
Falls, Me. ; and Edwin F. , who is in company 
with his father. 

Energetic, capable, and accommodating, 
Mr. Atwood is highly esteemed and respected 



by his fellow-townsmen; and his success in 
business is the just reward for honest dealing. 
Socially, he is very popular with a large circle 
of friends and acquaintances; and he is a 
charter member of livening Star Lodge, A. ¥. 
& A. M., ot this town. In politics he acts 
with the Republican party, and both he and 
Mrs. Atwood attend the Universal ist church. 



f^^TKORGE B. RICP:, a prominent citi- 
V ;5T zen of Waterford, Me., and a mem- 
^— -^ her of one of the first families of the 
town — first in standing as well as in point ot 
settlement — was born in Waterford. October 
30, 1 841. His parents were Eber, Jr., and 
Pllizabeth (Frye) Rice. His paternal grand- 
father, liber 'Rice, who was born in North- 
boro, Mass., was one of the ])i(ineer settlers 
of Waterford, making a clearing in the wil- 
derness and developing a homestead. He 
worked early and late to improve the property, 
undergoing all the hardships of frontier life, 
and carrying his corn and rye ten miles to the 
mill to be ground. He was one of the wealth- 
iest and ablest men of the town, a justice of 
the Peace, and was known as Squire Rice. 
He died in 1853. His wife, Rebecca, was a 
native of Massachusetts. Five children were 
reared by this couple; namely, Betsey, Eber, 
Jr., Rachel, Samuel, and Sophia, all of whom 
have passed to the world beyond. Betsey was 
the wife of Asa Foote, Rachel, who always 
made her home in the house where she was 
born in 1794, was a teacher in her youth, and 
was widely known and esteemed. .She was a 
lady of more than ordinary intelligence, and 
toward the close of her long life no one was 
better known in this part of Oxford County 
than "Aunt Rachel Rice." She lived through 
the changes of over a century, passing away 
January 24, 18035. 

Her brother, Eber Rice, Jr.. was likewise a 
native and lifelong resident of Waterford, and 
from the time of his marriage until his death, 
which occurred on the 23d of December, 1863, 
was engaged in farming near the homestead. 
He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Frye Rice, a native of Fryeburg, this county, 
who passed away on March 13, 1880. She 
was the mother of nine children, namelv: 



io8 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



lohn I'., born Decembc-r 14, 1S24, a farmer 
and spool manufacturer of Waterford village, 
who married Miss Mary Ann Irish; Sarah F., 
born June 26, 1826, who died September 19, 
1827; Sarah E., born December 6, 1827, wife 
of John Henry Millett, of Norway, Me.; 
Harriet 1,., born December 14, 1829, now 
living in Albany, iVIe., widow of Joseph L. 
Rand; William R., born March 29, 1832, a 
resident of Albany; Mary A., born April 12, 
1834, who died September 12, 1834; Isaac 
F., born July 12, 1S35, who died March i, 
1838; Charles H., born August 26, 1837, who 
married Elizabeth Green, and js living on the 
homestead in Waterford; and George B., the 
subject of this sketch. 

George B. Rice in his boyhood received a 
common-school education, remaining in his 
native town until twenty-one years of age. 
In 1862 he went to Boston, Mass., where his 
first position was as coachman in a private 
family. He was engaged in that capacity for 
a year and a half, during the year following" 
was employed as conductor on the Metropoli- 
tan Street Railroad, Boston, and the two years 
ensuing was driver for the Adams E.xpress 
Company. About 1869 he returned to his na- 
tive town, settling on the old Rice farm, where 
he is now living. This is a fine estate of 
about a hundred acres, all improved; and Mr. 
Rice has achieved marked success as a farmer. 
He has a number of cows, and manages a 
small dairy business. 

Mr. Rice was married October 15, 1868, to 
Harriet E. Marsh, of Boston, who was born 
December 14, 1843, the daughter of Rufus C. 
and Sarah (Choate) Marsh. Rufus C. Marsh 
was a well-known citizen of Boston, where he 
was superintendent of hacks and carriages for 
over thirty years. He died in that city, July 
4, 1883. His wife is now living with a son 
in Waltham, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have 
five children, as follows: Mary E. , born Sep- 
tember 8, 1869, wife of Llewellyn Millett, of 
Waterford; Rufus, born May 30, 1871, now 
in Windsor, \'t. ; Lillian G. , born May 21, 
1873, wife of George W. Kneeland, a mill man 
of Newry, Me. ; Vernon W. , born May 7, 
1875, employed in a mill in Shelburne, N. H. ; 
and Florence E. , born July 29, 1877, who has 
not yet left the shelter of the parental roof. 



Mr. Rice votes the Republican ticket. He 
and his wife are active members of the Con- 
gregational church in North Waterford vil- 
lage, of whose Sunday-school he was superin- 
tendent for eight years. He is an industrious 
and law-abiding citizen, and has the regard of 
all who kncjw him. 



irx AVID W. BRESSON, an industri- 
I J ous and highly respected resident of' 
^J^Sy I'armington, was born July 5, 1828, 
in East Strong, now West New 
Vineyard, Me., son of James and Elizabeth 
(Hall) Bresson. His grandfather, James 
Bresson, who was a native of Ireland, emi- 
grated to America, and settled at Martha's 
\'ineyard, Massachusetts, where for a time 
he followed agricultural pursuits. Grand- 
father Bresson subsequently moved to West 
New Vineyard, and there partially cleared a 
new farm. He spent his declining years with 
his children, living to the age of seventy. 
His wife, in maidenhood a Miss W'eston, 
who was born in Ireland, died in 1820, aged 
thirty-eight years, carried off by the epi- 
demic known as "cold fever" that then pre- 
vailed in Maine. She and her husband reared 
seven children; namely, James, Beter, Thurs- 
ton, Hiram, Leonard, William, and Betsey. 

James Bresson, Mr. Bresson's father, 
bought the homestead. Finding, after giving 
a fair trial, that it was not what he wanted, he 
sold it again, and purchased a tract of one 
hundred and fifteen acres of land, which was 
covered with heavy timber. This farm, which 
is now owned by IC. Mosher, he cleared and 
improved into a state of cultivation, and 
erected on it a good set of buildings. In 
1837 he sold it, and moved to a farm in New 
Sharon, where he resided two years, after 
which he returned and bought the Butler 
place, located one mile from the village. He 
sold that property in 1854, and went to 
Strong, from which place he moved to a farm 
near Franklin Bridge. In this last place he 
continued occupied in farming until old age 
compelled him to retire. In politics he was 
in his early days a Democrat, but later became 
a Republican. His religious belief was the 
Methodist creed. His first wife, Elizabeth, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



who was born March 2^, 1787, died November 
8, 1856, leaving five children, namely: Rachel 
F. , who was born July 16, 1812; Mary H., 
who was born October 27, 18 14; Harvey T. , 
who was born June 9, 1S20; I'riscilla B., who 
was born January 26, 1824: and David \V., the 
subject of this sketch. The father's second 
marriage was contracted with Rhoda Harding. 

After acquiring a good practical education, 
David W. Presson was engaged in agriculture 
in this locality until 1854. In company with 
a party composed of M. Homer, M. Leak, N. 
Bean, and others, he then went to Eureka, 
Cal., and engaged in mining. In 1861 he re- 
turned East, and, settling in Farmington, 
bought the Church propert)-, comprising a 
pleasant residence and a corner lot on Cottage 
Street, and has lived there since. He is now 
well established in the business of painting 
and paper-hanging, at which he does a large 
amount of work annually, employing a great 
deal of help. Still strong and vigorous, 
he has not been obliged to remain indoors two 
days in succession for fifty years. His politi- 
cal principles are Democratic, while in relig- 
ious belief he is a Unitarian. 

On February 27, 1859, Mr. Presson wedded 
Dorris Pettengill Hillman, who was born Feb- 
ruary 18, 1833, daughter of Alexander and 
Thankful (Pettingill) Hillman. Mrs. Bres- 
son's grandfather, Uriel Hillman, with his 
family, moved in 1807 from Tisbury, Mass., 
to Farmington, where he was a prosperous 
farmer. Her father, a native of Tisbury, 
born February 4, 1804, was one of the largest 
and most progressive agriculturists of this 
county. Her mother, who was born in 1805, 
died in 1851, leaving six other children; 
namely, Uriah, Abel, Isaiah, Gilbert, Alex- 
ander, and Elizabeth A. 

Mr. and Mrs. Presson have had four chil- 
dren, namely: Mary Pllizabeth, born February 
10, i860, who died June 9, 1868; Lillie 
Belle, born September 4, i86i, who died 
March 14, 1862; George McLellan, born 
August 4, 1864, now proprietor of a flourish- 
ing jew^elry store in Farmington, who married 
Genevieve Huston, and has two children — 
Dorris M. and Cora P. ; and Alexander Hill- 
man, born January 16, 1873, who is now an 
assistant in his brother's store. 




HARLES H. GEORGE, a leading 
resident of the town of Hebron, Ox- 
ford County, Me., and a veteran of 
the Civil War, was born in Plym- 
outh, X.ll., September 3, 1834, son of 
William and Mary (Darling) George. His 
grandfather. King George, was an early settler 
in Plymouth, where he owned and cultivated 
for many years a good farm. He died there 
at the age of about eighty-seven. In his re- 
ligious belief he was a Congregational ist, and 
in politics he supported the Whig party. The 
maiden name of his two wives was Eaton, he 
having married sisters. He reared four sons; 
namely, Asa, David, Eaton, and William, 
afore-mentioned as the father of Mr. George, 
of Hebron. 

William George was a native of Plymouth, 
and there grew to manhood. Having a natural 
genius for mechanical pursuits, he became 
very skilful in general handicraft. The 
greater part of his industrious life was jiassed 
in his native town: and he was well known 
and highly respected as a worthy, upright 
citizen. His wife, Mary Darling, who was 
born in Campton, N.H., became the mother of 
nine children, namely: Daniel, the first-born, 
who died in infancy; William; Washington; 
Asa K. ; Charles H.; Daniel E. ; Mary E. : 
Martha A. ; and Joseph P. 

William George married Harriet Thayer, a 
native of Oxford County, Maine, and died No- 
vember 16, 1849, leaving one daughter, Wil- 
hemina. Washington George died in 1859, 
aged twenty-nine years. Asa K., who resides 
in Rumney, N.H., and is reporter for the Plym- 
outh Record, married Abbie Mansfield; but 
she and her five children are no longer living. 
Daniel E. George was born March 26, 1837, 
and is now residing in Natick, Mass. In 
1 861 he enlisted in Company D, First Regi- 
ment, Massachusetts Volunteers, with which 
he served during the Rebellion, taking part in 
many of the most important battles from the 
first Bull Run fight to the time of his dis- 
charge in 1864. He is now an express mes- 
senger on the Boston & Albany Railroad. 
In politics he is a Republican; and he has 
been Commander of Wadsworth Post, Grand 
Army of the Republic, No. 63, of Natick, 
Mass. He was married September 19, 1857, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



to Adeline Rockvvood, who was born in Sher- 
born, Mass., March 3, 1837, and has had 
three children, namely: Hattie E. ; Emma 
]\I. : and Leonard F., who died at the age of 
eighteen months. Mary E. George first mar- 
ried Henry Dakin, by whom she had one 
daughter, Geddie. She afterward became 
Mrs. Woodward, and is now a widow, residing 
in Natick, Mass. Her daughter, Geddie O., 
is now Mrs. George Howe. Martha A. George 
married Frank P. Simonds, a caterer of 
Chicago, 111., and has had two children, of 
whom the survivor is named George. Joseph 
P. George, a carpenter of Pasadena, Cal., 
married Clara Cushman, a native of Auburn, 
Me., who has departed this life. She was the 
mother of five children, namely: Minnie; 
Herbert; Fred; Edna; and Frank, who is no 
longer living. Mrs. Mary D. George lived to 
reach the age of sixty years. 

Charles H. George, the fifth son, is the 
special subject of this biography. He was 
educated in the schools of Plymouth, and at 
an early age began life for himself. Going 
to Massachusetts, he resided successively in 
Boston and Natick, and was engaged in the 
express business and shoemaking until i860, 
when he removed to Hebron, Me., which has 
since been his place of residence. In August, 
1862, he enlisted as a private in Company E, 
Sixteenth Maine \'olunteers, and, going to 
the front with his regiment, was in active ser- 
vice until, having lost the use of his right arm 
at the battle of l-^edericksburg, he was honor- 
ably discharged in February, 1863. Return- 
ing to Hebron, he engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, and has steadily advanced in pros- 
perity, owning at the present time a valuable 
farming estate, consisting of one hundred and 
eighty acres, lying within the limits of Ox- 
ford, Paris, and Hebron, on which he has 
made various improvements, including the 
erection of new buildings. Besides giving his 
attention to general husbandry, he takes care 
of an orchard embracing eight acres of choice 
apples and smaller fruits, the shipment of 
which is the source of considerable profit; and 
he also runs a well-equipped dairy. In pub- 
lic affairs he has for many years been one of 
the leading spirits in the town, having served 
with abilitv as a member of the Board of Se- 



lectmen for three years, as Constable for some 
time, and as Collector and Deputy Sheriff for 
ten years. He is a Republican in politics. 

On November 25, 1854, Mr. George was 
married to Ruth A. Gurne}', who was born in 
Minot, Me., December 6, 1S38, daughter of 
Samuel and Lucy Gurney, of that town. 
Mrs. George has been the mother of five chil- 
dren, as follows: Arthur E., who was born 
March 13, i860, is married, and carries on 
mercantile business and farming in Hebron; 
Herman E., who was born March 8, 1865, 
married Alida Graves, and is now a carjienter 
of this town; Nettie P'rances, who was born 
October 30, 1868, and died January 24, 1870; 
Minnie B., who was born January 7, 1879, 
and Gertie M., who was born December 13, 
1 88 1, both of whom are residing at home. 

In business and in fraternal circles Mr. 
George is both prominent and popular. He 
is at the present time Secretary and Treasurer 
of the Patrons of Husbandry Mutual Fire In- 
surance Company, with which he has been 
connected for thirteen years; is a member of 
South Paris Lodge, No. 92, .A. F. & A. M. ; 
and is a comrade of W. K. Kimball Post, No. 
94, Grand Army of the Republic, of South 
Paris. For thirteen years he has been Master 
of Hebron Grange, No. 43, Patrons of Hus- 
bandry, with which his wife is also connected; 
and IVIrs. George is a member of the Baptist 
church. 




ALTER NICHOLS, a retired busi- 
ness man and highly esteemed resi- 
dent of F"armington, was born in 
Searsport, Me., December 14, 18 12, son of 
James and Nancy (Fowler) Nichols. His 
great-grandfather, who wvts a native of Ire- 
land, settled in Londonderrv, N. H., among 
the early pioneers, and cleared a farm, which 
was located upon the site of the present vil- 
lage. James Nichols, the grandfather of 
Walter, was born in Londonderry in 1733. 
He inherited the homestead, and followed gen- 
eral farming during the active period of his 
life. He was a man of unusual physical 
strength and one of the most energetic and suc- 
cessful farmers of his day. He died in 1S18, 
at Searsport, Me. His first wife, in maiden- 



1^ I OG R A P i 1 1 C A L R F: V I EW 



hood Dinah Woodhur}', tlicd leaving six chil- 
dren — William, David, Annie, James, Wood- 
burn, and Thomas. His second wife, Hannah 
Cadwell before marriage, bore him seven chil- 
dren — Alexander, Samuel, Hannah, Dinah, 
Nancy, Mary, and Margaret. 

James Nichols, Mr. Nichols's father, also a 
native of Londonderry, born March 3, 1766, 
settled in Searsport when a young man, bought 
a farm of one hundred acres, and was there- 
after profitably engaged in its culti\'ation 
until stricken with typhoid fever, which 
caused his death in 1833. He possesseil the 
characteristics of the early pioneers, and was 
in consequence able to make progress in the 
face of difficulties that would conquer weaker 
men. In politics he united with the Whig 
party, and he was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. His wife, Nancy, became 
the mother of ten children, who were: Will- 
iam, James, Nancy, Jane, Abigail, Wood- 
burn, Rufus, Walter, John l-"., and Betsey A. 
She attained the age of sixty-six years before 
her death. 

In the district school Walter Nichols made 
the most of his opportunities for obtaining an 
education. Afterward by his personal efforts 
he became proficient in some of the higher 
branches. In young manhood he engaged in 
teaching, and successfully followed that pro- 
fession for ten winters. In that time he had 
charge of some of the schools most difficult to 
manage in his locality. Having learned the 
house carpenter's trade, he worked at it in 
the summer season, holding the position of 
foreman for ten years, when on account of 
failing health he was obliged to abstain from 
laborious occupation. By this time he had 
accumulated some capital, which he invested 
advantageously in Western lands. In 1868 
he and Mr. Morrell bought a half interest each 
in the water-power privilege of Farmington 
Falls, and engaged in the manufacture of 
spools. A short time after, he sold his inter- 
est in the factory and removed to Farmington 
village. His residence having been burned 
in the fire of 1886, he bought the Captain 
Chi Ids house on Main Street, and remodelled 
and enlarged it, making of it the commodious 
and fine-a])pearing dwelling that has since 
been his home. In Farmington for a consid- 



erable period after his arrival he was [irofitably 
employed as a surveyor of land. He retired 
from that business in favor of the more active 
aspirants of a younger generation. 

In 1.S50 Mr. Nichols wedded Rosina 
Witham, a daughter of John A. Witham, of 
Starks, Me. Mrs. Nichols has had three 
children, namely: Elaora, who is the wife of 
J. M. S. Hunter, editor of the I'^armington 
Chiviiicli\ and has one daughter, Mabel E. ; 
Albion, who died at the age of six years; and 
John W. , a practising physician of this town. 
In jiolitics Mr. Nichols is a firm supporter of 
the Republican party, with which he has been 
united since its formation. His religious 
faith is that of the Adventists. He is re- 
garded by his fellow-townsmen as one of the 
most able and successful business men and 
financiers in this part of the State; and the 
prosperity which has resulted from his busy 
life of industry and toil is amply merited. 

John W. Nichols, M.D., was born in Sears- 
port, August 4, 1859. He fitted for his col- 
legiate course at Wendell Institute, and, after 
graduating from Bowdoin College with the 
class of 1881, was for a short time employed 
by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company in 
Minneapolis, Minn. Deciding to adopt the 
medical profession, he subsequently pursued a 
thorough course of instruction at the Maine 
Medical School in Brunswick, from which he 
graduated in 1887. Excluding two years 
spent in Montpelier, \'t., he has since prac- 
tised continuously in Farmington. On June 
7, 1892, he was united in marriage with 
Bertha E. Johnson, daughter of George W. 
Johnson, of Industry, Me. He is a Republi- 
can in politics. He has served with ability 
as superintendent of public schools in this 
town, and he is a member of the Maine State 
Medical Association. As a physician he is 
held in high esteem by the entire community; 
and, socially, both he and Mrs. Nichols are 
very popular. 



(JOSHUA JONES McAllister, late 

an enterprising farmer of Stoneham, 
Oxford County, Me., who died on the 
1 2th of October of the present year 
(1896), was born in Lovell, an adjoining town 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of the same county, June 6, 1849. He was a 
son of Josiah H. and Nancy (McKeen) McAl- 
lister, and was the eighth in a family of eleven 
children. The father, who was a native of 
Lovell, passed there all his days in pursuit of 
the honored vocation of farming, being also 
employed somewhat as a mechanic. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Nancy McKeen, was 
born in Stoneham, Me. She died in 1858, 
and he in 1868, having survived her about 
a decade. 

J. Jones McAllister remained at the old 
homestead until he was about eighteen years of 
age, when, on the death of his father, he went 
to work as a farm hand in Bethel, Me. He sub- 
sequently continued that form of employment 
on various farms in Bethel for four years, 
after which he returned to Lovell, and worked 
in a saw-mill until his marriage in 1878. 
He then took up his residence at Stoneham, 
and, having purchased the old McAllister saw- 
mill, he was occupied for four years in the 
manufacture of staves and spool stock. Re- 
moving his mill to Albany, Me., he engaged 
in business there for ten years, and then 
moved it back to Stoneham, where he estab- 
lished the mill permanently. From that time 
on he gave his attention to husbandry and 
milling, sawing shooks and spool stock for 
the firm of l^Uiot & Bartlett, of Lynchville, 
Me. At the time of his departure Mr. Mc- 
Allister owned a farm of three hundred acres, 
besides almost a thousand acres of wild land. 

On October 13, 1878, Mr. McAllister mar- 
ried Miss Nettie A. Bartlett, a native of 
Stoneham, where she was born January 9, 
1859, to Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Bartlett. Her 
father was a farmer of that place, but now re- 
sides at Naples, Me. The union of Mr. and 
Mrs. McAllister was blessed in the birth of 
seven children, as follows: Clinton B., Albert 
J., Clarice, Harold Leroy, Ella May, Lynn 
A., and Lyde Dell, the last two being twins. 

Mr. McAllister affiliated with the Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member 
of Kezar Valley Lodge, No. 66, of Lovell. 
Politically, he was found in the ranks of the 
Republican party. In religious faith and fel- 
lowship he was connected with the Congrega- 
tional Church of Stoneham, of which his wife, 
who survives him, remains a valued member. 




Mr. McAllister was always a hard-working 
man, and his diligent efforts were crowned 
with a gratifying degree of success. Well 
known throughout the community, he com- 
manded the respect and confidence of all. He 
has left his children the inheritance of a good 
name. 



ENRY D. HAMMOND, one of the 
foremost of the younger agricultu- 

.9 I rists of the town of Paris, Me., is 

prominently identified with the 
business, educational, and social interests of 
this section of Oxford County. A son of 
Henry E. and Adaline M. (Chase) Hammond, 
he was born June 7, 1857, in the house where 
he now resides. This homestead was re- 
deemed from the forest by his great-grand- 
father, Benjamin Hammond, Jr., who came to 
Paris from New Gloucester, Me., at an early 
day, when settlers were few and far between, 
and the woods that surrounded the log house 
which he erected in a small clearing were 
filled with wild animals. He was the eldest 
son of Benjamin Hammond, Sr. , a soldier in 
the Revolution, who accjuired more than a 
local reputation as a hunter and Indian scout. 
After residing here a few years, the pioneer 
replaced the log house, which was the 
birthplace of his three elder chiklren, by the 
present substantial residence. liight children 
were born to him and his wife, Rebecca 
Smith Hammond; namely, Rebecca, Esther, 
Benjamin (third), Moses, Sally, I^zra, Olive, 
and Bela, all of whom, with the exception of 
one, married and reared families. 

Ezra Hammond, born May 21, 1796, who 
was the sixth child and third son, was the 
next in line to own the homestead. He was 
an industrious and progressive farmer and a 
worthy citizen. With the exception of four 
years in which he resided in Andover, Mass., 
in order to educate his children, he here spent 
his entire life. He died March 22, 1863. 
Ezra Hammond was a Democrat in politics, 
and in religion both he and his wife were 
Baptists. Her maiden name was Betsey 
Towne. She was born in Albany, Me., in 
1806, and died in March, 1876. The record 
of their three children is thus given: George 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



113 



v., bum June 16, 1825, lives in Paris; Henry 
E. was born September 12, 1827; and Will- 
iam G., born May 4, 1830, lives at Paris 
Hill. 

Henry E. Hammond was the second son of 
Ezra. He acquired his education in the dis- 
trict schools of Paris and at Phillips Academy 
in Andover, iVIass. During his early man- 
hood he taught school nine winter terms, and 
from the age of twenty-one years until the 
present day has had charge of the home farm. 
He has worked with untiring energy in con- 
tinuing the improvements begun by his father 
and grandfather, and has watched with gratifi- 
cation its gradual development into one of the 
finest and most productive pieces of farming 
property in this vicinity. At the same time 
he has not been unmindful of the interests of 
the public, having served his fellow-citizens 
with ability and fidelity in the office of Ti)wn 
Clerk fifteen years, as Selectman two years, 
as Representative to the State legislature in 
1870 and 1 87 1, as Trial Justice, and as Crier 
of the Court thirty years; and he is now 
Deputy Sheriff of Oxford County. Although 
fast approaching the milestone marking his 
seventieth year, his mental vigor is unim- 
paired, and his usefulness unabated. He was 
at one time President of the Oxford County 
Agricultural Society, and is now a Trustee of 
the South Paris Savings Bank. In politics 
he is a Republican, and he is an attendant of 
the Baptist church. 

The imion of Henry K. Hammond with 
Adaline M. Chase, who was born in the neigh- 
boring town of Sunmer, May i, 1831, was 
solemnized September 7, 1851. They have 
four children living, namely: Addie I., born 
July 7, 1852, who is the wife of J. A. Kim- 
ball, of Boston, and has one child, Henry S. ; 
Alice K., born March 24, 1854, who lives in 
Paris; Henry D., the special subject of this 
sketch; Lizzie P., born November 24, 1861, 
now the wife of Erederic V.. Shorey, of Gor- 
liam, N.H., having two children — P"rances 
H. and Stanley K. Their fifth and youngest 
child, named Charlie, born May 27, 1871, 
died September 13 of the same year. 

Henry D. Hammond completed his educa- 
tion at the Oxford County Normal Institute at 
South Paris, being there fitted for a teacher; 



and for ten years he was engaged in that pro- 
fession. Continuing his residence on the 
Hammond homestead, he now assists his 
father in its management. They have two 
hundred and sixty-five acres of land, on which 
they carry on general farming on an extensive 
scale after progressive modern methods; and 
they occupy a deservedly high position among 
the leading farmers of the county. Politi- 
cally a stanch Republican, Mr. Hammond 
has filled most acceptably the office of Select- 
man for six years, having been Chairman of 
the Board two years ; and one year he was 
superintendent of the School Committee. He 
is H member of Hamlin Lodge, No. 31, 
Knights of Pythias, of South Paris; of Paris 
Grange, No. 44.; and is Vice-President of the 
Oxford County Agricultural Society. He is 
likewise \'ice-President and a Trustee of the 
Paris Hill Academy. 

Mr. Hammond was first married on Septem- 
ber 15, 1885, to Ella L. Dudley, who died 
July 26, 1886. On August 29, 1887, he mar- 
ried her sister, E. Gertrude Dudley, who was 
born in Paris, August 29, 1867, a daughter of 
J. Smith and Lydia H. (Stearns) Dudley. 
Mr. Dudley was born in Woodstock, May 8, 
1827, and died in Paris in February, 1883. 
Mrs. Lydia H. Dudley was born in Paris, 
June 2, 1835, a daughter of William and 
Joanna (Porter) Stearns. After the death of 
her first husband Mrs. Dudley married Jairus 
Keith Hammond, who died February i, 1892. 
A sketch of his life will be found on another 
page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond 
have no children. Both are liberal in their 
religious belief. 



ISAAC H. BERRY, Chairman of the 
Board of Selectmen of Denmark, Oxford 
County, was born here, January 12, 
1857, son of Isaac and Emily (Fuller) 
Berry. Mr. Berry's grandfather, Henry 
Berry, who was a native of Middleton, Mass., 
born October 3, 1779, settled upon a tract of 
wild land in Denmark, and cleared the farm 
now owned by his grandson. He afterward 
resided there until his death, which occurred 
November 11, 1836. By his wife, .Sally 
(Jewett) Berry, he became the father of four- 



114 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



teen children; namely, Mial, Catherine, 
Henry, Elias, Isaac, Joseph, Ruth, Lorenzo, 
Patience J., Sarah S., Ann Bixby, Mial (sec- 
ond), Aaron R., and Amos S., none of them 
now living. The mother died June i, 1852. 

Isaac lierry was born in Denmark, Septem- 
ber 6, 1803. In June, 1836, he took charge 
of his father's farm, and subsequently suc- 
ceeded to its possession. He resided all his 
lifetime at the homestead. In addition to 
conducting the farm he surveyed timber, and 
engaged quite extensively in lumbering. He 
was quite prosperous both as a farmer and a 
business man; and he died August 26, 1880, 
leaving the reputation of an upright and 
worthy citizen. His wife, Kmily, born in 
Hampton, Conn., January 15, 1813, became 
the mother of eight children, as follows: 
Laura, who was born October 12, 1836, and 
died April 22, 1848; Mial, who was born Jan- 
uary 8, 1840, and died September 19, 1855; 
Jared F., of this town, who was born Septem- 
ber 21, 1842, married Lydia Bucknell, and 
has two children — Bertha M. and Mary 
Helen; Mary A., who was born January 12, 
1845, married James A. Head, of Denmark, 
and has four children — Gertrude J., Eva 
Maud, Owen Berry, and PLthel M. ; William 
W., depot masterat Perley's Mills, born May 
9, 1S48, who married Nettie S. Lord, whose 
birth occurred in September, 1873, and has 
one daughter, Nettie M.; Lorenzo, who was 
born July 7, 1851, and died August 7, 1858; 
John P. P., who was born December 13, 1854, 
and died August 7, 185S; and Isaac H., the 
subject of this sketch. The mother, now 
eighty-three years old, is a member of the 
Congregational church, and resides with 
Isaac H. 

Isaac H. Berry acquired a common-school 
education. His early manhood was spent 
working upon the neighboring farms and in 
the lumber-mills. After his marriage he took 
charge of the homestead farm which he now 
owns. While he does considerable logging 
during the winter season, he devotes the 
greater part of his time to agriculture. The 
farm contains one hundred and forty acres of 
well-located land, and produces large crops of 
hay, corn, and potatoes. On it is a fine 
orchard having several choice varieties of 



apple-trees. The proprietor also owns six 
hundred acres of land located in Cumberland 
and Oxford Counties. 

On October 15, 1874, Mr. Berry wedded 
Mary A. Lord, a native of Fryeburg, Me., 
who was born December 14, 1856, daughter of 
William and Mary A. (Potter) Lord. Mr. 
Lord, who was born in Alfred, Me., moved 
after his marriage to Lovell, Me., and then 
to Denmark, where he now resides with his 
daughters. His wife, now deceased, was a 
native of Bridgton, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Berry 
have two children, namely: Emily Fuller, 
who was born October 25, 1875, and is now 
a teacher; and Mary A., born August 16, 
1879, who was engaged in educational work 
for some time, and who on November 8, i8g6, 
married Irving K. Ingalls, of this town. 

Mr. Berry takes an active interest in politi- 
cal affairs. He has been a member of the 
Board of Selectmen for the past ten years, and 
he is at the present time Chairman of that 
body. The Republican Town Committee also 
avails of his services as Chairman. He is a 
member of Mount Moriah Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M., of Denmark; of Denmark Lodge; the 
encampment at Bridgton, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows; and of Hiram Lodge, 
Knights of Pythias. An able and progressive 
business man and one who takes an earnest 
interest in the general welfare, he is highly 
regarded in the community. 



/pTKORGE G. WHITMAN, an exten- 
\ I^^T sive farmer of Sumner, Oxford 
County, and a veteran of the Civil 
War, was born in Woodstock, Me., May 13, 
1S41, son of Zeri B. and Mary (Dale) Whit- 
man. Joshua Whitman, his great-grand- 
father, was one of the first settlers of Buck- 
field, this county. Jacob Whitman, a son of 
Joshua and grandfather of George G., was a 
native of that town, an "industrious farmer, 
and a well-known local preacher of the Calvin- 
ist Baptist doctrine in his day. He died in 
Hebron, at the advanced age of ninety years. 
Zeri B. Whitman was a native of Woodstock, 
born in August, 1807. He learned the car- 
penter's trade, which he followed in connec- 
tion with farming during his active period. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



IIS 



He moved from Woodstock to Hebron, where 
he subsequently died at the age of fifty-seven 
years. He was an active member of the Cal- 
vinist Baptist church and a teacher in the 
Sunday-school for a long period. In his later 
years he gave his political support to the Re- 
publican party. His wife, Mary, who was 
born in Norway, Me., May 3, 181 1, became 
the mother of nine children, two of whom are 
living. These are: Frank M., a lawyer of 
Haverhill, Mass. ; and George G. , the sub- 
ject of this sketch. Mr. Whitman's mother 
lived to the advanced age of eighty-three 
years. 

George G. Whitman grew to manhood in 
Hebron, and accpiired his education at the 
academy in that town. On October 7, 1861, 
he enlisted as a private in Company K, Fifth 
Regiment, Maine Volunteers, under Captain 
H. T. Buckman, of Mechanic Falls. During 
his three years of active service in the Civil 
War he participated in the second battle of 
Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Fred- 
ericksburg, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, and 
Winchester, and was honorably discharged in 
1864. After hi.s return from the army he was 
encratred as a contractor in the shoe manufact- 
uring business at Haverhill, Mass., for eight 
years, when, his health becoming poor, he 
bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres 
in Paris, Me., where until 1885 he followed 
the more healthful employment of tilling the 
soil. In i88g he moved to Sumner, where he 
now owns two hundred and seventy acres of 
desirable land, constituting one of the largest 
farms in this vicinity. Here he carries on 
general farming and dairying, and keeps from 
si.\ to ten full-blooded and graded Jersey cows. 
He has made various improvements upon the 
land and buildings, which are in iirst-class 
condition; and his energy is fast bringing him 
to the front rank among the well-to-do agri- 
culturists of the neighborhood. 

On November 15, 1872, Mr. Whitman 
wedded Amanda E. Hill, who was born in 
Conway, N.H., daughter of Wentworth and 
Asenath Hill. The only child of the union, 
Fred A., was born in- Paris, February 18, 
1882, and is now attending Hebron .'\cademy. 
In politics Mr. Whitman is a Republican. 
He is connected with South Paris Grange, 



Patrons of Husbandry, and is a comrade of 
William K. Kimbalf Post, No. 148, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of South Paris. Both 
he and Mrs. Whitman are libeial in their re- 
ligious views. 




DELBERT ELROV DEAN, a promi- 
nent and influential farmer of Paris, 
Oxford County, was born April 25, 
1S54, in the neighboring township 
of Peru, son of Edmund Sylvester and Hannah 
(Brown) Dean. His great-grandfather was 
one of the very earliest settlers of Paris. His 
grandfather, Edmund Dean, wh(j was born 
here, and was a Democrat in politics, married 
Esther A. Allen, a native of Hartford. Both 
the grandparents lived a full century, were 
liberal in their religious creed, and active 
members of the Universalist church. 

lulmund Sylvester Dean, also a native of 
Paris, born February 5, 1820, was here reared 
and educated. Arriving at the years of ma- 
turity, he started for Boston, where he worked 
at the carpenter's trade nearly ten years. Re- 
turning then to his native county, he there 
carried on general farming for three years. 
After this he purchased a farm in Peru, where 
he remained until 1856, when he again be- 
came a resident of Paris. While living in 
Buckfield, he married Hannah Brown, of 
Turner, Me., where her birth occurred Febru- 
ary 6, 1830. ]5oth are now living in South 
Paris, retired from active work. They have 
six children — Nellie E., Adelbert P2., Palmer, 
Georgia A., Albert E. , and Isa B. 

Adelbert Elroy Dean was but two years of 
age when his parents brought him to Paris. 
He received his education in the schools of 
this town and at the Oxford County Normal 
Institute. During the first ten years of his 
business life Mr. Dean worked in the shoe 
factory of B. F. Spinney & Co., of Norway, 
Me., being "second hand" in the stock de- 
partment. Receiving a fair compensation for 
his labor, he was able to save enough of his 
earnings to buy and stock his present farm in 
1892. The estate contains one hundred and 
sixty acres. Besides general farming Mr. 
Dean ia engaged in dairying, keeping graded 
Jersey cattle. By his energy, ability, and 



if, 



BIOGRAPHICAL' REVIEW 



push he has won a prominent position among 
the agriculturists of this section of the county. 
In religion he is a Universalist and in poli- 
tics an unswerving Democrat. He was Super- 
visor of Schools in Paris from 1886 until 
1888. An esteemed member of the Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows, he belongs to 
Norway Lodge, No. 16, Wildey Encampment, 
No. 21, and Wildey Canton, No. 8, of Norway. 
He has also affiliation with the Paris Grange, 
No. 44, Patrons of Husbandry. 

On F"ebruary 22, 1881, Mr. Dean married 
Mary A. Hussey, daughter of Samuel A. 
Hussey, prominently identified with the social 
and official life of Waterford, Me., where he 
resides. Mr. and Mrs. Dean have three chil- 
dren, namely: Arthur E., born June 21, 
1883; Henry A., born August 27, 1888; and 
Myrtle, born June 13, 1895. 



^Crr)/lLLIAM MORRI 
Yfe\/ ington's retired 
*^ '^ was for many ye 



LISON, one of Farm- 
business men, who 
j'ears identified with 
the lumber manufacturing industry of this lo- 
cality, was born upon the site of his present 
residence, October 8, 1821, son of John and 
Sarah (Tufts) Morrison. The Morrison fam- 
ily, which is of Scotch-Irish stock, descends 
from Robert Morrison, a native of London- 
derry, Ireland, who emigrated to America 
during the Colonial jjeriod, and settled at 
Bridgewater, Mass., where he followed the 
trade of a general mechanic. His son, Will- 
iam, Mr. Morrison's great-grandfather, mar- 
ried Sarah Montgomery, by whom he became 
the father of four sons — William, Robert, 
John, and James. 

William Morrison, Mr. Morrison's grand- 
father, who was a blacksmith by trade, resided 
for a time in Middleboro, Mass. From there 
he came to the District of Maine in 1805, 
making a settlement in Farmington, wher'e he 
bought two hundred acres of the Sewell tract. 
Here he cleared a farm, erected a large house, 
spent the remainder of his life occupied in 
farming and working at his trade, and died at 
the age of seventy-seven years. He was a 
man of great physical strength and energy. 
He took a broad and liberal view of religious 
subjects, while in politics he supported the 



Whig party. In 1772 he married Hannah 
Benson, with whom he reared a family of 
seven children — Robert, William, John, 
Sally, Betsey," Hannah, and Jane. The 
mother, who attended the Baptist church, 
reached the age of seventy-seven years. 

John Morrison, who was born in Massachu- 
setts, March 3, 1784, assisted his father in 
clearing and improving the farm. He subse- 
quently inherited the property; and he became 
very prosperous as a general farmer and lum- 
berman, owning a half-interest in the saw- 
mills at North Chesterville, then one of the 
principal industries in this locality. He was 
a member of the Board of Selectmen for the 
years 1821 and 1822, and he served with abil- 
ity in other town offices. He maintained a 
lively interest in public affairs and in the in- 
dustrial development of the town until his 
death, which occurred in 1857. He was a 
Universalist in his religious belief, and he 
contributed generously to relieve the necessi- 
ties of the poor and needy. His wife, Sarah, 
who was a daughter of Francis Tufts, Jr., 
became by him the mother of seven children; 
namely, Sarah, John B. , William, Hannah, 
Robert M., Benjamin F. , and Elizabeth C. 
She died in 1852, aged fifty-five years. 

William Morrison acquired his education in 
the town schools, and subsequently learned 
the trade of a blacksmith. He inherited 
thirty acres of the homestead property and 
the old family residence that stood on it. In 
1848 he replaced the residence with a more 
modern and spacious dwelling. In the same 
year he bought an interest in the North Ches- 
terville mills, and engaged in the manufacture 
of lumber. The enterprise was profitable to 
him and beneficial to the work-people of this 
locality. He displayed excellent business 
ability, and' gained in his dealings the reputa- 
tion of an honorable and upright man. His 
prosperity continued unabated throughout his 
long period of activity. Since his retirement 
he has passed his time pleasantly at his farm, 
which he enlarged some years since by the 
purchase of adjoining land. He still superin- 
tends his farm, is remarkably well preserved 
and healthy for one of his years, and is a most 
entertaining conversationalist. He attends 
the L^niversalist church, and is a member of 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



"7 



Franklin Lodge, No. 5.S, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows. 

On December 12, 1S48, Mr. Morrison 
wedded Mrs. Esther H. Woodworth, who was 
born January 3, 18 18, daughter of Stephen 
and Esther (Harris) Allen. She died July 
13, 1862, leaving two sons, as follows: Will- 
iam H., born November 4, 1850; and Joseph 
A., born October 10, 1S52. William H. 
Morrison, who completed his classical course 
at Tufts College in 1875, graduated from the 
Divinity School connected with that institu- 
tion in 1S78, and is now a Universalist minis- 
ter in Manchester, N.H., married Alice N. 
Bickford, and has two children — Grace and 
Harry. Joseph A. Morrison, who is now a 
jeweller in I'ittsfield, Me., married Anna 
Ney, and has three children — Elmer J., 
Esther, and Robert W. 



.HANDLER GARLAND, Deputy 
-^ Sheriff, and a popular resident of 
Paris, Oxford County, was born on 
Paris Hill, November i, 1850, son 
of John L. and Clara (Rawson) Garland, and 
grandson of John L. Garland, Sr. His father 
grew to manhood in Andover and Rumford, this 
county, acquiring his education in the com- 
mon schools of these towns. When a young 
man he came to Paris, purchased a farm, and 
by his industry and upright dealings became 
a successful agriculturist, and earned the re- 
spect of his townsmen. He was a Republican 
in politics, and filled a number of the minor 
town ofifices. He died on March 15, 1893. 
His wife, Clara, now living with her son, 
bore him four children, two sons and two 
daughters. These were: William E., who 
died at the age of seventeen years; Clara E. , 
who is the wife of Charles E. Waterman, the 
editor of the Mechanic Falls Ledi^cr ; Chand- 
ler, the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. Belle 
M. Merrill. 

After acquiring his education, which was 
completed at the South Paris Normal School, 
Chandler Garland entered the printing-office 
of the O.xford Democrat, and there spent three 
years. The business proving uncongenial to 
his tastes, he then abandoned it; and, in com- 
pany with S. U. Hawkes, under the firm name 



of Hawkes & Garland, he started a mercantile 
business at Paris, and continued it for six 
years with good success. Mr. Garland then 
removed to Cambridge, Mass., and openetl a 
grocery store. This he sold out after two 
years, and came to South Paris as book-keeper 
for the Paris Manufacturing Company. He 
was with this firmsi.x years, when the state of 
his health obliged him to seek outdoor em- 
ployment. In 1888 he was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff, in which capacity he received charge 
of the county jail, then, together with the 
court-house, located at Paris Hill. In addi- 
tion to these duties he also discharged those 
of Ta.x Collector and Constable for six years. 
He has been in charge of the new court-house 
and jail at South Paris since they were 
erected, proving himself by his able and care- 
ful management the right man for the place. 

On May 20, 1876, Mr. Garland was united 
in marriage with Miss P"lora E. Whitternore, 
daughter of Albion A. and Sophia (Cole) 
Whittemore. Her father is a well-known 
blacksmith and farmer of Paris. Mr. and 
Mrs. Garland have three daughters, namely: 
Minnie J., born September 29, 1878; Alice 
M., born April 14, 1881; and Mabel S., born 
February 18, 1883, who died May 25, 1884. 
Mr. Garland adheres to the Republican prin- 
ciples in which he was reared. He also con- 
tinues in the religious faith of his father, 
being, like him, a communciant of the Baptist 
church. He is a member of Mount Mica 
Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd 
P'ellows, of South Paris. 




HARLES EDWIN DVICR, keeper of 
the jail and janitor of the Franklin 
County court-house at Farmington, 
was born in New Sharon, Me., No- 
vember 5, [850, son of Dr. Parmenas and 
Hannah W. (Baker) Dyer. Dr. Dyer was 
born May 20, 1822, in Corinna, Penobscot 
County. Ambitious to attain a useful posi- 
tion in life, he eventually accomplished his 
aim through his own personal exertions. By 
observing the most rigid economy he managed 
to complete his preparatory education. Then 
he studied medicine with Dr. Hill, of 
Augusta, and graduated from the Maine Med- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ical School at Brunswick in 1846, having paid 
his expenses with the earnings derived from 
such work as he was able to obtain. The 
first five years of his professional life were 
passed in New Sharon. He then moved to 
Lewiston, where for a time he was engaged in 
editing a newspaper published in Auburn, on 
the opposite side of the river. After the 
office with its contents was destroyed by fire, 
he removed to Leavenworth, Kan., where for 
the succeeding six years he practised medicine 
and surgery, and acted as a government agent 
in looking up farming lands. In 1861 he re- 
turned East, and, settling in F'armington, 
successfully followed iiis [profession until his 
death, which occurred in 1891. His reputa- 
tion was that of a skilful and reliable practi- 
tioner. He is remembered by his numerous 
patients in this locality, who were benefited 
by his careful treatment. In ]3olitics he was 
a Democrat, and in religious belief he was a 
Unitarian. His wife, whom he wedded in 
1847, is a daughter of Colonel D. J. Baker, 
of New Sharon. Her children were: Charles 
E., the subject of this sketch; and Frank, 
who married Josie Farrington, and resides in 
Livermore Falls. She still survives her hus- 
band. 

Charles Edwin Dyer acquired the principal 
part of his education in the schools of I-'arm- 
ington. After completing his studies he 
began life for himself as a workman in a 
tannery. At a later date lie became a clerk in 
a grocery store. Afterward going to Auburn, 
he was for a time employed as clerk in a 
hotel. Returning to this town subsequently, 
he resumed clerking in a grocery store, where 
he continued engaged until September 15, 
1890. He was then appointed keeper of the 
jail. Supreme Court messenger, and janitor of 
the Franklin County court-house, positions 
which he has since filled satisfactorily. The 
county jail, a securely built structure, erected 
in 1887, is carefully kept with a due regard 
for the health of the inmates, among whom 
best of order is maintained. The court-house, 
which was built in 1885, under the direction 
of Messrs. F. \V. Patterson, J. Chick, and 
Samuel K. Wellman, County Commissioners, 
also shows evidence of the care and attention 
it receives at .Mr. Dyer's hands. 



On January 22, 18S7, Mr. Dyer was united 
in marriage to Ella L. Perkins, daughter of 
Orrin Perkins, of Carthage, Me. He is an 
Odd Fellow of high standing, being Past 
Grand of P^ranklin Lodge, No. 58, and Past 
Chief Patriarch of the Sandy River Encamp- 
ment, No. 9. In politics he is a Republican. 
He attends the Baptist church, of which he 
has acted as usher for the past twelve years. 



/STeORGE H. EASTMAN, an enter- 
\ '*) I prising and prosperous farmer and a 
prominent citizen of Lovell, Oxford 
County, Me., was born in this municipality, 
March 9, 1850, his parents being Isaac and 
Katherine (Page) Eastman. 

His father was a son of Phineas Eastman, 
an agriculturist of Lovell, and was one of a 
family of nine children. Isaac Eastman after 
his marriage settled in the southern part of the 
tow-n of Lovell, where he carried on farming, 
and also engaged in Numbering, until his de- 
cease. He married Miss Katherine Page, a 
native of Burlington, Me. ; and they became 
the parents of four children — George H., 
Mellen, Alva, and H. Walter. Mellen East- 
man married Miss Nellie M. Gerry, and they 
now reside with his mother on the old home- 
stead at South Lovell. Alva wedded Miss 
Alice Eastman; and they now make their 
home at St. Cloud, Minn. He is a promi- 
nent man of that city, and is the editor ami 
proprietor of the St. Cloud Journal Pirss. 
H. Walter Eastman still resides in his native 
town, and is engaged in general farming. 
Mr. Isaac Eastman passed away in December, 
1895. 

George H. Eastman grew to manhood on 
the paternal estate, obtaining his education in 
the common schools of Lovell and in the 
Bethel and Fryeburg Academy. At the age of 
twenty-one he began to teach ; and for about 
six years he had charge of the district scliooLs 
in Lovell, North Waterford, and Fryeburg. 
During that time he married; and soon after 
he assumed charge of the homestead of his 
father-in-law, which was known as the 
Pottle farm. On this estate, now embrac- 
ing about two hundred and twenty-five acres, 
which he has very much improved during his 




HARLAN P. DENNISON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



proprietorship, he is successfully engaged in 
general agricultural [nirsuits, devoting less at- 
tention, however, to stock raising and dairy- 
ing than to the cultivation of the land. 

On November 14, 1874, Mr. Eastman mar- 
rietl Miss Lizzie M. Pottle, a native of Lovell 
and one of the five children of the Rev. John 
S. and Mrs. Nancy II. (Hamblen) Pottle, to 
whom she was born May 17, 1851. Mr. 
Pottle was a native of Stratham, N.H., and 
his wife of Limington, Me. Prior to his 
marriage he removed to Stoneham, Me., where 
he resided about four years, changing his 
home then to Lovell, settling on a farm near 
the centre of that town. He conducted hus- 
bandry thereon until 1850, when he located on 
the estate now occupied by his son-in-law, 
Mr. Eastman, and on which he resided until 
his decease. The Rev. John S. Pottle and his 
wife became the jxirents of five children, 
namely: Albanes M.; Lizzie M., now Mrs. 
Eastman; P"rancina; Lydia H. ; and Carrie 
M. Albanes M. Pottle, who still resides in 
Lovell, and is engaged in farming and teach- 
ing, married for his first wife Miss Nellie H. 
Heald, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abel 
Heald, of Lovell, and after her death wedded 
Miss Mary Heald, a native of Lovell ; Francina 
Pottle is now the wife of C. Adelbert Heath, 
who is a dealer in dry goods at Brayton, la. ; 
Lydia lives at Lovell as the wife of Henry W. 
Palmer, who prosecutes there farming and car- 
pentering and also the blacksmith trade; 
Carrie is now Mrs. Ezra Heald, whose hus- 
band is a farmer of Stow, Me. Mr. Pottle de- 
parted this life on January 10, i8g2. His 
wife still survives, residing with her daughter, 
Mrs. Eastman. 

Mr. Eastman is one of the most influential 
citizens of Lovell, though he has never been a 
solicitor for public ofifice. He takes a leading 
part in town and county enterprises, and is an 
earnest advocate of every wise project looking 
to the welfare and advancement of the com- 
munity. For two years he officiated as Super- 
visor in Lovell. Mr. Eastman is in affiliation 
with Kezar Valley Lodge, No. 66, of the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows, located in 
Lovell. His political views bring him into 
fellowship with the Republican party, to 
which he has always given his allegiance. 



Both he and his wife are members of the 
Christian Church of Lovell Centre. Mr. 
Eastman is of a genial disposition, and he 
commands the respect and confidence of a 
broad circle of acquaintances. 



r^TARLAN P. DENNISON, of South 
r^\ Paris, Me., the Treasurer of the 

|ls I Paris Manufacturing Company, is 

one of those men who have made 
American enterprise proverbial throughout the 
world. He is a native of Freeport, IVIe., born 
April 10, 1849, son of Joseph and Caroline 
(Blackstone) Dennison. Joseph Dennison 
was a leading farmer of P"reeport, where he 
died in 1862, when fifty-eight years old. His 
wife, Caroline, bore him five children, of 
whom one died in infancy. The others, who 
all attained maturity, were: Hannah, Ann J., 
Harlan, and Lucilla. The mother lived until 
I 89 1, reaching the age of seventy-two years. 

Harlan P. Dennison, left fatherless at the 
age of thirteen, was then obliged to aid in 
maintaining the family by going to work in a 
shoe factory. Possessed of a natural aptitude 
for any mechanical labor requiring skill, he 
learned the trade quickly, and was soon earn- 
ing wages that caused him to be looked to as 
the chief support of his mother and sisters. 
Subsequently, becoming expert in the work of 
all the departments, he demanded and ob- 
tained the highest remuneration paid. When 
thirty years old he joined the firm of Denni- 
son & Lamont, manufacturers of boots and 
shoes in Freeport. Shortly after he bought 
out his partner, and conducted the establish- 
ment alone for a brief period. Then he took 
R. A. Lewis into partnership, the business 
being carried on for four years under the name 
of Dennison & Lewis. Again he became 
sole proprietor by purchasing his partner's in- 
terest; and in the ensuing years he made 
shoes, principally ladies' hand-turned shoes, 
at the rate of thirty-five thousand pairs per 
year. In 1891 he came to South Paris to 
settle, as e.xecutor, the estate of his father-in- 
law, who had recently died. This work 
brought him into relations with the Paris 
Manufacturing Company, of which the father- 
in-law had been a shareholder at his death to 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



the amount of eighty-four thousand dollars, 
and finally led him to abandon the manufact- 
ure of shoes and invest largely in that com- 
pany's stock. At the same time he took up 
his residence in South Paris. In the follow- 
ing year he was elected Trustee of the com- 
pany, and thenceforth he became more and 
more identified with its interests. 

The business of the company was first 
started in 1S70 at Paris Hill, under the man- 
agement of H. F. Morton and G. B. Crocker, 
with capital raised by the people of the town. 
In 1883 a new and more commodious building 
was erected in South Paris, and the plant re- 
moved hither. Two years after it was de- 
stroyed by an accidental fire, but no time was 
lost in rebuilding. The structure covers an 
area of thirty-nine thousand square feet, has a 
height varying from one to two and a half 
stories, and is furnishetl with the best and 
most improved machinery, all of which is 
operated by steam-power. In tlie large store- 
house adjoining and in several others in the 
village the manufactured goods are kept in 
readiness for shipping. Over two hundred 
hands are employed, including a number of 
the best mechanics in special departments. 
The articles made here are hand-carts, car- 
riages, sleds, sleighs, desks, chairs, step- 
ladders, and so forth, for which the timber is 
bought in the log, and afterward cut and kiln- 
dried on the premises. It is claimed that no 
other factory in the country produces these 
goods in such large quantities or of so high a 
quality. The company supplies an extensive 
territory, within which it fears no competi- 
tors. Every year for some time past it has 
been obliged to run the factory for a season at 
night as well as day to keep even with its 
orders. 

In 1872, October 2, Mr. Dennison was 
united in matrimony with Miss Esther Gush- 
ing, daughter of Gharles and Martha (Brewer) 
Gushing. Mr. Gushing, who was a native of 
Freeport, in his youth learned the trade of 
carpenter and joiner, which he followed for a 
number of years. Subsequently he became 
associated with the firm of Briggs, Gushing 
& Means, of Ereeport, with whom he built 
several noted vessels, including the "Nor- 
wegian,'" "Oasis," "John De Ca.ster." "Gen- 



eral Eairchilds," and the "Wilna." He con- 
tinued in the ship-building business until 
1885, when he retired from active occupation. 
He first became interested in the Paris Manu- 
facturing Gompany in 1878. Afterward he 
continued to buy shares until he was the larg- 
est stockholder of the company. He died in 
1892, aged seventy-two years. Mr. Dennison 
and his wife have three children, namely: H. 
Walter, born June 27, 1874; Gharles P. and 
Martha E. (twins), born September 18, 1878. 
H. Walter Dennison married Madge Stuart, 
and is the book-keeper of the Paris Manufact- 
uring Gompany. Both parents are members 
of the Baptist church. When a resident of 
Freeport, Mr. Dennison was Selectman of the 
town for a time. He is Ghancellor Gom- 
mander, Hamlin Lodge, Knights of Pythias, 
and Treasurer of the local Board of Trade. 




EZEKIAH G. MASON, an e.x- 
soldier of the Army of the Republic, 
who at the close of the war with 
the South gladly exchanged rifle and 
cartridge-box for plough-share and spade, and 
was thereafter for a number of years actively 
engaged in farming in the town of Mason, is 
now virtually retired from active pursuits. 
He was born here, March 2S, 1835, his parents 
being Artemas and Betsey (Bartlett) Mason. 

Artemas Mason was a native of Gilead, O.x- 
ford Gounty, and spent the early years of his 
life on a farm in that town. Goming to 
Mason when a young man, he purchased a 
farm, on which he spent the remainder of his 
life. Naturally energetic and industrious, by 
careful management he was able not only to 
support his family in comfort, but to lay by 
for the days of enforced idleness. From the 
formation of the Republican party he was one 
of its stanch supporters. He served as Select- 
man of Mason several years. His wife, whose 
maiden name was ]?etsey Bartlett, was born 
in Gumberland Gounty, Maine. P'or her first 
husband she married Hezekiah Grover, who 
died leaving her with two children — Amos 
A., residing in Norway; and Mehitabel J., 
wife of E. G. Wheeler. Three children were 
born of her union with Mr. Artemas Mason, 
of whom Minerva Ann died at twentv-eiirht 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



123 



years of age, and Francis at seventeen, the 
only survivor being Hezekiah G., of this 
sketch. Artemas Mason died at eighty-three 
years of age, and Mrs. Mason in middle life. 
Both were members of the Congregational 
church. 

Hezekiah G. Mason lived at home until 
some time after the outbreak of the Civil 
War. In 1863 he enlisted in the Seventh 
Maine Battery, with which he went out as a 
private, and was gone about two years, most 
of the time being spent in Virginia, the seat 
of many of the severest battles of the war. 
Among those in which he participated were 
the battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, 
Petersburg, and Spottsylvania, besides many 
smaller engagements. At Petersburg he was 
wounded in the left hand, and for two months 
he was in the hospital at Washington. At 
the close of the war Mr. Mason returned home, 
and engaged in agriculture on the farm where 
he has since resided. He has, however, re- 
cently sold the farm to his son-in-law, Ernest 
Morrill: but he continues to live here, having 
laid by ample means for all his requirements. 

On January 2, 1861, Mr. Mason was married 
to Miss Susanna Watson, of Norway. She 
died January 20, 1879, leaving three children, 
namely: Luella, wife of Rufus Morrill, of 
Norway Lake, Me.; Willard H.; and 15etsey 
B., the wife of Ernest Morrill. The Republi- 
can party has in Mr. Mason a loyal supporter. 
He is a member of Pleasant Valley Grange of 
West Bethel and of G. Brown Post, No. 84, 
Grand Army of the Republic, of Bethel. 




JDWIN SAWYER, an ex-member of the 
Maine legislature, now living in retire- 
ment at West Farmington, was born 
July 5, 1 83 1, in Temple, this county, son of 
Nathaniel and Polly (Richards) Sawyer. Mr. 
Sawyer's father, who was a native of Hancock, 
N.H., resided there until he was eleven years 
old, when he accompanied Thomas Russell 
to Temple, and worked for him as a farm as- 
sistant for ten years. He then entered the 
employ of Benjamin Abbott, with whom he 
remained for the same length of time. After 
that he purchased a tract of land that included 
three small clearings, and engaged in farming 



on his own account. In time, ijy perseverance 
and hard work, he became the owner of three 
hundred acres of fertile land, most of which 
was cleared for tillage purposes. Through his 
unabated toil and the assistance of his sons he 
accumulated a competency sufficient to insure 
a comfortable subsistence for his declining 
years. He passed his last days in retirement, 
and died at the age of eighty-five years. Be- 
sides an unusual amount of energy he pos- 
sessed extraordinary physical strength. He 
has left a monument of his industry in a stone 
wall sixteen feet broad and five feet high, 
which still stands upon the farm. His kind 
and agreeable disposition, besides endearing 
him to his family, made him a general favorite 
with his neighbors. In politics he supported 
the Democratic party, while his religious 
views were liberal. His wife, Polly, who was 
a daughter of Mitchell Richards, bore Iiim 
nine children; namely, Mary, Pamelia, Leon- 
ard, Albion K., Abiel, Sophia A., Dennis, 
Edwin, and Phirilla. All of them attained 
maturity, and several are still living. The 
mother died at the age of seventy years. 

Edwin .Sawyer was educated in the town 
schools. At an early age he began to assist 
his father in carrying on the farm. He re- 
sided with his parents until he reached the 
age of twenty-seven years, when he bought a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in his na- 
tive town. Here he entered upon the life of 
an independent farmer with a spirit of deter- 
mination that foreshadowed the success he has 
achieved. He set out a fine orchard, com- 
pletely remodelled the buildings, and made 
other improvements which greatly added to 
the convenience, as well as to the value, of 
his property. For many years he was con- 
sidered one of the ablest and most successful 
agriculturists in the town of Temple. In poli- 
tics he is an active supporter of the Republi- 
can party, and his prominence in public 
affairs has been the means of creating for him 
an extended acquaintanceship throughout this 
section of the county. For ten years he 
served as a member of the Board of Select- 
men. He was Town Treasurer for eight 
years; and he represented his district with 
marked ability in the legislature during the 
years 1879 ^"^ 1880. 



124 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



On March 27, 1S59, ^^^- Sawyer wedded 
Aphia J., daughter of Warren and Lucy 
Voter, who represented an old and progressive 
family of Farmington. Mrs. Sawyer, who iias 
in a great measure contributed to her hus- 
band's advancement, is the mother of four 
children, as follows: George E , born January 
16, i860, who died June 3, 1865; Persia E., 
born September 3, 1861, who is now the wife 
of Charles R. Hall, an extensive farmer and 
stock dealer of Wilton, and has two children 
— Edwin S. and Orie L. ; Ernest G., born 
February 17, 1867, who died July 18, 1873; 
and Bernice E., born May 20, 1876, who is 
now the wife of Charles B. Goodwin, of 
Livermore F~alls. Retiring from active labor 
in 1896, Mr. Sawyer sold his property to Mrs. 
Harriet F. Cony, and moved to West Farm- 
ington, where he bought the Greenwood stand, 
one of the best and most desirably located 
residences in the village. Here he is passing 
his time in comparative leisure after a busy 
and successful career. He has always pos- 
sessed a robust constitution; and, with the ex- 
ception of rheumatism, contracted through hard 
work, he enjoys good health, and is as active 
as a much younger man. 




"ENRV W. PARK, a prosperous mer- 
chant in the village of Mexico, Ox- 
ford County, Me., is widely and 
favorably known in these parts, 
having long been prominent, not only as a 
successful business man, but as a political 
leader in the Republican ranks and as one of 
the town officers. He was born in Dixfield, 
the town adjoining Mexico on the east, on 
March 13, 1834, son of Isaac and Emeline 
(Smith) Park. 

Isaac Park was born at the residence of his 
parents, near the corner of Franklin Street, 
Boston, Mass. After attending school in 
that city until he was fourteen years of age, 
he went to Newton, Mass., to learn the trade 
of carpenter. Going with his employer soon 
after to Paris, Me., he there remained until 
the completion of his apprenticeship, when he 
removed to Dixfield, to work at his trade. 
He served as Captain of the old .State militia, 
and officiated for nearly twenty years as 



Sheriff, being subsequently a member of the 
legislature. In politics he attained honor 
and distinction in the ranks of the Demo- 
cratic party. Captain Park was a public-spir- 
ited citizen and a man of liberal views, being 
in religion a Universalist. His busy career 
was ended by death at the age of fifty-seven. 
His wife, Emeline, who shared his cheerful 
religious faith, was a daughter of John Smith, 
of Readfield, Kennebec County, Me. She 
died at the home of her son, Henry W. Park, 
on January 28, 1878, at the age of seventy-two 
years. 

Henry W. Park was the eldest of the three 
children born to his parents. He spent his 
early life at home, attending the common 
school and later the high school in the vil- 
lage until the age of fifteen, and during the 
next three years being employed in his father's 
general merchandise store in Carthage, Frank- 
lin County, Me. When he was eighteen he 
went to Boston, there serving four years as 
salesman in a clothing house. After his 
father died he returned to Dixfield, and 
worked at the carpenter's trade till 1859, -when 
he came to Mexico, and rented a farm. The 
following year he moved to Mexico Corner, 
where he now resides. In March, 1S61, Mr. 
Park purchased the store that he now- owns, 
continuing in trade until the early part of 
1S64, when he sold out and went to Washing- 
ton, D.C. , where he served as clerk of the 
Ordnance Department until the close of the 
war. Returning to Mexico in July, 1865, he 
bought back his old store at the corner, and 
revived his trade, which is now (1896) in a 
flourishing condition. 

In politics Mr. Park is a decided Republi- 
can, ever alive to party interests. His high 
standing in the estimation of his fellow-citi; 
zens is shown by his frequent election to 
important offices. He has served as Crier of 
the Courts four years, Selectman of Mexico 
three years. Town Treasurer twenty-five con- 
secutive years, and in 1875 he was Represent- 
ative to the State legislature. He has been 
for twenty-one years a member of Blazing Star 
Lodge, No. 30,' A. F. & A. M., of Rumford 
Falls; and he is a charter member of Tuscan 
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd F"ellows, of 
Dixfield, which he named at the time of its 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



organization. Besides being a store-keeper, 
Mr. Park is an active temperance worker and 
an able correspondent of the local papers. It 
is hardly needful to add that he has an exten- 
sive acquaintance and a large circle of excel- 
lent friends. 

Mr. Park has been three times married. 
His first wife, I':ilen R. Phelps, of Dixfield, 
with whom he was united in June, 1857, died 
in August, 1X62, leaving two children — Al- 
bert Dexter, who is now Register of Probate 
for Oxford County: and Henrietta, who mar- 
ried John ]'.. Richards, and resides here. His 
second wife, formerly Miss Ellen C. Reed, of 
this place, whom he wedded on July 3, 1865, 
died in January, 1875, leaving one son, Ellery 
C, who became a lawyer in Bethel, Me. The 
maiden name of his present wife, to whom he 
was married in August, 1875, ^^''^s i*2nna L. 
Gleason. F"our children have been born to 
them, namely: Helena O. and Lucy E., both 
of whom are teachers; and Henry \V. , Jr., 
and Eva Grace, who are still at home. .Mrs. 
Park is a native of Mexico, Me. 



-ERE H. WINSLOW, a retired farmer 
and cattle dealer of South Paris, Oxford 
County, Me., was born in the town of 
Paris, January 18, 1823, son of Jacob 
and Betsey (Pratt) Winslow. Mr. Winslovv's 
father was a native of Fryeburg, Me., where 
lie was brought up in the family of a Mr. 
Hutchins; and in young manhood he settled 
upon a tract of unimproved land in Paris. He 
cleared a portion of his property into a good 
farm, which he cultivated during the rest of 
his active period. His wife died in 1869; 
and he spent his last days at the home of his 
son, Luther P., where he died in 1877, aged 
eightytruine years. He was an energetic, 
hard-working man: and he was highly re- 
spected as a worthy citizen. In politics he 
was originally a Democrat, later supporting 
the Republican party. He was an attendant 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. His 
wife, Betsey I'ratt, was a daughter of Luther 
Pratt, who came from Middleboro, Mass., to 
Paris, and was among the most enterprising 
and progressive of the early settlers of this 
town. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Winslow had 



three children, namely: Luther P.; Albert; 
and Jere H., subject of this sketch, who was 
the youngest-born. 

Jere H. Winslow resided at home until he 
was nineteen years old, when he went to Mas- 
sachusetts, and engaged in farming and team- 
ing. Being a strong and capable man, he re- 
ceived good wages wherever he worked, always 
giving satisfaction, remaining in one place 
until a better one presented itself; and by 
carefully saving his earnings he at length 
amassed a sufficient sum to make a start in 
life for himself. His father being already 
well advanced in years, Mr. Winslow re- 
turned to his native town to care for his par- 
ents, and here engaged in farming on his own 
account. He advanced rapidly in prosperity, 
from time to time adding more land to his 
possessions; and he improved the homestead 
farm by rebuilding the house and erecting two 
new barns. Dealing in cattle was his prin- 
cipal pursuit for many years; and in that 
business he realized financial success, buying 
good stock, and selling it on time to farmers 
in this vicinity. He has also carried on lum- 
bering operations to some extent with profit- 
able results, and, being naturally of a stirring 
and energetic disposition, has never lost an 
opportunity to advance his material interests. 
Besides his original estate he bought two other 
farms. 

In 1877, selling his farms in Paris, with 
the intention of retiring permanently from ac- 
tive labor, he bought the Samuel Deering 
place, situated on High Street in .South Paris; 
and he has since enlarged and remodelled the 
buildings, and otherwise improved this prop- 
erty. He has erected two houses upon his 
large lot here for investment purposes, one 
double and the other a single tenement, which 
yield him a good income. His early-ac- 
quired habits of activity preventing him even 
now from being idle, he still keeps bu.sy at 
some useful employment. During the past 
winter, 1895 and 1896, he sawed and pre- 
pared seventeen cords of wood, "just to pass 
away the time," as he expresses it. It is 
scarcely needful to say that he enjoys good 
health. He has considerable capital invested 
in financial enterprises, has been a Director of 
the Paris Savings Bank and a Trustee of the 



126 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Oxford County Fair, and is well known as one 
of the substantial residents of this section. 

On May i, 1853, Mr. VVinslow was united 
in marriage with Lucetta M. Swan, a daugh- 
ter of William, Jr., and Hannah (Locke) 
Swan. Mrs. Winslow's father was born in 
Paris, May 18, 1792, and, when a young man, 
settled upon a farm in Woodstock. He finally 
returned to his native town, where he long 
continued to till the soil. His death took 
place at the advanced age of ninety-one 
years. He was held in high esteem by his 
fellow-townsmen as an active, intelligent, and 
progressive citizen. He married Hannah 
Locke; and their children were: Lodiska, 
Urania, Lucetta E., William R., Leander S., 
Lucetta ]\L, and Hannah E. The mother 
died at the age of si.xty-one years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Winslow have had three chil- 
dren, as follows: Ella J., who was born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1856, married Franklin Burbank, 
an architect and builder, and has one son, 
Frank W., born March 6, 1886; Lizzie A., 
who was born July 19, 1859: and Nellie, who 
was born February i, 1867, and died July 1, 
1889. 

As a man of good judgment in financial 
matters and of recognized integrity, Mr. Wins- 
low commands the esteem and confidence of 
his fellow-townspeople; and he has been 
employed to settle several estates. In poli- 
tics he has always been a Republican since 
the formation of the party, and both he and 
his wife are Methodists in their religious 
views. 




lAI'TAIN SILAS D. PERHAM, of 
Farmington, Me., a progressive and 
prosperous farmer, was born at his 
present home, August 6, 1814, the 
son of Silas and Hannah (Jennings) Perham. 
He is of the fifth generation of his family in 
this country, the first having jjeen represented 
by John Perham, an Englishman, who settled 
in Chelmsford, Mass., and whose son, John, 
Jr., was Captain Perham's great-grandfather. 

The next in line, Lemuel Perham, fourth 
son of John, Jr., was born near Dunstable, 
Mass., in 1727. He served in the French 
and Indian War and the RevoUrtionarv War 



while living in Massachusetts; and shortly 
after the close of the Revolution he accom- 
panied his son Silas to Farmington, where he 
died in 1795. His wife's name was Mary 
Butterfield. .Silas Perham, Captain Perham's 
father, was born in Dunstable, Mass., P"ebru- 
ary 10, 1770. In the spring of 1787, when 
only seventeen years of age, he took up lot 
No. 24 in the township of Farmington, the 
site of Captain Perham's present home, made 
a clearing, built a log house, and planted a 
crop. The following winter he returned to 
Massachusetts for the rest of the family ; and 
the father, mother, and children made the 
long journey hither on a sled, with one pair 
of oxen and a horse. They were twenty-three 
days on the way, stopping in woods to cook 
their simjjle meals, which, perchance, w-ere 
often augmented by a fresh-caught fish or 
some wild game. There were few roads, and 
the route was mostly traced by blazed trees. 
We can imagine the pride of the youthful 
pioneer as the little caravan drew up at last 
before his log cabin, and gazed with delight 
on what he had accomplished, and the sense of 
restful ownership with which they slept that 
night under the primitive roof. Father and 
son were soon busily at work, felling the 
heavy hemlock, maple, and beech, some of 
which they burned to enrich the ground; and 
before long they had one of the best farms in 
the township. Silas Perham was a carpenter 
by trade, and in course of time he erected 
frame buildings in place of the early log 
house and barn. He was a man of large, 
strong frame, and was a tireless worker. P'or 
some years he was connected with the militia, 
and commanded the North Company of Infan- 
try. In politics he was a Democrat, in relig- 
ious belief a Free Will Baptist. He died at 
the age of seventy-four. His wife, who was a 
daughter of Eliphalet Jennings, of I-^arming- 
ton, died at the age of fifty-one. They had 
two children — John F., born April 11, 1808, 
who died in California in 1880 ; and Silas 
D., of P'armington, now to be further men- 
tioned. 

Silas D. Perham received a good education 
in his childhood and youth, attending the 
public schools and Farmington Academy. 
He remained on the home farm, and proceeded 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



with the work of its development, clearing the 
land from which his father had cut the timber, 
and evolving valuable pasture and tillage from 
rough fields. He set out a fine orchard; and 
he also purchased more lanil, so that his estate 
now includes two hundred acres. In 1865 he 
built a large house, and he has also erected a 
fine barn. Probably no man in Farmington 
has labored harder or longer than Captain 
Perham ; and \'et in his eighty-second year he 
is straight as an arrow, and is still at work. 

He was married February 2, 1837, to Mary 
Ann, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Hobbs, of 
Industry, Me. P'ive children blessed this 
union, namely: Hannah, born January 20, 
[838, whose filial love and devotion have kept 
her in the home of her infancy, caring for her 
father and mother in their declining years; 
Joseph H., born October 17, 1842, who mar- 
ried Miss Mary S. Norton, and is a prosperous 
citizen, owning a farm in this town; Geor- 
giana, who lived but two years; Silas A., who 
died in infancy; and Silas F., born July 11, 
1850. Mrs. Mary A. Perham died May 13, 
1874, aged si.xty years. In early life Captain 
Perham was a Democrat ; but when the Re- 
publican party was formed he was one of the 
delegates to the convention at Strong, and 
since that time he has supported the Republi- 
can platform. In religious belief he is a I'ree 
Will Baptist. 




L15I0N P. MARSH, a former business 
man of Di.xfield, now retired, was 
burn here, August 8, 1823, son of 
David and Asenath (Parks) Marsh. 
The first ancestor of the family in America 
was John Marsh, who emigrated from England 
in 1634, and settled in Massachusetts. He 
followed the trade of a wool-carder or weaver, 
and died November 16, 1673. In 1635 he 
married Susanna Skelton, and with her subse- 
quently reared a family of eleven children. 
Andrew Marsh, grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, was born in Sutton, Mass., June 
2, 1769. He was an early settler of Dixfield, 
where, after clearing a farm, he spent the rest 
of his life occupied in its cultivation. On 
April 9, 178S, he married Rebecca Stone, of 
whose children by him there were reared John, 



Nancy, David, Joshua, and Lawson, none of 
whom are living. 

David Marsh, Mr. Marsh's father, also a 
native of Sutton, born May 19, 1792, was 
quite young when his parents mo\ed to Dix- 
field. In early manhood he engaged in log- 
ging to some extent, and was also a teamster. 
He eventually turned his attention to farming, 
which he followed with energy and success 
for the rest of his active period; and he died 
February 27, 1867. He was liberal in his 
views of religious matters, and in politics 
he supported the Republican party in the 
latter part nf his life. His wife, Asenath, 
who was born April 19, 1796, bore him six 
sons and six daughters, all of whom grew to 
maturity. Five are living; namely, Albion 
P., Liva L., Mattie L., Annette, and Ma- 
tilda. The others were: Andrew, Caleb, 
Leonora, Pauline, David M. , Jerome, and 
Chestina. The mother died in September, 
1882. 

Albion P. Marsh was educateil in the dis- 
trict schools, and resided at home until he 
was twenty-one years old. He then went to 
Rhode Island, where he was for a time em- 
ployed at a chemical manufactory. From 
there he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was 
there similar!)- engaged with his brother, 
David M.. for ten years. I<"ailing health 
caused him to relinquish that occupation ; and, 
returning to his native State, he became a 
dealer in country produce in Weld. Having 
done a large and successful business at this for 
several years, he retired, and has since resided 
in Dixfiekl. 

Mr. Marsh has been three times mai'ried. 
His present wife, in maidenhood Matilda D. 
Newton, whom he wedded in 1S70, is a daugh- 
ter of Burleigh and Sarah Newton, of this 
town. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have had five 
children — Norman D., Chestina, Harry B., 
LutieM. , and Owen. The last-named lived 
but one year. In politics Mr. Marsh is a free 
coinage Democrat. He has been quite promi- 
nent in local affairs, having taken a deep inter- 
est in educational matters, and having served 
the town as Collector. He is a member of 
King Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; and his 
social relations are of the pleasantest char- 
acter. The family occupies one of the hand- 



t28 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



somest residences in the village, and its mem- 
bers are respected as worthy representatives of 
one of the old and reputable families. 




'RED A. PORTER, Sheriff of Oxford 
County, who resides upon a large farm 
in Runiford Falls, was born in Rox- 
bury, Me., December 30, 1850, son of Will- 
iam V. and Eliza M. (Taylor) Porter. His 
grandfather, F"rancis Porter, was an early set- 
tler of Roxbury, where he owned a good farm 
reclaimed by him from the wilderness, and re- 
sided for the rest of his life. William V. 
Porter, a native of Roxbury, was reared in 
that place. In young manhood he went to 
Boston, and was there employed as clerk in a 
store for a few years. He afterward returned 
to his native town, and followed agriculture 
successfully until his death, which happened 
when he was fifty-eight years old. He was a 
Democrat in politics, and he served for many 
years as a member of the Board of Selectmen 
in Roxbury. His wife, Eliza, who was also 
born in Roxbury, still active and well pre- 
served at the age of eighty years, resides in 
Rumford I'alls. 

Fred A. Porter in his boyhood attended the 
common and high schools of his neighbor- 
hood. In young manhood he went to Wis- 
consin, where he worked upon a farm for a 
year. He then returned East, and, settling 
in Chelsea, Mass., was there employed as a 
clerk in a dry-goods store for nine years. On 
account of poor health he relinquished mer- 
cantile occupations, and, returning to Oxford 
County, bought his present farm of five hun- 
dred and fifty acres in this town, where he 
has since resided. He carried on general 
farming and lumbering until 1S92, when he 
was appointed Deputy Sheriff. Since that 
time he has devoted his attention to his public 
duties. He was one of the first to clear land 
upon the site of the present thriving settle- 
ment of Rumford P'alls; and his property, 
which adjoins the village, is now quite valu- 
able. 

On April 22, 1S77, Mr. Porter wedded 
Mary E. Green, of Rumford, and now has two 
sons — Fred A., Jr., and Charles N. In pol- 
itics Mr. Porter is a stanch Republican and a 



leading spirit in the politics of this locality. 
He was for seven years a member of the Board 
of Selectmen, and he has been Tax Collector 
of the town. His appointment to the office of 
Deputy Sheriff was made when the town was 
incorporated, and he served in that capacity 
until elected High Sheriff of the county. In 
this responsible position he has shown a thor- 
ough com])etence, and has given full satisfac- 
tion. He is the present -Secretary of Blazing 
Star Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M. ; a mem- 
ber of Rumford Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, 
of this town; Noble Grand of Penacook 
Lodge, No. 130, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows: and a member of Metalluc Lodge, 
No. 99, Knights of Pythias. His prominence 
in public affairs has gained for him a large ac- 
quaintanceship and much popularity through- 
out the county. 



M 



AGGETT BROTHERS, ALBERT 
AND WASHINGTON L., enter- 
prising general merchants and 
prominent citizens of Strong, are 
natives of New Vineyard, in P"ranklin County. 
Albert was born June 13, 1827, and Washing- 
ton L. was born May 6, 1835. Their parents 
were Captain Plamentin and Hannah (Snow) 
Daggett, the former of whom was born in In- 
dustry, Me., May 5, 1795, and the latter in 
New Vineyard, September 12, 1799. 

Peter Daggett, the father of Plamentin Dag- 
gett, was a native of Martha's \'ineyard, 
Mass., where he was born January 17, 1770. 
He located at New Vineyard in 1793, being 
the first member of the Daggett family to 
settle in this county. Five years later he 
moved to Industry, where he settled upon what 
is now known as the Lowell strip farm, and 
erected the first frame residence in the town. 
A well-to-do farmer, he died at his home in 
Industry on November 5, 1833. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Damaris Luce, died 
August 3, 1810. 

Their son, Plamentin Daggett, served as a 
soldier in the War of 1812, and in young 
manhood settled in New Vineyard, where he 
cleared and improved a farm. He followed 
agricultural pursuits in connection with the 
carpenter's trade, and became identified with 



HIOGRAPHICAL RF.VIKW 



1:9 



the early growth and develoj^ment of the town 
and its political affairs. He held various 
town offices, to which he was first elected by 
the Democratic party. He later cast one of 
tiie first votes in his town in favor of the Free 
Soil party, and he was a member of the con- 
vention which met in .Strong for the purpose 
of organizing the Republican party in this lo- 
cality. He was prominent in the early State 
militia, in which he served for several years 
as a commissioned officer; and as Commander 
of the New Vineyard Light Infantry the 
name of Captain Plamentin Daggett was long 
a familiar one in connection with the military 
affairs of Franklin Count)-. In 1.S62 he re- 
moved to .Strong; and he died in this town, 
March 28, 1866. In his religious belief he 
was a Methodist. 

His wife, Hannah Snow, who was a woman 
of unusual ability and force of character, be- 
came the mother of six children, as follows: 
Fzekiel Snow, who was born February 7, 
1833, and died February 25, 1858: Plamentin, 
Jr., who was born May 3, 1825, marrietl 
Nancy T. Vining, of Strong, and died Decem- 
ber 12, 1884; Albert, of the firm of Daggett 
Hrothers, of Strong: Oliver Cromwell, who 
was born April 20, 1830, and died April 3, 
1847; Washington L., also of the firm of 
Daggett Brothers; and Hannah Snow, who 
was born January 14, 1839, and is the wife of 
George \V. Luce, a retired jeweller of Colum- 
bus, Ohio. Mrs. Hannah Snow Daggett died 
in 1862. 

Albert Daggett, senior member of the firm 
of Daggett I^rothers, acc[uired his education in 
the common schools of his native town and the 
high schools in this county. When a young 
man he taught school for a time, and then set- 
tled upon a piece of agricultural property in 
Farmington. In 1863 he removed to .Strong; 
and in the following year he went to Mari- 
|iosa County, California, and from there to 
Nevada. After spending a year and a half in 
the mining district he returned to Strong, and, 
in company with his brother, engaged in gen- 
eral mercantile business. His business abil- 
ity has been fully demonstrated; and aside 
from this he possesses a natural genius for 
mechanics, which he has recently turned to 
good account by inventing a machine known 



as the Daggett road rake. His model, which 
was patented on January 28, 1896, is con- 
structed for the purpose of cleaning streets 
and roads and removing loose obstructions. 
It is shaped like a snow-plough, but has 
spring steel teeth, and is i)elieved to be the 
best and most feasible machine of its kind yet 
inventeil. 

For his first wife Albert Daggett weddetl 
Sarah M. Porter, of Strong, who died May 3, 
1886. By this union there were three chil- 
dren — Willie, who died at the age of two 
years; Minnie W. and another child, both of 
whom died in infancy. His present wife was 
before marriage Ada Eldora Pottle. She was 
born in Freeman, Me., December 23, 1853, 
daughter of the late Jeremiah Pottle, a pros- 
perous farmer of Strong and formerly a mem- 
ber of the Board of Selectmen and many years 
Town Treasurer. Mr. Daggett is a Republi- 
can in politics, and he and Mrs. Daggett are 
active members of the Methodist lilpiscopal 
church. 

Washington L. Daggett attended the com- 
mon schools of New Vineyard, where he ac- 
quired a good knowledge of the elementary 
branches of learning. He later attended the 
Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, 
where he pursued more advanced studies; and 
for eight years thereafter he was engaged in 
teaching school. During the Civil War he 
was drafted for service, and, being ordered to 
the paymaster's department, served in that 
ofifice in Portland for some nine months. He 
then taught school in Strong for one winter, 
after which he entered a mercantile establish- 
ment as a clerk; and a year later he. in com- 
pany with his brother, bought out the business, 
thus establishing the firm of Daggett Brothers. 
In 1886 their store was destroyed by fire; but 
a portion of the stock was saved, and, moving 
into their present building, they have since 
continued to do a large and profitable busi- 
ness. They carry a varied line of groceries 
and dry goods; and, as the\' are widely and 
favorably known as honorable, upright men 
and reliable merchants, they have a numerous 
and steady patronage. 

On September 20, 1868, Washington L. 
Daggett was united in marriage with Reliance 
C. Dickey. She was born in Avon, Me., Oc- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



tober zj^ 1841, daughter of the late John 
Dickey, of that town, and a niece of the well- 
known Major Dickey, of Fort Kent. 

In politics Mr. Daggett acts with tiie Re- 
publican party. He was a Representative to 
the legislature in 1870, and for nine years he 
served with ability as Town Clerk. He is 
one of the best-known and most active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church here, 
and has also acquired a high reputation 
throughout the State for his interest and 
efficiency in church and Sunday-school work. 
He is probably the oldest Sunday-school 
superintendent in Maine at the present time, 
is a leading spirit in the State department of 
church work, and has been President of the 
Franklin County Sunday-school Association 
for over ten years. For three years he has 
served as County Secretary of the Maine 
State Sunday-school Association, during which 
time he was accorded high honor for having 
furnished the model annual report. He is a 
forcible speaker, and in response to urgent in- 
vitations has lectured upon Sunday-school 
work before county and State societies and 
other important gatherings, and, aside from 
his personal efforts in the churches of Strong, 
has rendered much valuable aid to the work 
throuiihout the State. 



(5 1 HOMAS J. WHITEHEAD, who has 
* I been an important factor in advancing 
-^ the agricultural and educational inter- 
ests of the town of Paris, is a native of the 
town, having been born October 17, 18 16, 
son of John Whitehead, on the farm where he 
now lives. His father was born and bred in 
Woodbridge, N.J., whence in his early man- 
hood he came to Oxford County, seeking for 
a desirable locality in which to settle. Se- 
lecting the town of Paris, he purchased the 
present Whitehead homestead, where w-ith his 
family he lived for a number of years in true 
pioneer style, depending upon the scanty pro- 
ductions of the soil and the wild game of the 
district for the maintenance of all. He 
cleared a portion of his one hundred and fifty 
acres, and engaged in general farming. He 
also kept a public house in Paris for twenty 
years, and was known as a genial host. He 



married Mary Lovell, of Mansfield, Mass., by 
whom he became the father of three children, 
namely: Nancy, who is the widow of Henry 
R. Weber, of Paris; Thomas J., the subject 
of this sketch; and Mrs. Mary Ann Haskell, 
now deceased. Both parents died on the old 
homestead, the father passing away at the age 
of seventy-three years, and the mother at the 
age of seventy-five years. Both were liberal 
in religion. In politics he was a Whig. 

Thomas J. Whitehead was educated in the 
schools of Paris and at the Norway High 
School. Afterward he followed the profession 
of teacher in this vicinity for thirty terms, 
and at one time served as superintendent of 
schools. Subsequently for about thirty years 
he devoted a portion of his time to canvassing 
the country, with considerable success, as 
agent for different firms, dealing in nursery 
goods or lightning rods. The old homestead 
is now owned by Mr. Whitehead and his 
sister, Mrs. Weber. Mr. Whitehead has a 
good farm of eighty acres, a part of which he 
devotes to fruit raising, his orchard being very 
productive. In 1876 he invented and patented 
a cooking range, which he subsequently sold 
to good advantage. In the settlement of a dis- 
pute between the towns of Paris and Norway 
regarding a cemetery located between the two 
places, Mr. Whitehead, associated with Judge 
Woodbury, of Bethel, obtained a decision in 
favor of Paris. 

Mr. Whitehead was married April 5, 1848, 
to Caroline B. Jordan, who was born in 
Albany, Me., December ^5, 1.S19. She was 
one of the eleven children, noted for their 
musical talent, born to Timothy and Mercy 
(Pike) Jordan. Of Mr. Whitehead's five chil- 
dren, four have died; namely, Eugene, M. 
Caroline, Herman M. , and Mary E. Gran- 
ville M. Whitehead, the only living child, 
born November 17, 1861, resides with his 
parents, assisting in the managemeiTt of the 
homestead, and also working in the Norway 
shoe factory. His first wife, formerly Sadie 
Stiles, died in 1893, leaving one child, Alton 
Eugene, born August 30, 1891. On June 15, 
1895, he entered a second marriage, contracted 
with Sadie M. Chase, who was born April g, 
1876, at Milton Plantation, Me., daughter of 
Charles and Clarissa (Godwin) Chase, both 




V/ILLIAM BEAIJ. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



133 



of whom arc iu)\v residents of South Paris. 
In politics Mr. Whitehead is a Populist, while 
both he and his wife accept the teachings of 
Spiritualism. They have the distinction of 
being one of the oldest couples in this local- 
ity, and are held in high esteem throughout 
the community. 




ILLIAM C. BP:AN, a progressive 
farmer and one of the leading 
young men of Hiram, O.xford 
County, was born in Denmark, Me., October 
5, 1863, son of William and Sarah Jane 
(Warren) Bean. Mr. Bean's paternal grand- 
parents were Abraham and Hannah (Burley) 
Bean, residents of York County, Maine. 

William Bean, the father, whose portrait 
accompanies this biographical sketch, was 
born in HoUis, Me., May 11, 1805. In 1835 
he settled upon the Joshua Osgood farm in the 
town of Denmark, where he engaged in farm- 
ing and lumbering during the rest of his ac- 
tive period. He died April 21, 1894. A 
man of intelligence, energy, and public spirit, 
he took a leading part in town affairs; and he 
represented his district in the legislature 
three terms. His first wife was Sarah F. 
Blunt, who was born in Kennebunkport, Feb- 
ruary 2, 1808, and died January 10, 1862. 
She was the mother of four children, namely: 
George R., who died in Denmark, January 30, 
1896; Ellen S. ; Jane N.; and Frances Au- 
gusta. William Bean wedded for his second 
wife Sarah Jane Warren, who was born in 
Epping, N.ll., October 15, 1829, and who 
became the nrnther of two children, namely: 
William C, the subject of this sketch; and 
Charles R., who was born November 15, 
1871, and now resides with his brother. Mrs. 
Sarah J. Warren Bean died February 19, 
1889. 

William C. Bean was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Denmark, and resided at home 
until becoming of age. In 1884 he came to 
Hiram, settling upon the Morris Clark farm 
of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, where 
he still resides; and since taking possession 
of the property he has greatly enhanced its 
value by making numerous improvements. 
He devotes his time to general farming, corn, 



hay, and potatoes being his [jrincipal prod- 
ucts; and he raises some excellent cattle for 
his own use. 

On October 6, 1884, Mr. Bean was united 
in marriage with Victoria L. Allen. She was 
born in Denmark, Me., August 9, 1859, 
daughter of Hosea and Mary Jane (Hartford) 
Allen. Her father was a prosperous farmer of 
Denmark, his native town, where he died, July 
13, 1892; and her mother, who was a native of 
Hiram, is now residing in Denmark. 

In politics Mr. Bean acts with the Republi- 
can party. He takes an interest in the gen- 
eral welfare of the comnuniity, being ever 
ready to aid in town improvements; and as a 
leader among the young men of this locality 
he is very popular. He is an Odd Fellow 
and a member of Denmark Lodge, No. 49. 




AMUEL F. PERKINS, formerly a 
prosperous farmer of New Sharon, 
P'ranklin County, who died at his 
home in this town, P\"bruary 27, 
was born in Woolwich, Me., June 1, 
1825, son of Samuel Ford and Sarah (Carter) 
Perkins. The father, who was a native of 
Woolwich, moved to New .Sharon about 1840, 
and, purchasing a tract of land, founded the 
Perkins estate here. He died in 1869, at the 
age of seventy-five years. 

Samuel F. Perkins (second) attended the 
schools of Woolwich and New Sharon until he 
was seventeen years old, when he began work 
on the home farm. In 1862 he enlisted in 
the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Maine Infan- 
try, with which he served one year in the 
Civil War. Returning home, he resumed work 
upon the homestead farm, which he carried on 
with prosperous results until one year pre- 
vious to his death, when he sold the 'property 
to his son, Charles E. Mr. Perkins was a 
Republican in politics, liberal in his religious 
views, and was a highly respected citizen. 
He died, as above stated, at the age of sixty- 
four years. On December 21, 1863, he 
wedded Annette Smith, of New Sharon. She 
was born January 11. 1836, daughter of Will- 
iam and Mary (Dyer) Smith. Mrs. Perkins 
has had three children — Mary C, Charles E., 
and Lura M. Mary C, who was born Octo- 



'34 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



her II, 1864, married Corydon Bailey, of In- 
dustry, and has three children — Charles H., 
born August 3, i,S88; Leon A., born March 
15, 1.S90; and Clarence E., born in 189J. 
Charles E. Perkins, who was born July 16, 
1866, now owns and resides upon the home- 
stead farm. Lura M., w'ho was born August 
25, 1873, married Frank M. Tebbetts, of Nor- 
way, Me., and has one child, Ray, who was 
born December 15, 1895. Mrs. Perkins is an 
active, intelligent, and highly respected lady, 
one who fully merits the esteem in which she 
is held by her numerous friends and acquaint- 
ances. 



T^HARLES B. CUMMINGS, of the 
I Ky well-known manufacturing firm of 
^^js C. B. Cummings & Sons, of Nor- 

way, Oxford County, Me., was born 
here on December 18, 1834. His parents 
were Stephen and Fanny (Whitney) Cum- 
mings. 

His paternal grandfather, Dr. Stephen 
Cummings, a native of Andover, Mass., son 
of Jonathan Cummings, was a prominent phy 
sician and surgeon, first in Waterford, Me., 
and later in the city of Portlantl. He died in 
1854, a little past fourscore years of age. He 
and his wife, Eleanor Hale, were the parents 
of si.x children — Nathan, Sarah, Sumner, 
Stephen (second), John M., and Fitz Henry. 
The first three were natives of Waterford, the 
last three of Portland. Sarah Cummings, 
born in 1798, became the wife of Charles 
Bradley. John M. Cummings, M.D., was 
the only one of the sons who adopted the 
father's profession. 

Stephen Cummings, the second of the name 
in direct line and the father of the subject of 
this biographical sketch, was born in Portland 
in 1803. When he attained his majority, his 
father. Dr. Cummings, gave him one hundred 
and fifty acres of uncultivated land in the 
northern part of Norway, which he cleared and 
sold, afterward buying the same number of 
acres in Bethel, a neighboring town in the 
county, where he was a resident for twenty- 
five years. Later he sold that farm also, and, 
buying a house in Norway village, retired 
from active business. A Democrat in poli- 



tics, he was actively interested in party meas- 
ures until the close of his life. Stephen 
Cummings married Fanny, a daughter of Will- 
iam C. Whitney; and their union was blessed 
by seven children — William C. W., Sumner, 
Frances E., Stephen H., Charles B., John M., 
and Harriet. The father died of apople.xy on 
April II, 1863, at sixty years of age; and the 
mother lived to the age of seventy, her death 
occurring on January 10, 1873. 

Charles B. Cummings, the fourth of the five 
brothers in this family, received his education 
in Bethel, but in 1854 returned with his par- 
ents to Norway, where without means, but 
with plenty of energy, grit, and application, 
he has pushed his way from the smallest be- 
ginnings to his present commercial prosperity. 
He was for some time in the employ of his 
maternal grandfather, William C. Whitney, 
and later learned the trade of cabinet-maker, 
beginning business for himself in a small shed 
adjoining Squire Whitman's stable, where he 
manufactured the furniture with which he 
went to housekeeping, also making by hand 
articles of furniture, which he sold to the 
neighbors. Step by step, by industry, frugal- 
ity, and jjerseverance, Mr. Cummings was 
enabled to enlarge his business until he at- 
tained prominence in various industries. In 
1 86 1 he moved his workshop to a small room 
in the Hathaway Block, keeping house in the 
tenement over the store. Here his trade in- 
creased steadily, so that in 1865, in order to 
meet its requirements, he erected the commo- 
dious building now occupied by his son ant! 
successor to that branch of the business. 

Previous to his retirement therefrom, in 
1877, he had embarked in various enterprises, 
including the manufacture of clothes-pins on 
a large scale at Steep Falls, besides furniture. 
He carries on saw-mills at the head of the vil- 
lage, manufacturing long and short lumber, 
and also utilizes the same water privilege for 
grist-mills. Below, on the site of the old 
foundry, he has erected a commodious struct- 
ure, the lower part of which is used for the 
manufacture of short lumber, boxes, and 
staves. The second story is used for the ex- 
tensive manufacture of shoe findings, and in 
this department alone Mr. Cummings employs 
from sixty to seventy skilled operatives, l-'roni 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



35 



twenty to twenty-five men are usually needed 
in the lumber department, and for manufactur- 
ing and storage he uses twenty-five buildings. 
Although Mr. Cummings owns large tracts 
of growing timber in this town, Oxford, Paris, 
and Greenwood, he purchases large quantities 
of lumber on the stump to supply his various 
mills and factories. He is extensively inter- 
ested in real estate, being the owner of many 
valuable building lots and water privileges in 
the village limits. In 1894 Mr. Cummings 
was burned out; but such was his ability to 
overcome difficulties that in thirty days he 
was again on his commercial feet, doing busi- 
ness with several men. As fast as possible 
he rebuilt, putting in an eighty-horse-power 
boiler, heating several blocks three stories 
high from his plant. He also built a large 
grist-mill and grain house, sixty-four by one 
hundred feet, at the railway station, so that 
freight cars can be run in and emptied. 

In January, 1861, he was united in marriage 
with Frances E. , daughter of Moses and Ex- 
perience (Powers) Staples, of Bethel. Mr. 
and Mrs. Cummings have six representa- 
tives to the family name and fortune, who will 
have to make tall strides in the march of life 
if they keep pace with their father's speed on 
the commercial highway. These children are: 
Charles S. , who was born on January 26, 1862, 
and married Ella H. Haskell, she being now 
deceased; Stephen B., born April 27, 1863, 
who married Mattie M. Jordan on February 
12, 1887, and has one child, Ruth; Frederick 
H., born September 24, 1865, who is a dry- 
goods clerk; George I., born March 30, 1869; 
Edwin S., born October 7, 1873; and P"anny 
W., who was born on May 19, 1878. Four of 
the five sons, or all except Frederick, are asso- 
ciated with their father in business. Mr. 
Cummings owns and occupies with his family 
one of the finest dwellings in Norway. In 
politics he is a Republican, and in religion he 
holds to the liberal form of faith. 



LBERT H. ADAMS, a progressive 
and successful farmer, who owns and 
conducts a model dairy farm in 
Wilton, Franklin County, Me., was 
born in this town, September 6, 1857, son of 




Elbridge G. and Abby H. (Thomas) Adams. 
His great -grandparents were Moses and 
Martha (Kinney) Adams; and his grandpar- 
ents were John and Phebe (Chase) Adams, of 
Wilton. 

Elbridge G. Adams, Mr. Adams's father, 
was a native of Wilton, where he grew to man- 
hood as a farmer. At the age of thirty years 
he bought his father's farm, which he carried 
on for three years; and then, selling the prop- 
erty, he removed to a farm in the town of Jay, 
where he resided for some length of time. In 
1 88 1 he purchased the estate where his son 
now resides, and erected new buildings to re- 
place those which were burned. In connec- 
tion with agricultural pursuits he engaged in 
the corn and apple canning business, building 
a factory with a capacity for packing one hun- 
dred and fifty thousand cans per year. Retir- 
ing from business two years later, having 
accumulated a comfortable competency as the 
result of his labor, he passed the remainder of 
his days upon his farm in the town of Jay, 
where he died at the age of sixty-two years. 
His industrious and ambitious nature had 
prompted him to work far beyond his physical 
ability, thereby undermining his constitution; 
and this was the direct cause of his death. 
In politics he supported the Republican party, 
and in his religious views he was a Universal- 
ist. His wife, who was before marriage Abby 
H. Thomas, was a daughter of Spencer 
Thomas. .She became the mother of seven 
children, namely: Albert H., the subject of 
this sketch; Loreda M. ; Clara, who died in 
infancy; Henry J. ; Cora, who did not live to 
grow up; Gideon C. ; and l^^ed L. Mrs. 
Abby H. Adams is still living, and is now 
seventy-two years old. 

Albert H. Adams was educated in the pub- 
lic schools and at the Wilton Academy. His 
boyhood and youth were passed upon the home 
farm, acquiring practical knowledge and ex- 
perience that has been of great value to him 
in his chosen occupation. At the age of 
twenty-five he entered into partnership with 
his father in the canning business, the firm 
having bought of George P3astman a piece of 
land near East Wilton, upon which they 
erected a large factory ; and for two years they 
packed upon an extensive scale the E. G. 



'36 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Adams brand of apples and sweet corn, which 
acquired a high reputation in the metropolitan 
markets. Two years later he purchased from 
his father the farm of one hundred acres 
where he now resides, to which he has since 
devoted his attention; and, as the property 
lies within a valley, thus making it exceed- 
ingly well adapted for dairy purposes, he 
makes a specialty of this branch of agricult- 
ure. He cuts from seventy-five to eighty tons 
of hay annually, has excellent pasturing facili- 
ties, keeps twenty-one head of high-bred 
Jersey stock, which is said to be the finest 
herd of dairy cows in town, and he owns si.\ 
horses. Mr. Adams has also been engaged in 
selling the McCormick mowing machine. In 
politics he acts with the Republican party. 
In religious views he is a stanch Universalist. 
He is connected officially with Williamson 
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
is likewise a member of the Foresters and 
the Patrons of Husbandry, and is recognized 
as one of the leading farmers and enterprising 
citizens of Wilton. 

Mr. Adams married Persis Adams, daughter 
of John W'. and Dorcas (Adams) Adams, rep- 
resentatives of entirely different families. 
Mrs. Albert H. Adams is a descendant of 
Elisha Adams, an early resident of Bethel, 
Me., who moved from that town to a farm in 
Temple, where he passed the rest of his life. 
His children were: Elias, John, Silas, Persis, 
Polly, Uorcas, and Loren. Loren Adams, 
Mrs. Adams's paternal grandfather, was born 
in Bethel, February i8, 1803. He bought 
his first real estate in Wilton when a young 
man, later removing to the farm where his 
son John W. now resides; and this property, 
which was formerly owned by John Ditson, he 
improved by erecting new buildings through- 
out, increasing the fertility of the land, and 
setting out a large orchard, making it one of 
the best farms in this section. He married 
for his first wife Ruth Libby, who was born 
in 1799, daughter of Abraham Libby, and by 
this union he had two children; namely, John 
W. and Mary. Mrs. Ruth L. Adams died in 
1837, and for his second wife Loren Adams 
wedded Eliza Adkins. He died February 6, 
1892. 

John W. Adams, Mrs. Adams"s father, was 



born in Wilton, March 5, 1835. He resided 
at home, assisting his father in carrying on 
the farm, later taking charge of the property, 
which he now owns. He has a fine dairy, and 
may be considered a model farmer. On Janu- 
ary I, 1857, he married for his first wife 
Ellen, adopted daughter of J. C. Phillips, of 
Wilton. She died at the age of eighteen, 
leaving a daughter, Ellen, who was born De- 
cember 20, 1859, and married Leroy Brown. 
On January 2-]^ 1861, John W. Adams wedded 
for his second wife Dorcas, daughter of 
Jephthah Adams; and she died at the age of 
sixty-four years, leaving three children, as 
follows: Charles W., who was born April 20, 
1863, and resides at home; Persis, who is now 
Mrs. Albert H. Adams; and Charlena R., 
who was born May 29, 1874, and is now en- 
gaged in teaching. 

Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Adams have four 
children, namely: Bernard L., born October 
2, 1886; Jennie M., born November 6, 1889; 
Vera L. , born January 13, 1892; Merle R., 
born July 4, 1894. 




ENRY SAWTN, Second Selectman of 
Waterford, Oxford County, Me., has 
been active in the town government 
for nearly twenty years. He was 
born in Waterford, May 13, 1837, the son of 
Thomas and Sallie (Johnson) Sawin, the for- 
mer a native of old Marlboro, Mass., the latter 
of Waterford, Me. 

His grandfather, General Benjamin Sawin, 
who came from Marlboro, was the first of the 
Sawins to locate in Oxford County. Maine. 
About 1805 he settled in what is now known 
as Lynchville, in the town of Albany, where 
he managed a saw-mill some three years, mov- 
ing then to Waterford. He cleared the farm 
on which his grandson is now living, and de- 
voted the rest of his life to the pursuit of 
agriculture, dying in Waterford, February 9, 
181 7, at the age of sixty-eight years. 

Thomas, second son of General Benjamin 
and Martha (Howe) Sawin, succeeded his 
father as manager of the home farm in Water- 
ford, and took a prominent part in town affairs, 
serving on the Board of Selectmen for many 
years. He died May 29, 1870. His wife 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



137 



siirviveil him a little more than eight years, 
passing away October 19, 1878. They were 
the parents of the following children: Mi- 
randa, born October iS, 1825, who was the 
wife of Captain Moses Rand, and is now de- 
ceased ; Lewis H. (deceased), born August 
16, 1827, who married Lydia Abbott, of 
Albany, now a resident of her native town; 
George, born May 29, 1830, who died at the 
age of five years; Sarah Ann, deceased, born 
August 18, 1833, wife of James Miller, who 
is now in the West; Thomas Hubbard, born 
November 27, 1835, a retired trader, living in 
the village of Xorway, Me., who married 
Lizzie Sampson; and Henry, the subject of 
this sketch. 

Henry Sawin received a common-school 
education, and, while acquiring a knowledge 
of the rudiments of learning, was also becom- 
ing accustomed to farm labor. He was en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits in Norway, 
Me., for a year, and with that exception has 
spent the time since 1859 on his present valu- 
able farm near North Waterford village. 
With an estate of seventy acres of land, he is 
engaged in general husbandry, dairying, and 
stock raising, and has made many improve- 
ments on his property. He is one of the lead- 
ing farmers of the locality, and is agent in 
Waterford for the McCormick mowers. 

Mr. Sawin was married October 12, 1859, 
to Maria C. Upton, who was born in Albany, 
Me., and grew to womanhood in Norway, this 
State. .She was the daughter of Micah and 
Ruth (Abbott) Upton, formerly respected 
members of the farming community of Albany, 
both of whom have departed this life. Mrs. 
Maria C. Upton Sawin died February 26, 
1883. She was the mother of four children, 
namely: Etta A., born .September 8, i860, 
who died May 20, 1895, the wife of George 
Cummings, a farmer in Albany; Lillian J., 
born October 13, 1864, who died ALirch 22, 
1865; Harry T., born February 13, 1867, who 
was married May 5, 1896, to Cora Bean, of 
Albany, Me., and now lives in Windsor, Vt. ; 
Agnes E. , born November 28, 1871, who re- 
sides with her father on the homestead. Mr. 
Sawin w-as married September 22, 1895, to 
Mrs. Rowena J. Bird Holt, of Bethel, Me., 
the daughter of Lyman and Eliza (Young) 



Bird. This lady was born July 6, 1843. Her 
father was a farmer of Bethel, and later of 
Paris, Me., where he died. Her first hus- 
band, Arthur U. Holt, a farmer of Bethel, 
died August 21, 1893, leaving four children 
— Etta Mabel, wife of Eugene C. Holt, of 
Hanover, Me. ; Llewellyn B., residing in 
Andover, Me., who married Miss Adeline 
Proctor; Winona L. , wife of ]5urton Patter- 
son, of Hanover, Me.; and Herman li., who 
is with his mother and step-father on the 
Sawin homestead. 

Mr. Sawin has long been prominent among 
the Democrats of Waterford. He was first 
elected to the office of Second Selectman in 
1878, and his efficiency as a member of the 
town governm,ent is such that he has been re- 
elected several times. He belongs to Oxford 
Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order of Odd 
F"ellows, of North Waterford; also to liver- 
green Lodge, No. I 5, Daughters of Rebecca, 
of the same place; and he is a very popular 
member of society. Mrs. Sawin is an es- 
teemed member of the Ba]5tist Clnirch of 
Bethel, Me. 




kATIO WOODBURY, M.D., a 
aiccessful physician of South Paris, 
Oxford County, was born in Dan- 
ville, Me., July 12, 1852, son of 
William and Hannah (Sturgis) Woodbury. 
His paternal grandfather. True Woodbury, who 
was a native of Cape Elizabeth, this State, in 
eai^ly life settled upon Vine Hill in Danville. 
A farmer by occupation, the grandfather be- 
came a prominent man in that town, and re- 
sided there for the rest of his life. Both he 
and his wife lived to be over eighty years old. 
William Woodbury, Dr. Woodbury's father, 
was born in Danville, Me., in March, 1795. 
■He adopted agriculture as his life occupation, 
and purchased a farm in his native town. 
Subsequently he became the proprietor of a 
store, which he also carried on for some thirty 
years. His last years were spent in retire- 
ment, and he died in 1864. A stanch Demo- 
crat, he took a leading part in local politics. 
He was a member of the Board of Selectmen 
for ten years and Town Treasurer for twenty- 
three years. His religious belief was that 



138 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of the Universalists. By his wife, Hannah 
(Sturgis) Woodbury, he became the father of 
four children — George William, Nathaniel, 
Adelaide, and Horatio. The mother died in 
1S76. 

Horatio Woodbury acquired his elementary 
education in the schools of Danville and at 
the Auburn High School, graduating from the 
latter in 1872. He afterward entered Bates 
College at Lewiston, Me., where he graduated 
with the class of 1876. He taught school for 
the next three years, and then began the study 
of medicine with Dr. Isaac Rounds, of South 
Paris. Later he entered the Maine Medical 
School, and, after pursuing the usual course 
of study, took his degree at Brunswick. In 
1882 he began practice at Wiscassett, Lincoln 
County; but a short time after, desiring a 
wider field, he came to South Paris, locating 
at 5 Market Square, where he was welcomed 
by many old friends of his student days. Be- 
ginning practice here under such favoring cir- 
cumstances, he was soon able to give ample 
proof of his skill and professional knowledge. 
He now enjoys a wide patronage as a physi- 
cian, and at the same time he occupies a 
prominent place among the leading men of the 
town. While he is a Republican in politics, 
his interest in public affairs is broad, and not 
narrowed by mere party exigency. He is in- 
terested in educational matters, and he helps 
all practical measures and movements designed 
for the moral and physical welfare of the com- 
munity. He has served his fellow-townsmen 
for six years as School Committeeman and 
for two years as Secretary of the Board of 
Health. He is connected with Androscoggin 
Lodge, No. 24, Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, at Auburn; with Hamlin- Lodge, No. 31, 
Knights of Pythias, at South Paris; with the 
order of the Golden Cross, and the New Eng- 
land Order of Protection; and at present he is 
Secretary of Paris Lodge, No. 94, A. F. & 
A. M., and a member of its Board of Trustees. 



TEPHEN CHARLES, manufacturer 
of monuments, headstones, and all 
kinds of marble and granite work, 
whose place of business is in North 
Frveburg, O.xford County, Me., was born in 




Lovell, Me., April 10, 1838, son of Stephen 
and Sarah (Bemis) Charles. 

The family is an old and highly respected 
one in Oxford County ; and John Charles, grand- 
father of the special subject of this sketch, 
was a jiioneer farmer of Lovell. John Charles 
was born in P"ryeburg, in April, 1772, and 
died in Lovell, March 17, 1831. He married, 
in P'ryeburg, Hannah Carlton, who was born 
in 1777, and died January 22, 1869. They 
had eleven children, as follows: Stejjhen, first, 
who married Sarah Bemis; John, who married 
Charlotte Chandler, of Lovell ; Isaac, who 
married Sarah Knight, of Sweden, Me. ; Caleb, 
who married Sally Charles, of Lovell; Carl- 
ton, who married Betsy Kilgore, of Lovell; 
Jonathan, who married Rovvena Bannister, of 
New York; Warren, who married Abbie Page; 
Seth, who married Hannah Andrews, of 
Lovell ; Hannah, who married James Merrill, 
of Lovell ; Ruth, who married Elbridge G. 
Kimball, of Lovell; and James, who married 
a lady in New York. 

Stephen Charles, first, son of John ami 
father of the present .Stephen, was born in 
Lovell, June 7, 1 7t)8. He was a farmer, and 
he also carried on the lumbering business for 
twenty winters. He resided in Lovell till 
1847, when he removed to Fryeburg, where 
he was prosperously engaged in farming until 
his death, which occurred on September 5, 
1855. His wife, Sarah liemis, was l^orn in 
P'ryeburg, October 26, 1798, daughter of 
Thaddeus Bemis, an early speculator in real 
estate and an extensive agriculturist of this 
town. Mr. Bemis was born in Billerica, 
Mass., in 1760, and died in Fryeburg, Me., in 
1843. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War. His wife, Judith Day, was born in 
P'ryeburg in 1767, the first female child born 
in this town. She died here in 1S43. The 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Bemis were: Han- 
nah, who married John Swain; Betsy, who 
married Amos Andrews; Joseph, who married 
Mehitabel Kilgore; Thaddeus, who married 
Nabby PZastman ; Amos, who married a Miss 
Whiting; Mary, who married Issachar An- 
drews; Sarah, who married Stephen Charles; 
Benjamin, who married Esther Webb; Judith, 
who married Mason Hastings; and Isaac, un- 
married. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



139 



Stephen and Sarah (Beniis) Charles were the 
parents of eight children, as follows: Albion,, 
who was born June 30, 1820, and died Septem- 
ber 4, 1824; Alsina, who was born July 13, 
1823, and is now the widow of IClbridge Evans, 
late of Stow, Me. ; Judith 15., who was born 
August 25, 1825, married Lorenzo Walker, of 
P'ryeburg, and died September 13, 1855; 
Sarah, who was born December 10, 1827, and 
is now the wife of Joseph Pitman, a surve}'or 
and farmer of Bartlett, N.H. ; Ursula, who 
was born March 8, 1831, and died March 20, 
1834; Diana, who was born January 12, 1835, 
married Randall Hastings, of P'ryeburg, and 
died March 4, 1883; Stephen, the subject of 
this sketch; and Lyman R., who was born 
August 6, 1840, married for his first wife Joan 
M. Putnam, daughter of G. W. M. Putnam, 
of Bartlett, N.H., and married second Orra 
Drew, of Richmond, Me., and is now a car- 
penter of P>yeburg. Mrs. Sarah B. Charles 
lived to reach the advanced age of nearly 
ninet_\'-two years, and died June 4, i S90. .She 
and her husband were members of the Meth- 
odist PLpiscopal church. 

Six of these children were living when the 
parents removed with their family to p'ryeburg, 
Stej)hen, the younger of the two sons, being 
then a lad of nine }'ears. hi the public schools 
he obtained a knowledge of the common luig- 
lish branches, and at home he was trained 
to habits of useful industry. As his father 
began to feel the infirmities of age, he grad- 
ually relieved him from all cares in the man- 
agement of the farm. Succeeding eventually 
t(i the possession of the homestead, Mr. 
Charles resided there until 1866, when he 
engaged in the marble-cutting business in P^ye- 
burg, where he has since carried on a profit- 
able enterprise. He employs two skilled as- 
sistants, besides working at the bench himself; 
and he receives many orders from different 
parts of this county, as well as from some of 
the adjacent towns in Xew Hampshire. He 
also owns and cultivates a valuable farm. 

Though frequently tendered the nomination 
for important offices, Mr. Charles, who is a 
firm supporter of the Republican party, has 
invariably declined the honor of candidacy. 
He has always made it a point to attend 
strictly to business; and, as he travels through 



the county a great deal, he is widely and fa- 
vorably known by the leading residents, who 
regard him as an honorable, upright, and pio- 
gressive citizen. 




1-AVIS B. ANDREWS, a member of 
the firm Noyes & Andrews of Norway, 
was born in Otisfield, Me., January 
23, 1856, son of Solomon L. and 
Sarah (P'rost) Andrews. His grandfather, 
Samuel Andrews, was a native of VViscasset, 
Lincoln Count)-, born J'"ebruarv 8, 1771. 
When a young man Samuel came to Norwa)', 
and settled on P'rost Hill, v.'here he jnirchased 
a good farm and was successfully engaged in 
agriculture during the remainder of his life. 
He married Miss Eunice P'rost, of Gorhani, 
Me., and by her became the father of nine 
sons and a daughter, respectively named — 
John, David, Samuel, Asa, Molly, Nathaniel, 
Robert, Solomon L. , Moses D. , and P^benezer. 

Solomon L. Andrews, who was born in Nor- 
way, August 17, 1 82 1, and reared to a farm 
life, chose farming for his life occupation. 
He first purchased a place in Harrison, anil 
later owned and lived on one in ()tisfield. Me. 
In addition to his farming he followed to some 
extent the business of a drover. He married 
for his first wife Miss Sarah P'rost. She died 
aged thirty-three years, having given birth to 
two sons and two daughters; namely, Lucy J., 
Isabelle, Bertrand M., and Lewis 1^. Isabelle 
and Bertrand M. are deceased. The maiden 
name of Mr. Andrews's second wife was Nancy 
W. I'rost. 

When si.xteen years of age, Lewis B. An- 
drews, the youngest child of his parents, 
began his business career as a commercial 
traveller, and followed that occupation until 
1876. Then he commenced clerking for S. B. 
Locke & Co., who conducted a general store at 
West Paris. 'Pwo and a half years later he 
purchased the business of Locke & Co., and, 
with A. J. Curts, under the firm name of An- 
drews & Curts, carried it on for five years, 
l^uying out his partner at the end of that time, 
Mr. Andrews conducted the store alone for two 
and one-half years. After this he sold out to 
Mr. Curts, and embarked in the manufacture 
of chairs, establishing the Pioneer Chair Com- 



140 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



pany, which did an extensive business for three 
years, giving employment to fifty hands. Mr. 
Andrews next went to Lynn, Mass., and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of shoe machinery, 
becoming a member of the firm of C. P. Stan- 
bourn & Co. At the end of a year he sold his 
interest and returned to Norway, where, in 
company with F. H. Noyes, he opened a dry- 
goods store, and the present firm of Noyes & 
Andrews was established. In iiS94 the firm 
bought the blue store and added to its stock 
gentlemen's fiu'nishings and a custom depart- 
ment. They are now among the largest deal- 
ers in this part of the State, employing from 
eight to ten clerks. 

On June 17, 1S91, Mr. Andrews was mar- 
ried to Miss Clara C. Cole. In politics he 
is a Republican, in religious belief a Uni- 
tarian. His name is enrolled with the follow- 
ing fraternal organizations: Granite Lodge, No 
8],, A. 1'. & A. M., in which he is a Past 
Master; Union Chapter of Norway, Royal 
Arch Masons; St. Auburn Commandery, 
Knights Templars, of Portland; and Norway 
Lodge, No. 16, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. 




"ORATIO STEARNS, a model farmer, 
who has a valuable farm and a very 

1^9 I pleasant residence at Lovell's Pond, 

was born in the town of Lovell, Ox- 
fortl County, Me., July 25, 1829. His father 
and mother, David and .Sarah (Andrews) 
Stearns, were small children when they came 
to this town with their respective parents from 
Billerica, Middlesex County, Mass., not far 
from IJoston. 

John Stearns, father of David, was the first 
of the Stearns family to locate in Lovell, 
where he was one of the pioneer settlers. He 
devoted the latter part of his life to clearing 
and cultivating a farm in this town. David 
Stearns here grew to manhood, and spent his 
life engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He 
died about 1856, his wife surviving till 1861. 
They weii' the parents of eleven children, 
three of whom died in infancy. Of the others 
the following is recorded: Stephen (deceased) 
married Miss Mary Russell, and after her 
death Miss Mary Gordon (deceased), of Lovell, 



a daughter of Dr. John Gordon. Caleb died 
in 1861; and his wife, formerly Miss Eliza 
Russell, of Lovell, is now living in Lovell 
Centre. Mary was the wife of Abel Heald, of 
Lovell (both deceased). Timothy died at the 
age of twenty-three. Mehitable is the wife of 
Samuel Gilkey, a carpenter of Portland, Me. 
Henrietta and Harriet were twins. The for- 
mer, now deceased, married Thomas Tibbetts, 
who lives in Groveton, N.H. Harriet mar- 
ried Abel Heald, and is now a widow living in 
Lovell. Horatio is the subject of this sketch. 

Horatio Stearns in his early years received 
a limited common-school education. He re- 
mained with his parents, caring for them in 
their old age, and after their dejjarture only 
left home in answer to the call for the defence 
of the Union. In September, 1862, he en- 
listed in Company H, Twenty-third Maine 
Regiment, under command of Captain Noyes. 
Fortune shielded him from the rigors of war; 
for his regiment was stationed for a while 
in Washington, and then placed on guard 
dutv along the Potomac. Here a soldier on 
picket dropped occasionally, picked off by 
the bullet of a rebel in ambush ; Init the regi- 
ment engaged in no serious battle. Mr. 
Stearns received his discharge at Portland, 
Me., July 15, 1863, and returned home. 
Selling the parental farm at Lovell Centre, to 
the ownership of which he had succeeded, he 
purchased a farm in Colebrook, N.H., where 
he lived some four years. He then sold that 
estate and bought the farm on which he now 
resides, which was known as the Caleb .Stearns 
place, Caleb Stearns being his brother. Mr. 
Stearns owns some three hundretl acres of land, 
and is engaged in general husbandry. He has 
a small dairy and raises some stock. His 
homestead is beautifully situated, and he takes 
pride in keeping the place in such condition 
that it delights the eye of the traveller. 

In April, 1863, he was married to Sarah, 
daughter of Samuel and Sarah Brackett. Her 
father was a farmer of Colebrook, N.H. Mrs. 
Stearns was born in Hillsborough. She died 
in January, 1S72, leaving three children. The 
eldest, George, who was born April 18, 1866, 
is principal of the high school in Rumford, 
Me., and is one of the prominent men of the 
town, having served as P'irst Selectman and 



BIOGRAPHICAL R?:VIEVV 



141 



held (ither jniblic offices of trust. lie married 
Miss Mertie A. Butters, of Stoneliam, Mc., 
and has one child, Luzetta. The second son, 
Herbert, was born October 17, 1S6.S. The 
third, I'^red, who was born October 21, 1869, 
lives with his father, who is practically retired 
from acti\-e work, leaving to him the nianai;e- 
nient of the farm. He was married in -Septem- 
ber, 1894, to Miss Dais)' Hall, of Lovcll, Me., 
a daughter of Isaac and Samantha Hall. Mr. 
Hall also is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Fred 
Stearns have one child, -S.uah I?., born Mai'di 
26, 1896. Mr. Horatio .Stearns is a stanch 
Republican. He is an active worker in the 
Congregational church, of which he has long 
been a mcniljer. His son I'"rcd belongs to the 
Sons of V'eterans of Lox'ell Centre. 




ORACE I?. I'Rl'.SCOTT, a well- 
known antl much ix'spected resident 
of New Sharon, was born here, on 
the paternal homestead, September 
2, 1S12, son of Samuel and l<31iza (Ala^-hew) 
Prescott. Mr. Prescott's grandfather, Samuel 
Prescott, lived in New .Sharon until about ten 
years before his death. lie then mo\ed to 
Hallovvell, Me., where he died. On Febru- 
ary 8, 1 78 I, he married Miss I5etsey Whittier, 
whose children by him were: Ik-njamin, Sam- 
uel, Betsey, Mary, Nancy, Warren antl Clarry. 
He was a Revolutionary soldier, and he after- 
ward received a pension from the government 
for valuable servcies rendered in the war. 
At one time he was a resilient of F'l'ping, 
N.H., where his son Samuel was born. He 
afterward moved with his family to Winthrop, 
Me,, and a short time later to New .Slianm, 
where in 1806 he and his son Samuel bnught 
the present homestead. He was a strong l)e- 
liever in democracy, and carried his belief 
into his politics. His religion was that of 
the Baptist church. 

Samuel Prescott, the father of Horace B., 
received his later education in the schools of 
the town. Me subsequently became a school 
teacher, and was Town Clerk and Selectman 
for a number of years. On October 7, iSio, 
he was married to Eliza Mayhew, a daughter 
of Hebron Mayhew, of Martha's Vineyard, 
Mass. They had eight idiildren; namely. 



Theodore, Horace B. , Irving M., Calvin S., 
Samuel 1)., Gnstavus (]., lilizabeth C, and 
George 1'.. The onl_\' survivors are the subject 
ot this sketch anil Gnstavus G. The latter has 
been for the last forty years a resident of lios- 
ton, Mass., where he is engaged in the milli- 
ner}' business. 

Horace H. Prescott received his education at 
the public schools of his native town and at 
P'armington Academy. At the age of eighteen 
years he engaged in school teaching, which he 
altei'ward continued for twelve years. He 
then went into the lumber business in .Somer- 
set and Piscataquis Counties, and followed it 
for about ten years. On ( )et(iber 18, i8j;8, he 
was married to Cortlelia Johnson, a daughter 
of Robert Johnson, of North Yarmouth, Cum- 
berland County. They had five children — 
Caroline E., Henrietta C, Ellen A., Alice 
A., and I.issie May. l^jlen A., who is the 
only one living, married George McEaughlin, 
and has two children, namely: Horace P., 
born Novi'uiber 9, 1879; and Alice May, burn 
January i, 1883. Mrs. Prescott dietl SeiUem- 
ber f>, 1894. 

Mr. Prescott is a Reiiublican in his jioliti- 
cal belief, and belongs to the Congregational 
church. He has been a Justice of the Peace 
for forty years and Judge of Probate for nine 
years. He was elected to the State legislature 
in 1850, and was a member of the Council in 
1863, and again in 1869. He now carries on 
general farming and stumpage. His fine farm 
of three hundred and ten acres originally con- 
tained but one hundred and twenty-five. Like 
his father, he has a fondness for cattle; but, 
unlike him, he is not a dealer in them. How- 
ever, he owns a number of fine Jersey cows 
and some handsome horses. 



U.STIN IC. McINTIRP:, a retired lum- 
berman and cattle dealer of Waterford, 
O.xford County, Me., was born in North 
Reading, Mass., July 22, 1837, son of 
Richard G. and" |-'anny (Cross) McLitire. 
Hezekiah Mclntire, Mr. Mclntire's grand- 
father, who was a native of North Reading, 
removed thence to Norway, Me., where he 
settled upon a farm, and resided there for the 
rest of his life. 



142 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



The family is evidently of Scottish origin. 
There is a tradition that the Highland clan of 
Maclntyre was descended from the MacDon- 
alds. Sullivan's "History of the District of 
Maine," published in 1795, records the fact 
that, at the time of the Civil War in England 
in the middle of the preceding century, Oliver 
Cromwell defeated the troops from Scotland 
who fought for King Charles I. in the north of 
Kngland, and, taking them prisoners, after- 
ward sent them to America, the " Donalds and 
M'lntires" being among those thus trans- 
ported. They settled in Maine, in what be- 
came the second parish of York, and was called 
Scotland. Rufus M'Intire, a descendant, was 
a member of Congress. One Philip Mclntire 
— whether of that branch of the family or not 
is unknown to the present writer — was doubt- 
less the progenitor of all of this name in Read- 
ing, Mass., where he settled at an early date 
in the North Precinct. The "History of 
Reading" mentions a son, Philip, born in 
1666; John, in 1679; David, in 168S; and 
others. His posterity intermarried with the 
Haywards, Flints, and other prominent fam- 
ilies of that vicinity. They seem to have in- 
herited an unusual share of martial and pa- 
triotic spirit, as si.\ of the name from the old 
town of Reading are recorded as having served 
in the l-'rencii ami Indian wars, 1745, 1759, 
and 1760, seven in the Revolution, and four- 
teen from North Reading fought under the 
stars and stripes in the War of the Rebellion. 
Richard G. Mclntire, father of Mr. Mcln- 
tire of Waterford, Me., was born in North 
Reading, where in his youth he learned the 
shoemaker's trade, which was his principal 
occupation through life. He resided for a 
while in Norway, Me., but eventually returned 
to his native town in Massachusetts, where he 
followed his trade for many years. Becoming 
interested in the reform movements of the day, 
he connected himself with a temperance society 
in North Reading. His religious faith was of 
the liberal type, and led him to attend the 
Universalist church. He died at his home in 
North Reading. June 30, 1879, survived a few 
years by his second wife, now deceased, who 
had no children. His first wife, Fanny Cross, 
a native of Pelham, N.H., died in 1845. She 
was the mother of four children, as follows: 



George, who is no longer living: Justin K., 
the subject of this sketch; Fanny, who died at 
the age of seven years ; and Maria, who is the 
widow of John Washburn, and resides in 
Boston. 

Justin E. Mclntire acquired in his boyhood 
but a limited common-school education, as he 
practically began to support himself at the age 
of seven years. For some three years the little 
lad did such work as he was able to do upon 
farms in Norway ; and he then learned the 
shoemaker's trade, which he followed for four 
years. After his marriage he settled upon a 
farm in the neighborhood of his present prop- 
erty. Later he went into the meat business, 
opening a shop in Harrison and running a cart 
ujion the road. He was thus employed for 
about three years, at the expiration of which 
he bought his present farm, and, continuing in 
the meat trade, also followed farming for about 
sixteen years. He then engaged in buying 
cattle, which he shipped to Brighton, Mass., 
and was for five or six years in partnership 
with Newell A. Trafton. The firm of Mcln- 
tire, Trafton & Co. then began to deal in pulp 
wood, which they shipped to Cumberland 
Mills, a business which proved exceedingly 
profitable; and, after remaining at the head of 
this firm for ten years he withdrew from active 
business pursuit.s, and has since lived practi- 
cally in retirement. He owns five hundred 
acres of land situated in Waterford and Nor- 
way, and, as a means of passing his leisure 
time, busies himself by cultivating a small 
farm. 

As a self-made man who started in life with- 
out capital and with only his own energy and 
ability to depend upon, Mr. Mclntire stands at 
the head of an honorable class in this locality; 
and his successful career is well worthy of 
a much more extended account. As a wortliy, 
upright, and conscientious citizen he is held 
in the highest repute by the farmers and busi- 
ness men of Oxford County, among whom he 
has a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 
He is connected with Oxford Lodge, No. 61, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of North 
Waterford. In politics he supports the Demo- 
cratic party, and for two years he served with 
ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen. 

On October 24, 1857, Mr. Mclntire was 




JAMES MORRISON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



145 



married to Amanda Johnson, who was born in 
Norway, Sci)tcmber 17, 1S34, daughter of Ira 
and Mary (Towne) Johnson, the former of 
whom is a retired business man of Norway. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mclntire have two children, 
namely: Leslie K., who was born September 
5. 1858, married J{dith R. Sawin, and resides 
ill W'aterford ; and J^ertrand (i. , who was born 
October 27, 1S66, married Alice Sawin, and 
resides with his parents. The sons married 
sisters, whose father, Thomas H. Sawin, was 
formerly a prosperous farmer of W'aterford. 
Messrs. Leslie K. and Eertrand G. Mclntire 
are well-known cattle buyers, who carr\- nii a 
large and profitable business in this county. 




"ON. JAMES MORRISON.— James 
lorrison was born in Madrid, Frank- 
lin County, Me., March 14, 1841. 
His father was Captain James 
Morrison, who was born in Candia, N.H., 
F"ebruary 10, 18 14, and was a descendant of 
that numerous Scotch-Irish clan of Morrisons 
a part of whom migrated from the north of 
Ireland, and settled in Massachusetts and 
New Hampshire in the latter part of the 
seventeenth and early part of the eighteenth 
centuries. The immigrant ancestor of this 
branch of the Morrison clan was Daniel Morri- 
son, who lived in Newbury, Mass., in 1690. 
His descendants afterward lived in Candia, 
Kpping, TiJton, and Sanbornton, N.H., and 
in Palermo and Madrid, Me. The wife of 
Captain James Morrison and the mother of the 
subject of this sketch was Mary Leach Doten, 
born in 15uckfield, Oxford County, Me.. May 
13, 1807. 

Reared on the frontier of North-western 
Maine, without wealth to aid or experience to 
guide, James Morrison from his youth was 
largely dependent upon his own resources for 
any advancement beyond the sphere of ordinary 
back-woods life. When he was six years of 
age his parents moved into the town of 
Phillips: and most of the time from then until 
he was twenty-one was spent in the laborious 
work of the farm and mill, with the usual 
limited privilege of attending the country dis- 
trict school. Always desiring something be- 
yond this, he would save up the earnings from 



odd jobs, and occasionally attend a term at the 
village high school. No seminary was within 
reach, no college opened wide its doors; and 
the larger i)art of his educational capital was 
acquired, unaided and alone, by "Inirning the 
midnight oil." 

Surmounting difficulties which would have 
discouraged many, he became a very successful 
teacher, and was thus engaged at the breaking 
out of the war of the Rebellion. At twenty- 
two he enlisted in the Second Regiment, 
Maine Cavalry, and served in the Department 
of the Gulf. He was at New Orleans, 
Thibodeau.x, and Brashear City, La., I'ine 
Barren Creek and Milton, P'la., Pollard, Ala., 
and the taking of Mobile, and was with the 
cavalry detachment that led the Sixteenth 
Army Corps ujj through Alabama, and occu- 
pied the city of Montgomery. 

Honorably discharged after the close of the 
war, he came home, resumed the occupation of 
teacher, and began the study of law. He was 
admitted to the Franklin County bar in Se])- 
tember, 1869, was superintending School 
Committee, and (uie of the Selectmen of 
Phillips for about twelve years, represented 
the Phillips district in the legislature of 
1877, was elected Senator from F"ranklin 
County in 1878 and 1879, serving one term as 
Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs 
and one term on the Judiciary. He was ap- 
pointed Judge of Probate for Franklin County 
by Governor Robie in 1883 to fill a vacancy, 
elected for four years in 1884, re-elected for 
another term in 1SS8, again in 1892. and 
again in 1896. The close of this la.st term 
will make seventeen years' continuous service 
as Judge. He continued in the active prac- 
tice of law for about five years after admission 
to the bar: but failing health, the result of 
malarious fever contracted in the South, com- 
pelled him to partially abandon office life and 
practice. Preferring to be a live farmer 
rather than a dead lawyer, he has in late years 
devoted his energies to agriculture, only occa- 
sionally taking an important case at law. l^y 
pluck, economy, and perseverance he has suc- 
ceeded where many others have failed, and 
has become one of Franklin County's promi- 
nent stock raisers. He is also interested to 
quite an extent in timber lands. 



146 



BIOGRAPHICAL RKVIEVV 



A thorough Republican from ;\Ir. Lincoln's 
time, Judge Morrison has labored incessantly 
to uphold the principles of his early and only 
political faith. He served six years on the 
Republican State Committee, and has since 
done considerable work in the field and on the 
stump. A total abstainer, he is a radical 
temperance advocate, practises what he 
preaches, and believes in the Maine law. 

On March 14, 1871, he married Miss 
Louisa 11. Chick, of Madrid. She was born 
at said ALidrid, December 14, 1S50. The 
result of this union is three children, namely: 
two girls, Grace Winnifred, born January 25, 
1872; Cassandra Mary, born September 20, 
1880; and a boy, born August 10, 1884, in 
the midst of the political campaign of that 
year, and named for James G. Blaine. 



f^-"' 



EMUEL W. JACKSON, who died at 
his home in I'aris, Oxford County, 
J ^_U ^ Me., May 25, 1S85, is well remem- 
bered by the inhabitants of the town 
as a prosperous farmer and a man of sterling 
integrity. He was born April i, 1818, and 
was a son of Lemuel and Nancy (Foster) Jack- 
son. His father was born in Paris, March 17, 
1784, and his mother in Newry, Me., May 5, 
1792. 

Mr. Jackson's great-grandfather, who also 
bore the nanie of Lemuel, was among the first 
settlers of Paris, here taking up his abode in 
1782, when he was somewhat advanced in 
years, and had accumulated quite a little 
fortune for those times, being a successful 
man of business. He had previously bought 
several entire proprietary rights in this terri- 
tory, "No. 4," as it was known, paying for 
the land in cash: and he brought with him a 
considerable sum of money, fourteen hundred 
dollars in silver, representing a much larger 
amount in the depreciated currency of the day. 
He was a great help in the new settlement. 
Making subsequent purchases, he became the 
largest landholder in the town, owning more 
than one-eighth of the entire acreage, includ- 
ing the whole site of South Paris, where he 
erected the first mill in 1793. The first log 
house was also built by him. His influence 
was almost unbounded: and he may be said to 



have been the father of the town, being in so 
many respects the foremost citizen. He was 
one of the seven members of the Baptist 
church in Middleboro, Mass., who received 
letters of dismissal to join the church in 
Paris, Me. He married Jemima Sampson, 
daughter of Seth and Ruth (Barrows) Samp- 
son, of Plympton, Mass. 

Their son, Lemuel Jackson, second, the 
grandfather of Lemuel W., was a hard-work- 
ing and successful farmer. He spent his life 
in Paris, where he died April 12, 1S16. The 
first frame house erected in town was built by 
him in 1789. He married for his first wife 
Susanna Hammond, and by this union had five 
children — Lemuel, Jr., the third of the 
name; Sylvanus; Benjamin; Charity; and 
Jacob. 

Lemuel Jackson, third, the father of the 
special subject of this biographical notice 
was a man of good business abilities. He 
was engaged in general farming throughout his 
life here in Paris. His wife, Mrs. Nancy 
Foster Jackson, bore him seven children — ■ 
Charity N., Harriet S., Lemuel W., Ezekiel 
C, Hannah F., Vesta H., and Abner F., the 
three now living being Ezekiel, Hannah, and 
Abner. Mr. Lemuel Jackson, third, died in 
September, 1830; and Mrs. Jackson was mar- 
ried a second time to Thomas Frost, of Bethel. 
She died in i86o. In religious views the 
early representatives of the Jackson family 
were Baptists, and in politics they were Dem- 
ocratic. 

Lemuel W. Jackson, whose name appears at 
the beginning of this sketch, was the third 
child and eldest son born to his parents. He 
grew to manhood in Paris, and was educated 
in the -schools of this town. When only 
twelve years old he "began to work out, and 
from that time on he practically supported 
himself, attending school only in the winter 
months. He devoted his attention to general 
farming, at which he was successful : and in 
time he acquired a good property. In 1873 
he purchased the farm to which he removed 
three and a half years later, and from that 
time forward during the remaining years of 
his earthly life he was engaged in its cultiva- 
tion. His death, at the age of si.xty-seven 
years anil two months, was mourned by many 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



147 



outside his immediate circle. As one of the 
old residents of the town, an honest, upright 
man, he was widely known, and was honored 
and respected by all. In religion he was a 
i\Iethodist, and for over forty years he was a 
member of the South Paris church. Politi- 
cally, he was a Republican, and a strong ad- 
vocate of the temperance cause. The Jackson 
homestead is now owned by his widow, who 
leases it. 

Mr. Jackson was first married on March 26, 
1840, to Miss Hannah B. Lunt, a daughter of 
John Lunt, of Woodstock. She was born in 
March, 1813, and died July 29, 1868, aged 
fifty-five years. Five children were the fruit 
of their union, namely: Asaph K., born April 
1.5, 1S41, now living in South Paris; Lewis 
I.., born February 25, 1843, residing in Gor- 
ham, N.H.; liliza J., born September 24, 
1845, who died March 2S, 1868; Lemuel W., 
Jr., and Alice J., twins, born May 18, 1851, 
the latter of whom died August 23, i860, and 
the former on August 3, 1894. On Xovem- 
ber 18, 1869, Mr. Jackson was joined in mat- 
rimony with Miss Evelina A. Hackett, who 
was born in Minot, Me., October 28, 1827, 
daughter of William and Hannah N. (Brad- 
bury) Hackett. 

Mr. Hackett was born in Minot, Me., Sep- 
tember 5, 1792, and his wife in Bowdoinham, 
Me., June 23, 1795. He was a stirring, ener- 
getic man, and engaged in farming and lum- 
bering in Minot throughout his life. P'ive of 
their nine children are living, namely: Jacob 
M. Hackett, a lumberman in Augusta, Wis.; 
Lucius W., a general business man of Au- 
burn, Me ; lidvvin A., a farmer on the old 
home place in Minot; .Samuel W., residing in 
Biddeford, and engaged in the threefoTd occu- 
pation of a cooper, carpenter, and farmer; and 
Evelina A., Mrs. Jackson. The departed are: 
Horatio N., who died in 1838, at twenty years 
of age; Charles M. F., who died in 1838, at 
eight years of age; F" ranees M. S., who died 
in 1856 at twenty-four; and Flora R., who 
died in 1867 at thirty. Mr. Hackett died at 
his home in Minot, Me., November 18, 1871, 
survived by his wife, who died October 28, 
1873. They were Universalists in religion, 
and in politics he was a Jeffersonian Demo- 
crat. In early womanhood, after completing 



her course of stuily in the high schocd, Mrs. 
Jackson taught school for a time. Later she 
engaged in the millinery business, which she 
followed successfully in Biddeford for two and 
one-half years and in South Paris for fifteen 
years. 




REICMAN ANDREWS, a successful 
agriculturist and a prominent citizen of 
Lovell, Oxford County, Me., was born 
in this town, September 3, 1845, son of Thad- 
deus B. and Hannah E. (Farnum) Andrews. 
He is a representative of one of the old fami- 
lies of this vicinity, his ancestors having been 
among the original settlers of Lovell. They 
were so numero.us at one time that there was a 
school in the district where Mr. Andrews now 
resides, which comprised a teacher and fort}- 
scholars, all of whom were of blood relation- 
ship, and most of them actual members of the 
Andrews famil}'. 

The paternal grandfather, Mr. P'reeman An- 
drews, was Issacher, who was born in Lovell, 
November 23, 1788, and here spent his life in 
general agricultural pursuits. He and his 
wife, Mary D. Bemis, a native of Fryeburg, 
Me., became the parents of five children, 
namely: Jacob, who was born September 23, 
1815, and whose decease occurred December 
II, 1852; Thaddeus B., born April 11, 1818; 
Sallie, who was born April i, 1820; Thomas 
H., born February 22, 1824; and Mason H., 
born April 17, 1832. Mr. Issacher Andrews 
passed away December 2, 1870, at his home in 
Lovell, at the venerable age of eighty-two 
years, having survived his wife very many 
years, she having departed this life October 
14, 1847. 

Thaddeus B. Andrews was their second son. 
Having grown to manhood, he settled first on 
a farm in the eastern part of Lovell; but he 
subsequently removed to the estate now occu- 
pied by his son Freeman, and here engaged in 
husbandry during the remainder of his life. 
He wedded Mrs. Hannah E. Farnum Durgin, 
a native of Hiram, O.xford County, Me. She 
was the widow of William Durgin, who had 
lived only a short time after his marriage. 
As the wife of Mr. Andrews she became the 
mother of si.x children, namely: William 



I4S 



BIOCRArmCAL REVIEW 



Henry, who died in infancy; Freeman, of 
whom further mention is to be made; Mary, 
who still lives in Lovell, the wife of A. S. 
Kendall, a farmer and mason; Caroline, who 
is now the wife of A. D. Rowe, a husbandman 
of Lovell; Saraband Hannah, who both tlied 
in infancy. Mr. Thaddeus B. Andrews tlied 
on May 25, 1868, at the age of fifty years, one 
month, fourteen days, and his wife on April 
8, 1891, aged seventy-one years, one month, 
and six days. 

Freeman, growing to manhood as an only 
son, was early called to help his father in the 
lighter labors of the farm, and for that reason 
obtained but a limited education in the dis- 
trict schools. He remained at home until the 
attainment of his majority, when he worked 
out for two months. Longer than that he 
could not well be spared. He accordingly re- 
turned, and assumed the management of the 
homestead, caring for his parents until their 
decease; and here he has ever since followed 
general farming. The farm now consists of 
about eighty acres, a part of which he devotes 
to the cultivation of garden vegetables and a 
part to stock raising and dairying. Mr. An- 
drews also owns one hundred and fifteen acres 
of wild land in the same township. 

He was first married on November 25, 
1880, to Miss Fannie Durgin, a daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. John Durgin, of Hiram, Me., to 
whom she was born in Porter, November 26, 
1852. Mr. Durgin was a farmer of that town. 
Both he and his wife are now deceased. On 
February 9, 1882, Mr. Andrews was called 
upon to mourn the loss of his first wife; and 
on December 3, i8gi, he wedded Mrs. Susia 
Bemis Brackett, widow of Dennis Brackett, 
late of Lovell, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
James Bemis, both of whom are still living. 
Her father is a farmer of .Stow, O.xford 
County, where she was born November 26, 
1855. By her first husband, who died about a 
dozen years after their marriage, she had three 
children, namely: Nelson B., born March 30, 
1875, now deceased; Bert W., born January 
4, 1879, 'i"'^' who now resides with the subject 
of this sketch; and James R., who was born 
June 12, 1880, and who now makes his home 
at the same place. The second marriage of 
Mr. Andrews has been blessed in the birth of 



one child, a daughter, Isabelle by name, who 
was born November 2, 1892. 

Mr. Andrews is one of the prominent citi- 
zens of Lovell; and, though he is not an as|5i- 
rant for social or political distinction, he has 
served his fellows in several minor puiilic po- 
sitions. In national politics he has always 
been affiliated with the Republican party, of 
the principles advocated by which he is a 
vigorous supporter. Mrs. Andrews is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church of Lovell village. 
Mr. Andrews has ever been an enterprising, 
industrious man; and his efforts have been 
crowned by a gratifying degree of success. 
He enjoys a very numerous acquaintance, and 
commands the respect and trust of all. 




HARLES D. HILL, M.D., of Bethel, 
Me., is an eminent and popular phy- 
sician, connected with the leading 
medical societies of the day. He 
was born in F"ryeburg, Oxford County, Me., 
March 19, 1855, a son of Cyrus K. and Char- 
lotte S. Hill, and comes of an old family, dat- 
ing back to Colonial days in New England. 

Cyrus K. Hill was born in Limerick, York 
County, Me., and, with the exception of the 
four years in which he served as a Union 
soldier in the late Civil War, passed his life 
in that place. He was a ]5ainter, and, besides 
working at his trade, followed the pursuit of 
agriculture for a number of years. He died 
at the age of sixty-nine. His wife, whose 
family name was Hill, but who, so far as 
known, was not of his kin, was born in Chat- 
ham, N.H. She lived to be seventy years of 
age. 

Through his mother Dr. Hill traces his 
ancestry back to Peter Hill, planter, who 
came from Plymouth, lingland, in 1633, and 
settled on Richmond Island, belonging to 
Cape Elizabeth. In 1644 he removed to 
Winter Harbor (Biddeford Pool), and in 164S 
he was a member of the court of Lygonia. 
His death occurred in 1697. Many of his de- 
scendants figured conspicuously in the early 
history of Saco and Biddeford, Me. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cyrus K. Hill were members of the Con- 
gregational church. They reared two sons — 
Erastus G. and Charles D. The elder is a 



lilOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



149 



real estate lirnker, residing in l-iradfonl 
County, Florida. 

Charles D. Hill, the younger son, acquired 
his early education in the common schools and 
Limerick Academy. He worked at book- 
keeping three years, and then took up the 
study of medicine with Dr. S. C). Clark, of 
Limerick. In 1880 he was graduated at the 
Medical School of Maine in Brunswick, Me. 
Hefore entering on private practice Dr. Hill 
had some valuable hospital experience, serv- 
ing, for eight months prior to his graduation, 
as steward in the United States Marine Hos- 
pital service, port of Portland, and subse- 
quently one year as house surgeon in the 
Maine General Hospital at Portland. In Sep- 
tember, 1881, he opened an office in Bethel; 
and since that time his practice has yearly in- 
creased. He has been surgeon for the Grand 
Trunk Railroad for a nuniljer of years. 

Dr. Hill is a Fellow of the Maine Academy 
of Medicine, a member of the Maine Medical 
Association, charter President of the O.xford 
County Medical Association, and a member of 
the American Medical Association, and of the 
National Association of Railway Surgeons. 
He is interested in politics as a Republican, 
and was one of the original members of the 
.South Paris LInited States E.xamining Pension 
Board, with which he was connected three 
years, the establishment of a Democratic ad- 
ministration ending his term of service. Dr. 
Hill is Chairman of the Bethel Board of 
Health. As a Ma.son he belongs to Bethel 
Lodge, No. 97; and he is an Odd Fellow and 
a Knight of Pythias. He is a very popular 
member of the community, his fine social 
c|ualities, as well as his professional excel- 
lence, attracting all with whom he comes in 
contact. Dr. Hill is unmarried. 




iKMUEL GURNEY, of Hebron, Oxford 
County, an extensi\-e farmer and fruit 
grower and a manufacturer of evap- 
orated apple and maple syrup, was 
born in West Minot, Me., March 16, 1826, 
son of Samuel and Lucy (Bryant) Gurney. 
Samuel Gurney was a native of Bridgewater, 
Mass., who in young manhood settled in West 
Minot, where he was engaged in farming upon 



shares for several years. His last days were 
sjient in Hebron, where he died at the age of 
seventy-six years. He was an upright, indus- 
trious farmer and a worthy citizen. He acted 
with the Whig ])arty in politics, and he was 
draftetl for service in the Aroostook War. His 
wife, Lucy, who was a native <>i Hebron, bore 
him eight children, five of whom are living, 
namel}' : Eunice C, the wife of W. W. Hardy, 
of Paris ; Ruth, the wife of Charles H. George ; 
Israel R. and Augustus D., who are residing 
in Natick, Mas.s. ; and Lemuel, the subject of 
this sketch. The others were: Pamice, 
Charles, and Ansel. The mother was about 
seventy-five years old when she died. Both 
parents were members of the Baptist church. 
Lemuel Gurn,ey passed his youth in Minot, 
where in the district school he received his 
elementary education. He subsequently at- 
tended the Hebron Academy for one term. 
I'or a time during his young manhood he 
was engaged in farming. At a later date 
he went to Natick, Mass., and was there em- 
ployed for several years in a large shoe manu- 
factory conducted by Henry Wilson, who at 
one time was a candidate of the P>ee Soil 
Party for the office of Vice-President of the 
United States. In 1846 Mr. Gurney returned 
to Maine, and, settling in Hebron, bought a 
farm of eighty acres, which forms a part of his 
present property. Since then he has added to 
his acreage by the purchase of more land, own- 
ing at the present time some one hundrefl and 
sixty-five acres. On it he erected his present 
residence with other buildings, and has other- 
wise greatly improved the property. His 
large fruit orchard, which he has brought into 
a fine condition, contains some excellent speci- 
mens of apple-trees, including some samples 
of grafting, besides forty different varieties of 
plums and small fruits. He is quite an exten- 
sive manufacturer of evaporated apple, which 
finds a ready .sale in the home markets, and 
makes a specialty of producing cider and vine- 
gar of a superior quality, which are in great 
demand. In addition he markets from three 
to five hundred barrels of fancy grafted apples 
annually. Upon his premises are excellent 
facilities for the manufacture of maple sugar 
and syrup, which he produces in large quan- 
tities. These, together with his fruits and 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



their products, have taken several preniiunis at 
the Maine State and Oxford County fairs. 

On August 14, 1S53, Mr. Gurney wedded 
for his first wife Calista C. Barrows, of He- 
bron. She died in 1881, aged forty-six years, 
three months, and twenty-three days, leaving 
no children. On Januar\- 19, 1892, he mar- 
ried for his second wife Mrs. Lovina J. Has- 
kell. She was born in Poland, Me., January 
3, 1844, daughter of Nathaniel and Keziah 
(Hardy) Haskell. By her previous marriage 
with Freeman B. Haskell, who died February 
10, 1879, she has two children, namely: Mary 
E., wife of C. D. Herrick, of Greenwood, this 
county; and f^dith L. , the wife of F. .S. Pike, 
of Hebron. Mr. (iurney has an adopted son, 
Fred E., who was born in Lewiston, Me., in 
November, 1866. He is now married, and re- 
sides in this town. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gur- 
ney attend and liberally support the Baptist 
church. In politics Mr. Gurney has acted 
with the Republican party since its formation. 
He is connected with Hebron Grange, No. 43, 
Patrons of Husbandry; and he has been Secre- 
tary and Treasurer of both the Hebron and 
State Granges. His business reputation is 
high and widely extended, and he has fully 
earned the success he now enjoys. 



-OSEPH KEITH, a well-known wool- 
carder and formerly the Postmaster of 
North Chesterville, was born in this 
town, February 6, 1829, son of Joseph 
and Betsey (Cornforth) Keith. His grand- 
father, Adam Keith, who was a native of 
Middleboro, Mass., married Sally Morrison, 
also a native of Massachusetts. Her father, 
William Morrison, who settled in Maine in 
1805, was the original possessor of the home- 
stead in Farmington, this county, now occu- 
pied by Mrs. J. B. Morrison. 

Joseph Keith, Sr., resided with his parents 
until he reached manhood, at which period he 
applied himself to learn the trade of a wool- 
carder and cloth -dresser. In 1S12 he went to 
Unity, Waldo County, where he remained for 
six years. Returning in 181 8, he settled at 
the Keith homestead in Chesterville. Here 
he erected a house and other buildings, placed 
the land in a good state of cultivation, and 



followed his trade as well as general farming 
throughout the rest of his active period. He 
died in 1869, aged seventy-three years. He 
was a prominent figure in public affairs, serv- 
ing as Selectman and Town Treasurer for 
many years. He was also the first Postmaster 
at Keith's Mills, a position which he held as 
long as his age permitted him to serve. In 
politics he was a Whig, in religious belief a 
Universalist. His wife, Betsey, whom he 
married in' 1820, bore him four children; 
namely, Harriet, Leonard, Betsey, and Jo- 
seph. She died in 1872. 

Joseph Keith was educated in the common 
schools of Chesterville and at the Farmington 
Academy. While still a 3outh he began to 
learn the trade of a wool-carder with his 
father, and, becoming an expert workman, 
has followed it to the present day. The old 
mill, which was destroyed by fire in October, 
1884, was rebuilt in the following year, and 
thoroughly equipped with modern machinery. 
The present carding machine has a capacity of 
one thousand pounds of wool per week. 
Favoring the Republican party, Mr. Keith 
takes no active part in politics. For forty- 
two years he was identified with the post-office 
here as Assistant and Postmaster. 

On January 18, 1854, Mr. Keith weddeti 
Mercy B. Gale, a daughter of William R. 
Gale, of Palmyra, Me., who died when Mrs. 
Keith was a child. Her mother afterward be- 
came the wife of A. P. Haskell, of Chester- 
ville. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Keith have 
reared five children, namely: William G., 
born December 22, 1855: Linton J., born 
March 17, 1857; Irving E., born September 
28, 1858; Leonard S., born February 7, 1862; 
and Alvin H., born March 20, 1865. Will- 
iam G. Keith, who is now a member of the 
firm of Keith & Hiscock, hardware dealers of 
East Brookfield, Mass., married for his second 
wife Mildred Fay, daughter of Warren D. 
Fay, of that town. Linton J. Keith, who car- 
ries on the home farm, married Laura Good- 
rich, daughter of David Goodrich, of Chester- 
ville, and has seven children : namely, Georgie, 
Harriet A., Betsey B., Pldith M., Marion G., 
Mildred, and Cony. Irving E. Keith, who 
learned the tailor's trade, and became a well- 
known salesman of Augusta, Me., is now trav- 



BrOGRArinCAT, rf,vie\v 



15' 



elling in the West. Alvin H. Keith, who 
was for four years station a<;ent on the l^os- 
ton & Albany Railroad at Ware, Mass., and 
is now connected with large plumbing con- 
cerns in Manchester, N.H., married Emma 
Martin, a daughter of Emerson Martin, of 
Manchester. 

Leonard S. Keith, who is a prominent busi- 
ness man and a civil engineer of Chesterville, 
received his education in the town schools and 
at the W^ilton Academ)'. At the age of eigh- 
teen he went to East Brookfield, Mass., and 
there worked at the tinner's trade for two 
years. Returning then to Chesterville, he 
took uj) the study of civil engineering, and 
subsequently entered upon that business. 
His first work as a surveyor was upon J. W. 
Morse's farm in Jay, Me. Since that time 
he has surveyed land in Maine, Massachu- 
setts, and Florida, having remained in the 
last-named State for a season. He now man- 
ufactures carriage lifters and all kinds of wood 
work, runs the carding and grist mills here, 
and does custom sawing and planing at the 
saw-mills. The present mills were erected by 
him in place of the old ones which were de- 
stroyed by fire in 1884; and in 1893 he built 
a fine residence upon the site of the former 
one, which was occupied by Jonas Davis, 
while he was the grist miller at Keith's Mills. 
On February 16, 1893, Leonard S. Keith 
married Cora G. Fellows, of Fayette, Me., a 
daughter of Eugene Fellows, whose great- 
grandfather was one of the first settlers of 
Chester\'ille. She has one daughter, Geneva 
R., who was born June 16, 1895. 




ANA O. COOLIDGK, Deputy Sher- 
iff and the proprietor of a thriving 
livery business in Jay, was born in 
Livermore, Me., (October 12, 1852, 
son of Elisha and Celia B. (Bradford) Cool- 
idge, both natives of Livermore. His great- 
grandfather and giandfather, Thomas and Dan- 
iel Coolidge, who were natives of Watertown, 
Mass., settled in Livermore in the early part 
of the present century, and resided there for 
the rest of their lives. 

Elisha Coolidge was born and reared u]50n a 
farm. From 1856 to 1859 he was engaged in 



the provision business in Augusta, Me. ; but 
his principal occupation was farming, which 
he prosperously followed in Livermore. He 
was highly respected, and he took an active 
interest in the progress and development of 
the town. Lie died June 29, i8g6. His wife, 
Celia B. Bradford, became the mother of eight 
children, as follows; ALirtha C, now residing 
in Sioux Falls, .S. Dak., the widow of Joseph 
M. Merserve, who died in 1861 ; Charles, a 
resident of Jay, who married Angle M. Nick- 
erson, now deceased; Lizzie, who died at the 
age of twelve years; Edward, who died in in- 
fancy; Caroline M., now living in Ja\-, tlie 
widow of E. .S. Kyes, who died in Washing- 
ton, D.C., in 1888; Hiram 15., a prosperous 
agriculturist of Farmingtt)n, who married 
Emma C. Lela'nd ; Dana O. , the subject of 
this sketch; and I'rank W., who is married 
and resides in Pcjrtland, Me. Mr. Coolidge's 
mother died in March, 1891. 

The school days of Dana O. Coolidge ended 
with a course at Westbrook -Seminary. At 
the age of twenty-two he went to Boston, 
where he became a salesman in the cigar and 
tobacco trade, and remained there for seven 
years. Li the spring of 1883 he returned to 
his native State, and, settling upon a farm in 
North Ja\', was engaged in general farming 
there for ten years. In 1893 he moved to 
North Jay village, where he established him- 
self in the lix'cry business, to which he has 
since devoted his attention. He keejis at an 
average fourteen good driving horses, with first- 
class equipments. In adtlitioii to furnishing 
the public with excellent turnouts, he buys 
and sells good horses at every favorable oppor- 
tunity. 

Mr. Coolidge has been twice married. The 
first ceremony took jilace June 30, 1880, while 
he was residing in Boston. By it he was 
wedded to Ada C. Nickerson, daughter of the 
late Ensign Nickerson, of Cotuit, Mass., who 
died in Jay, March 10, 18S7. His second 
marriage was contracted July 3, 1891, with 
lulith Idella Bean, daughter of George H. and 
Augusta (Jk'an) IV'an, the former of whom is 
a well-known livery man and hotel-keeper at 
Jay Bridge. Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge have two 
children — Cordana E. and Georgia May. Mr. 
Coolidge was a Selectman of Jay in 1885, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



has acted as Deputy Sheriff for the past four 
years. He supports the Republican party, and 
is a charter member of I'>anklin Lodge, No. 
94, Knights of Pythias, of North Jay, and at- 
tends the Uni versa! ist church. 



'AM1-:S 'SI. FARRLS, who occupies the 
ohl Farris homestead in Hebron, and 
is one of the most able and successful 
farmers in this town, was born where 
he now resides, January 26, 1837, son of Jo- 
seph G. and Basha (Irish) Farris. The home- 
stead was originally settled by his great-grand- 
father, James Farris, who cleared a portion of 
the property, and spent the rest of his life 
there among the early settlers, prosperously 
engaged in farming. His grandfather, also 
named James, who was born upon the farm, 
inherited the property, and cultivated it during 
the active period of his life. He also did a 
large business in cutting timber by contract. 
He was a prominent man in Oxford County, 
which he served in the capacity of High Sher- 
iff. His death occurred when he was forty- 
four \'ears old. He married Margaret Monk, 
who attained the age of eighty years, and had 
nine children. Of the latter, the father of 
James M. F"arris was the sec(jnd-born. 

Joseph G. Farris came into the world at the 
homestead, and was a lifelong resident of He- 
bron. He succeeded to the ownership of the 
farm, which he carried on successfully for 
many years, keeping the soil in a fertile con- 
dition. He also had a very profitable business 
as stone contractor, supplying a great deal of 
material for public works. He continued in 
active occu])ation until his death, which oc- 
curred \\;hen he was si.xty-three years old. In 
politics he was a Republican, and he was a 
member of the Baptist church. His wife, 
Basha, a native of Buckfield, Me., had si.v 
children, as follows; Olive, Saphronia, and 
Ellen, all now deceased ; Ale.xander, who is a 
carpenter and resides in Minot, ^le. ; Wash- 
ington, whci lives in Boston, and is also a car- 
penter; and James M., the youngest, and the 
subject of this sketch. The mother died at 
the age of forty-four years. 

James M. Farris was educated in the district 
schools. In young manhood he became an op- 



erative in a shoe manufactory, and continued 
in that occupation for eleven years. After 
his father's death he bought the homestead 
property, on which since 1874 he has carried 
on general farming very successfully. His 
improvements, which include a new set of 
buildings, have made the property one of the 
most desirable farms in this section. Besides 
the seventy-five acres comprising the original 
estate, he owns some outlying land. On Sep- 
tember 6, 1858, Mr. Farris wedded Eliza Ann 
Peterson, who was born in Oxford, this 
county, June 14, 1841, daughter of Andrew- 
Peterson, of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Farris 
have three children, as follows: Fred. J., a 
resident of Minot, who is married and has two 
children — namely, Ida M. and Charles; Adel- 
bert L. , of Auburn, Me., who is married and 
has one son, Roy; and Ada E., the wife of 
B. M. Pratt, of Oxford, having tw'o sons — 
namely, Harold M. and Adelbert S. 

None of the many progressive farmers of this 
vicinity are regarded with more respect than 
Mr. F"arris. In politics he acts with the Re- 
publican party, while both he and Mrs. l-"arris 
are liberal in their religious views. 




ENRV FOBES, who has been success- 
fully engaged as a tiller of the soil 
during the larger jjart of his active 
life, was born ^Iay 8, 1831, in 
Paris, Oxford County, Me., on the homestead 
which he now occupies. His grandfather, 
Daniel Fobes, was born in 1742, in Bridge- 
water, Mass., and was a great-great-grandson 
of John Fobes, who was one of the original 
proprietors of that town. 

In 1802 the grandfather removed with his 
family to Maine, settling in Oxford Comity. 
He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in what was then the new town of Paris; and, 
with the assistance of his children, he cleared 
quite a large tract, placing it in a state of cul- 
tivation. An industrious, law--abiding. God- 
fearing man, he won for himself a leading po- 
sition among the citizens of the place. In 
politics he was a representative Democrat and 
in religion a Baptist, serving for many years 
as Deacon of the first church of that denomina- 
tion established in Paris. His wife, whose 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



153 



maiden iiamu was Hannah Standish, was a 
direct descendant in the fourth generation of 
Miles Standish, the stalwart Captain of Plym- 
outh. They had the following children : 
Azariah ; Daniel; Sarah; Amasa; Seth ; Han- 
nah; I.uin, a soldier in the War of 1812, who 
died while imprisoned at Halifax. \. S. ; 
Heza ; Mehitable; and Hillings. Daniel 
P'obes lived until he was about seventy-three 
years old, and his widow attained the vener- 
able age of ninct3'-two years. 

Billings Fobes was the youngest of the 
family. He was born August 7, 1792, in 
Bridgewater, Mass., but from the age of ten 
years lived at the present homestead, continu- 
ing throughout his life in the occupation to 
which he was reared. Among the substantial 
improvements that he made on the farm are 
numbered the present dwelling-house and 
other farm buildings. He carried on advan- 
tageously the various branches of general agri- 
culture. In politics he was a Republican, and 
in religion a Baptist. He was actively inter- 
ested in military matters, being for a number 
of years Commander of the Rifle Company of 
the Paris militia. His death occurred in 
1 866, at the age of seventy-three years. Cap- 
tain Billings Fobes was twice married. His 
first wife, before marriage Harriet Stevens, 
was a native of Paris. She died on the home- 
stead at the early age of thirty-five years, leav- 
ing an only child, Henry, the special subject 
of this sketch. The father subsequently mar- 
ried Paulina Robinson, also of this town, who 
lived to the age of seventy-seven years. 

Henry Fobes grew to manhood in his native 
town. He was educated in the public schools; 
and he learned to work on his father's farm, 
which eventually came into his possession by 
inheritance. He has one hundred acres of 
land, and carries on the various branches of 
his industry with signal success, reaping large 
crops of hay, potatoes, ctnn, and other farm 
products, and in addition supporting a small 
dairy and raising considerable fruit. Brought 
up, as it were. Republican, Mr. Fobes has 
never swerved from party allegiance. He is 
connected with two fraternal orders, namely: 
Mount Mica Lodge, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, of South Paris; and Paris Grange, 
Patrons of llusbantirv. He is a religious man 



and is an active member and Deacon of the 
Congregational church, both he and his wife 
having united with it many years ago. 

On November 4, 1S57, Mr. Fobes married 
Frances P. Webster, who was born January 3, 
1831, in Freeport, Me., a daughter of Captain 
Ik'njamin Webster, of that town. She died 
January 8, 1896, leaving three children, as 
follows: Hattie S., the wife of A. W. Pratt, 
formerly a sea captain, but now superintendent 
of the electric railway at Orange, N.J., who 
has four children — Harland A., Henry V., 
Margaret, and Ruth; Annie B. , who is the 
wife of Walter H. Swett, a manufacturer of 
tin cans at South Paris, and has one child, 
Eva F. ; and Eunice W., a teacher. 



-rp)TENRY D. PARKl'IR, a prominent 
L^J farmer of Jay, was born in this town, 

|l s I July 2, 1847, son (if Henry and 

— ■ Nancy (Tuck) Parker. His great- 
grandfather was Jonathan Parker, who moved 
from Ro.xbury, Mass., to Jay; and he resided 
here until his death. His grandfather, Scar- 
borough Parker, who was bcun .September 3, 
1767, in Roxbury, Mass., and settled in Jay in 
1789, owned a farm in the south-east part of 
the town, where he resided until his tleath on 
May 13, 1 8 14. Scarborough Parker married 
Hannah Coding, and by her became the father 
of ten children, as follows: Hannah, who was 
born May 27, 1796; Susannah, born August 
27, 1797, who died in 1889; Joel, born March 
10, 1799; Henry, born May 8, 1801; Jona- 
than, born August i, 1802; Abigail, born 
April 14, 1804, who died November 10, 1857; 
Cyrus, born August 17, 1805, who died Sep- 
tember 24, 1892; Rhoda, born June 6, 1808, 
who died in August, 1889; Harriet, born May 
24, iSiO; and Amos, born October 20, 181 i. 
Henry Parker was born in Jay. In early 
manhood he cleared and improved the farm 
now owned by his son, Henry D. An indus- 
trious and successful farmer and a worthy citi- 
zen, he had the sincere good will of his neigh- 
bors, and died I'ebruary 18, 1872. His first 
wife, Nancy (Tuck) Parker, who was a native 
of F"ayette, Me., died January 14, 1859. The 
only child of that union is Henry D. , the sub- 
jcct of this sketch. For his secontl wife lie 



154 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



wedded Mrs. Patience (Sylvester) Harrington, 
of Durham, Me., now deceased, who was then 
the widow of the Rev. James Harrington. 

Henry D. Parker acquired a common-school 
education in Jay, and resided at home until he 
was twenty-one years old. He then went to 
Lynn, Mass., where he was subsequently em- 
ployed in a planing-mill for three years. At 
the end of that time he returned to Jay, and 
settled at the homestead. Since then he has 
given his attention to general agriculture, 
owning a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, 
which he has greatly improved, and .shipping 
the fruit of his large orchard to Boston. He 
is also interested in the Livermore Falls Trust 
and Banking Company, of which he is a Di- 
rector. 

On June 22, 1881, Mr. Parker was united 
in marriage with Clara Grinnell. She was 
born in Exeter, Me., May 19, 1851, daughter 
of William and Mahala (Irish) Grinnell, who 
were natives respectively of Exeter and Union, 
Me. William Grinnell resided upon a farm 
in E.xeter until his death, March 19, 1876. 
His wife's death hajipened March 23, 1895. 
Mr. and Mrs. Parker have one son, Howard 
H., who was born September 19, 1S89. A 
Reiniblican in politics, Mr. Parker takes an 
active interest in public affairs, but has never 
aspired to office. He is a member of Oriental 
Star Lodge, No. 21, A. F. & A. M., of Liver- 
more Falls. Both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist P^piscopal church. 




jHARLES M. DORR, whose widow, 
Mrs. Charlotte Morse Dorr, a native 
of Waterford, owns and occupies a 
very pleasant residence in South 
Waterford village, Me., was at one time 
prominent in the lumbering industry in the 
Pine Tree State. He was born in Boston, 
Mass., June 2, 1799, the son of Captain Will- 
iam and Lucinda (Da\'is) Dorr, both of that 
city. 

Captain William Dorr, who was master of a 
vessel, and spent much of his life on the high 
seas, always made his home in Boston; and 
he died there in 1845. His wife had gone 
before him, passing away in 1843. They were 
the parents of seven children — of whom the 



youngest only is now living — namely: Caleb: 
William; Charles M., the subject of this 
sketch; Lucinda; Elizabeth; James; and 
Sarah, who resides in Ro.xbury, Mass., the 
widow of Edwin Lemist. 

Charles M. Dorr was educated in Boston, 
remaining with his parents until the time of 
his first marriage, when he went to Dorchester 
to live. After a residence of some years in 
that place he removed to Bradley, Me., and 
engaged in the lumber business. This was in 
the early forties, when there was not so much 
competition in that line of industry as at the 
present day, and when timber coulcl almost be 
had for the cutting; and Mr. Dorr accumu- 
lated a fortune within the space of a quarter 
of a century. 

In 1865 he became a resident of Milford, 
Me., retiring from active business ; and in- that 
town he died, June 9, 1866. He was an ener- 
getic, capable, and persevering man, never 
shirking a task, no matter how heavy; and he 
won the respect and confidence of all with 
whom he came in contact. In politics he was 
a Republican. 

Mr. Dorr was married in Dorchester to 
Miss Ann Morse, of Dedham, Mass., who 
died in 1844 in Bradley, Me. By this union 
he had si.x children — Albert H. (deceased); 
Caleb Davis, a lumberman in Minneapolis, 
Minn.; Ann, wife of Symond J. Murphy, of 
Detroit, Mich.; Sarah E., widow of William 
Garland, residing with her sister in Detroit; 
William, of Milford, Me., who married Miss 
Lena Doe; and Temple E., who married Miss 
Malvina Eddy, and lives in East Saginaw, 
Mich. On August 18, 1845, the year follow- 
ing the death of his first wife, Mr. Dorr was 
married in Bradley, Me., to Miss Charlotte 
Morse, of Waterford, Me. She was born July 
21, i8t6, the daughter of Jonathan and Chloe 
(Willard) Morse. Her parents were born in 
Massachusetts, the father in Stow, the mother 
in Harvard. They removed to Waterford in 
the early part of this century; and Mr. Morse 
was here prosperously engaged in farming for 
a number of years, and he was also a drover. 
He died in Waterford in 1833, the year fol- 
lowing the death of his wife. They were the 
parents of tweh'e children, all but three of 
whom died in infancy. Of these three, tlie 



./^"^ 







CHARLES M^ DORR. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



57 



eldest is Mrs. Dorr. The second, Augustus 
G. , died in 1864; and the third, Sarah, who 
was the wife of Dr. Z. Jodon, died July 9, 
1884. 

After her husband's death Mrs. Dorr went 
West, and was in Michigan, Minnesota, and 
Ohio for two years, visiting her step-children. 
Returning to Milford, Me., she resided there 
a year, and then came to her native jjlace to 
spend her declining years amid the scenes 
familiar to her childhood. Although Mrs. 
Dorr has passed the eightieth milestone in 
life's journey, she does not seem old; and her 
friends are sanguine that she will spend many 
succeeding seasons in her beautiful home. 
She is a member of the Congregational church 
in Waterford. 




LVIN W. JUDKINS, a successful 
blacksmith and carriage builder of 
West Farmington, was born No- 
vember 29, 1856, in Carthage, Me., 
son of Willard and Malissa (Mitchell) Jud- 
kins. His grandfather, Phillip Judkins, who 
was one of the first settlers in Carthage, mar- 
ried Rachel White, and died at the age of 
seventy-five, leaving seven children. His 
widow's death occurred in September, 1896, 
at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. 
Their children were: Orrin, A.saph, Willard, 
Irena, Eastman, Benjamin, and Mercey A. 
Asaph was killed in the late war. 

Willard Judkins learned shoemaking in 
early life, and subsequently worked at it for a 
while in .Stoughton, Mass. Not liking the 
trade, he then turned his hand to carpenter- 
ing. Some time after, a part of his father's 
farm became his by inheritance; and he re- 
turned home to take charge of it. He built 
some new buildings on the property, and he 
carried on general farming until his death in 
1876. He was a Republican in politics. He 
represented the town for a time in the State 
legislature, and served it acceptably as Select- 
man. In religious belief he was an Ad- 
ventist. His wife, a daughter of Joshua 
Mitchell, of Carthage, bore him si.x children. 
Preston died young. The survi\-ors are: 
Alvin W., Everrett P., Orrin S. , Morris T., 
and Evander C. The mother is also living. 



Alvin \V. Judkins was educated in his na- 
tive town. Upon arriving at maturity, he 
bought his father's farm and cultivated it for 
a period of four years. Selling it then, he 
went to West Farmington, and took charge 
of the Elm Hotel, which he ran for a short 
time. After this he conducted a boarding- 
house for a spell, during which he learned the 
blacksmith's trade. He subsequently worked 
at this craft for two years in West Farming- 
ton, and then moved to Madison, Me., where 
he rented a blacksmith's shop, and started in 
business for himself. Some time after, he 
bought a shop, which, on finding it unsuit- 
able for his pur]iose, he sold. Then, in part- 
nership with Mr. H. H. Steward, he bought 
some land, built a first-class shop and house 
on it, and was" there prosperously engaged at 
his trade until 1893. In that year he disposed 
of his share in the business, came back to 
West P'armington, and bought a half-interest 
in the Whitney blacksmith sho]x Here he 
has since carried on general blacksmith work 
and carriage ironing with much success, em- 
ploying skilled workmen to assist him. He 
also deals in wagons and in carriages. Some 
time ago he purchased the fine old residence 
on Water Street known as the Ed Greenwooti 
estate, and has much improved it since. 

Mr. Judkins was married September 17, 
1880, to Miss Flora B. Hutchinson, a daugh- 
ter of Reuben and Isabel (Pratt) Hutchinson, 
highly respected farming people. Their four 
children are: P'lorence H., born November 
II, 1 881; La Forrest E. , born March 10, 
18S3; Gertrude B. , born June 19, 1S89; and 
Lucy W., born September 4, 1895. Like his 
father, Mr. Judkins is a Republican, and in 
religion an Adventist. He is also a member 
of Euclid Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Madison, 
and of the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men. 




HARLES E. WILSON, M.D., an 
esteemed physician of p;ast Hiram 
village, O.xford County, was born 
in Limerick, Me., September 9, 
1853, son of Jonathan and ElizalDeth (Cole) 
Wilson. The family, which is of Scotch 
origin, descends from Gowen Wilson, its 



158 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



founder in America. Moses Wilson, Dr. 
Wilson's grandfather, who was a native of 
Kittery, Me., settled upon a farm in Parsons- 
field, Me., previous to 1800, and some years 
later removed to Cornish, Me., where he re- 
sided for the rest of his life. 

Jonathan Wilson, who was a native of I'ar- 
sonsfield, was twelve years of age when he 
moved with his parents to Cornish. In young 
manhood he settled in Limington, Me. At a 
later date he went to Limerick, and subse- 
quently to Sweden, this county, where he 
died Septemi)er 3, 1890. His wife, Eliza- 
beth, who was a native of Cornish, had nine 
children, as follows: Harriet, born April 2, 
1837, who died November 6, 1858; John, 
born December 25, 1838, who died June 26, 
1896; Fanny N., born April 22, 1840, who 
died March 5, 1875: Moses B., born April 2, 
1842, who died March 16, 1864; George F"., 
born July 15, 1844, who died March 14, 1882: 
Sarah E., born July 28, 1846, who died April 
19, 1847; Sarah E. (second), born May 12, 
1848, who died February 9, 1888; Daniel W., 
born August 11, 1850, who died October 18, 
1862; and Charles E., the subject of this 
sketch. Her death occurred on January i, 
1892. 

Charles E. Wilson received his early edu- 
cation in the public schools. He subse- 
quently attended the North Bridgton Academy 
and Gray's Business College, for a time; and 
then he fitted for Bowdoin College at the Nor- 
way Institute, where he graduated as class 
orator. After teaching school in Norway, 
Waterford, Sweden, and Lovell for eighteen 
terms, he entered Bowdoin College Medical 
School, from which he graduated with the 
class of 1885. Upon receiving his diploma, 
he entered upon his profession at Kineo, Me. 
In the following November he located in East 
Hiram, where he has since resided. During 
the winter of 1894-95 he took a post-graduate 
course at the Post-graduate Medical College of 
New York City. His practice e.xtends over a 
wide circuit, including several towns in 0.\- 
ford and Cumberland Counties. The duties 
of Secretary of the Board of Health and of a 
member of the Board of United States E.xam- 
iners in pension cases are also discharged by 
him. He has been a member of the Maine 



Medical Association since 1886, and is also 
connected with the Maine Academy of Medi- 
cine and Sciences. 

On June 16, 1885, Dr. Wilson was united 
in marriage with Frances Ella Chadbourne, 
daughter of Francis S. Chadbourne, a promi- 
nent resident of Oxford, who died in 1893. 
They have one son, Charlie Louville, who was 
born November 10, 1886. A Democrat in 
politics, the Doctor is too much occupied 
with his professional duties to take a promi- 
nent part in public affairs. At present he is 
rendering valuable service to the town as a 
member of the School Board, and he was Su- 
pervisor of Schools during six years of his 
residence in Hiram. He is connected with 
the Masonic fraternity, being a member of 
Mount Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, of Hiram; of 
Aurora Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Cor- 
nish. He has also membership in Hiram 
Lodge, No. 16, Knights of Pythias. Dr. and 
Mrs. Wilson attend the Congregational church, 
and occupy an important social position in the 
community. 




RASTUS W. UEhlRlNG, a native of 
Denmark, Oxford County, represents 
an old county family. He was born 
September 11, 18 19, upon the farm he now 
owns and occujjies, son of Robert and Rhoda 
(Whittemore) Deering. Mr. Deering's father, 
who was a native of .Saco, Me., born October 
22, 1789, came in 1808 to Denmark, where 
he settled upon the farm which has since been 
the homestead of the family. He continued 
to till the soil with success during the rest of 
his active period, and died June 3, 1864. His 
wife, Rhoda, who was born in Hebron, Me., 
Jul\- 2, 17S8, became the mother of seven 
children, of whom two are living, namely: 
Erastus W., the subject of this sketch; and 
Sarah Jane, who married Myron H. Mansfield, 
and is now residing in Nebraska. The others 
were: Deborah W. , Robert, Jairus M., Mary 
J., and luuiice Eliza. Deborah W. died at 
the age of seventeen, and Mary J. and Eunice 
Eliza also died before reaching maturity. The 
mother died August 28, 1854. 

Erastus W. Deering acquiretl a common- 
school education, and was reared to farm life 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'59 



at tlie homestead. Some time after his mar- 
riage he went to McLean County, Illinois, 
where he was engaged in farming for a year. 
Returning then to Denmark he has .since given 
hi.s attention to carrying on the home farm, 
which he inherited at his father's death. The 
property consists of two hundred acres of 
desirable land, the tillage portion of which is 
in a good .state of cultivation. His ])rinci- 
pal crops have been hay, corn, and potatoes. 
He has been exceedingly active and industri- 
ous, making the most advantageous use of his 
opportunities for advancement. Some time 
since he practically retired from labor, leaving 
the management of the farm to his son. 

On March 23, 1843, Mr. Deering wedded 
Joann I. Jewett, who was born in Denmark, 
daughter of Daniel and Lydia Jewett, the for- 
mer a thrifty farmer of this town. Born of the 
marriage were four children, namely: Annie 
H., who is the wife of Nathaniel Wiggin.s, of 
Baldwin, Me. ; Jairus M., who died at the age 
of si.xteen ; Alice A., who is now a teacher in 
the ])ublic schools of Chicago; and Arthur M., 
whose birth occurred Augu.st 18, 1857, and 
who is now in charge of the home farm. Ar- 
thur M. married Mary S. Lowell, daughter of 
Daniel Lowell, late of this town, and has five 
children; namely, Jennie E. , Arthur L. , Wal- 
ter P., Helen I., and Ralph O. His mother 
died February 11, i860; and on October 11 of 
the same year his father married for his second 
wife Mary A. Jordan, who was born in Den- 
mark, August 30, 1829, daughter of Mial and 
Mehitable Jordan, former residents of this 
town, both now decea.sed. In politics Mr. 
Deering is a Republican. He has voted with 
his party since its formation, but has never 
aspired to public office. He is, however, 
deeply interested in all matters relative to the 
general welfare of the town, and is well in- 
formed regarding the principal questions of 
the day. Mrs. Deering is a member of the 
Methodist church. 




ILLIAM AUGUSTUS MANNING, 
manager of the Elliott & Bartlett 
spool-mills of North Waterford, 
O.xford County, was born in Eaton, N.H., 
December 12, 1850, son of Dr. William A. 



and Nancy (Atkinson) Manning. Dr. Will- 
iam A. Manning, who was a native of Ipswich, 
Mass., entered on the study of medicine in 
his native town, finishing his professional 
training in Philadelphia. He began practice 
in Dover, N.H. Subsequently he pursued his 
profession in Springvale, Me., South lk>rwick, 
Me., and Eaton, N.H.; in Stoneham, this 
county, where he remained several years; and 
in Weld, Me., for two years. His death oc- 
curred March 26, 1876, in Weld. He was 
married in Eaton, N.H., to Miss Atkinson, a 
native of that town, who is now living in 
F:aton with her sister. They had five chil- 
dren, namely: William A., the subject of this 
sketch; Allegra, in I-:ilsworth, Me.; John F., 
a practising physician in F:ilsworth, Me., who 
married Miss Maude Saunders; Ida H., de- 
ceased, who was the wife of Dr. Charles M. 
Coolidge, a physician of North Waterford; 
and Hattie, who lived but three summers. 

William A. Manning received a common- 
school education, supplemented by one term 
at the Bridgton (Me.) Academy. He left 
home when about twenty years of age, going 
to Albany, Me., whore he worked in the tim- 
ber some two months. He then obtained em- 
ployment in a saw-mill in Milton, N.H., re- 
maining four months. The three months 
following he was employed in a saw-mill in 
Stoneham, this county. In 1S72 he entered 
the employ of Elliott & Bartlett, whose favor 
and confidence he won by his industry and 
the conscientious discharge of his duties.' He 
has now been manager and overseer of the mill 
for nearly a quarter of a century. The Elliott 
& Bartlett spool-mill, located at Lynchville, 
about a mile north of the village'tif North 
Waterford, is one of the largest and most 
prosperous concerns in this part of the county. 
Mr. Manning is also engaged to some extent 
in farming, and owns some real estate near 
North Waterford village. 

He was married June 13, 1881, while on 
a visit to Pittsfield, Pa., to Miss Lizzie M. 
Bartlett, of that town. She was born at 
Stoneham, Me. .January 17, i860, daughter of 
Enoch M. and Mary (Ayers) Bartlett, both 
natives of Maine, born respectively in Newry 
and Stoneham. Mr. Bartlett, wiio is a farmer, 
living in Naples, Me,, has been three times 



i6o 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



married. Mis first wife died at Pittsfield, 
Pa., June 24, 18S3. His second marriage was 
contracted with iVIrs. Sarah Gray, of Thomas- 
boro, 111., and his third with Mrs. Sophia 
Leavitt, of Naples, Me., who is still living. 
Mr. Manning has four children, all natives of 
North Waterford, namely: Fonti E., born 
July 15, 1882; Robert L., born January 21, 
1885; Mary A., born August 12, 1888; and 
Arthur B., born July 4, 1891. Mr. Manning 
votes the Republican ticket. He is a member 
of Oxford Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, of North Waterford village. 
Keeping on friendly terms with all conditions 
of men, "Gus Manning" is one of the most 
popular men of the town. 




LRION K. I'. JONI'lS, of Jay, Frank- 
lin County, was born here, March 2, 
1829, son of Hiram and Betsey 
(Tuck) Jones, both natives of Fay- 
ette, Me. His grandfather, Captain Sylvester 
Jones, a native of Taunton, Mass., who was a 
ship-master at one time, settled upon a farm 
in Fayette, and resided there for the rest of 
his life. Hiram Jones came to Jay in 1826. 
He purchased a farm here, which he cultivated 
industriously during the rest of his active 
period, and died about the year 1870. His 
wife, Betsey, became the mother of seven chil- 
dren, namely: Mary A., who is still residing 
at the homestead in Jay; Albion K. P., the 
subject of this sketch; Harriet, who is now 
the widow of Otis Richardson, and lives in 
Livermore Falls; Albert V., who married 
Jane Gordon, and occupies the old homestead; 
William B., who is no longer living: Ann 
Elizabeth, who married John Peterson, and 
now resides in California; and Charles H., 
Ann Elizabeth's twin brother, who died in 
the Civil War. The mother reached the age of 
eighty years before she died. 

Albion K. P. Jones was educated in the 
common schools of Jay, and resided at home 
until he was nineteen years old. He then 
went to Lowell, Mass., where he remained for 
three years employed as a watchman. In 
June, 185 1, he joined a party bound for the 
mines in California, and with them, on the 
28th of the month, left New York City for 



the Isthmus. On arriving there they crossed 
to Panama in a log boat; and, after waiting in 
that city seven days for a vessel, they started 
on the voyage up the coast, which occupied 
seventeen days, and arrived at San Francisco 
on August 6. Mr. Jones went to the diggings 
in Northern California, and there obtained 
employment in a mine at seven dollars per 
day. He lived in a hut made of brush, board- 
ing himself at seven dollars per week; and his 
sojourn there was productive of good financial 
results. After making considerable money he 
finally left the mines, and engaged in agri- 
culture upon a farm in Suisun Valley for two 
years. He then returned to Jay, and bought 
the farm where he now resides. He owns two 
hundred and forty acres of fertile land, which 
he has brought to a good state of cultivation, 
and much enhanced in value by erecting new 
and substantial buildings. 

On January 10, 1854, Mr. Jones was first 
united in marriage with P2mily Bigelow, who 
was born in Corinna, Me., daughter of John 
Bigelow. She died November 10, 1863, leav- 
ing two children, namely: F"annie, now the 
wife of Albert Wing, of Fayette, Me.; and 
Emma J., who is the widow of Bradford F. 
Parker, and resides at the Parker homestead, 
having two children — Horace A. and Brad- 
ford S. By a second marriage on April 4, 
1866, Mr. Jones was wedded to Mrs. Mary E. 
(Reynolds) Porter. She was born in Belfast, 
Me., November 25, 1830, daughter of William 
and Mehitable (Trundy) Reynolds, now de- 
ceased, who were prosperous farming people 
of that town. In politics Mr Jones acts with 
the Republican party. Both he and Mrs. 
Jones are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. They have the warm esteem and 
good will of their neighbors. 



-OHN WESTON, of Fryeburg, an exten- 
sive dealer in live stock and one of the 
largest timber land owners in Oxford 
County, was born in Fryeburg, January 
13, 1834, son of FZdward and Rachel (Ward) 
Weston. Edward Weston was a native of 
Lincoln, Mass., came to P'ryeburg in March, 
1800, and settled upon the farm where his son 
John now resides. He was a farmer and a 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



i6i 



cattle drover ; and for many years he carried 
the United States mail from Fryeburg to Port- 
land. In his day he figured prominently in 
public affairs, and was Deputy Sheriff for sev- 
eral years. He died April 3, 1853. His first 
wife, in maidenhood Jane Webster, of Conway, 
\. H., who died in 1829, bore him five chil- 
dren — Ann, James, Charles, lulward, and 
John, none of whom are living. I^y his second 
marriage he was wedded to Rachel Ward, a 
native of Concord, X. H. Her father, Jona- 
than Ward, came to p'ryeburg when she was 
si.\ months old, and resided here for the rest of 
his life. -She became the mother of four chil- 
dren, as follows: John, the subject of this 
sketch; (ieorge Ward, who was an extensive 
cattle dealer in South America, where he has 
since died; Jane W. , who resides at the home- 
stead in this town; and Edward Payson, who 
married Frances Hunt, and is a general mer- 
chant in Fryeburg. She survived her husband 
nearly forty years, and resided at the home- 
stead until her death, which occurred January 
3, 1892, at the advanced age of ninety-two 
years. 

John Weston acquired his education at the 
Fryeburg Academy. After his father's death 
he began life for himself, first working in the 
lumber camp.s, and later employed in handling 
stone. Being a great admirer of live stock, he 
naturally drifted into that business, commenc- 
ing in a small way by shipping to the cattle 
markets. Since then he has become one of the 
largest dealers in this county. He is also 
extensively interested in lumbering, and owns 
over four thousand acres of timber land. This 
property is located as follows: five hundred 
acres in F'ryeburg; five hundred in F>yeburg 
and ]5rownfield townships; three hundred in 
Mason; one thou.sand in Conway, N. H. ; thir- 
teen hundred in Madison and Iiaton, N. H. ; 
three hundred in Bartlett, N. H. ; two hundred 
in Freedom, N.H. ; and other tracts in Maine 
and New Hampshire. His homestead jirop- 
erty contains one hundred acres of excellent 
tillage land with a substantial residence, and 
occupies a pleasant location near the village of 
F"ryeburg. 

On January 13, 1859, Mr. Weston was 
united in marriage to Abbie F. Glines. She 
was born in Eaton, N. H., daughter of Thomas 



Glines, now deceased, forn"ierly a prosperous 
farmer of that town. She became the mother 
of five children, as follows: l^dward, born Oc- 
tober 23, 1859, who married Sadie Gordon, a\ 
native of Canada, and is now in the grain busi- 
ness in ]>"ryeburg; James Herbert, born No- 
vember 3, 1 861, who died at the age of two 
years; Mary, born P'ebruary 9, 1866, residing ~ 
at home; Susan, born March 12, 1868, who is 
now a teacher in the public schools of this 
town; and George Ward, born Se])tember 3, 
1870, also residing at home. Mrs. Weston 
died May 28, 1895. In politics Mr. Weston is 
a Republican, and, though actively interested 
in all measures calculated to secure the party's 
success, he has never sought public office. 
Highly esteemed by the community, he exer- 
cises a wide influence in all public niatter.s. 
He and his daughters are members of the New 
Jerusalem Church of Fryeburg. 




LBERT GUY HOWARD, M.D., a 
popular and successful physician and 
surgeon of P'armington, Me., was 
born in the town of Rangeley, 
J-'ranklin County, October 20, 1846, the son of 
(iuy C. and Mahala (Howland) Howard. 

Guy C. Howard was born in the town of 
Phillips, Me., and reared to farm life. His 
first independent venture was the purcha.se of a 
farm in his native town, which he tilled for a 
few years; and then selling it he engaged in 
trade and manufacturing, purchasing a store at 
Bragg's Corners and also the potash-mills. 
He subsequently moved to the town of 
Rangeley, where he bought one hundred and 
sixty acres of heavily timbered land near 
Quimby Pond and erected a log house. After 
clearing most of the land in the pioneer fash- 
ion, he sold it at an advantage and purchased 
some property in the town of Phillips. There 
he remained but a short time, next purchasing 
a farm in the town of Weld. In 1864 he sold 
his farm and bought a house in the village of 
■^Veld, retiring from active business. In 1879 
his home was broken by the death of his wife; 
and, selling his effects, he went to live with 
his daughter in Lynn, Mass., where he died at 
the age of eighty years. He had been a man 
of remarkable physical vigor, and at the time 



I 62 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of his death there was not a gray hair in his 
head. Mr. (iiiv C. Howard was a Democrat 
in his early manhood, but after the formation 
of the Kejjublican party he transferred his 
allegiance to that. In religious belief he was 
a Baptist. His wife, who was a daughter of 
l^riggs S. Howland, died in 1879, at the age 
of sixty-nine. Mr. and Mrs. Guy C. Howard 
were the parents of the following children: 
James G. ; Briggs H. ; Abigail, who died 
young; William B. ; Frank S. ; Helena M. ; 
Delia R. ; Albert Guy; and Mary E. 

Albert (iuy Howard, the youngest son and 
the special subject of this biography, spent his 
boyhood years in acquiring his education in 
the public schools. After leaving the high 
school he learned the trade of harness-making; 
and then opening a shoj) he carried on the busi- 
ness some ten years, at the same time studying 
medicine under the tuition of Dr. J. J. Lin- 
scott, of Farmington, and Dr. .S. P. Warner, 
of Portland. He subsequently took a practical 
course at the Medical Institute of Vermont, 
graduating in 1881. In July of the same year 
he began to practice at New Sharon, Me., 
where he remained two years, and he ne.xt 
settled at Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland County; 
but, the salt air not agreeing with him, he re- 
moved to Kingfield, where he established 
himself, August 16, 1883. There he soon 
had a large practice, the frequency of accidents 
in the woods among the lumber camps and 
mills keejiing him busy as a surgeon and phy- 
sician ; and his skill and success soon gave 
him a favorable reputation. On May 7, 1891, 
he moved to Farmington ; and although there 
were a number of old established physicians 
here, he soon won his way to favor, as his prac- 
tical experience in surgery especially made his 
presence desirable in cases of emergency. He 
has a large jiractice in Farmington and vicin- 
ity, and is often called in consultation long 
distances away. His residence and office are 
at 22 High Street. 

Dr. Howard and Miss ]{lla L. W'ilkins, 
daughter of Abial and Elizabeth (Howe) Wil- 
kins, of Wilton, Me., were married on April 
30, 1870, and now have three children. It was 
to give these children better educational advan- 
tages that he removed to I'armington. The 
eldest, Guy C, who was born December 29, 



1873, and is at present a Junior in Bowdoin 
College, has taught sixty-four weeks as first 
assistant of the Farmington High School; the 
next, Maud E. , who was born January 16, 
1875, is a graduate of the State Normal School 
at Farmington in the class of 1S94, and is now 
teaching in Groveland, Mass. ; and the young- 
est, Ethel L. , born December 12, 1879, is in 
the classical department of the I'armington 
High School, fitting for college. In politics 
Dr. Howard favors the Republican party. 



OHN C. PIKE, formerly a resident of 
Waterford, where he will be long re- 
membered as a man of sterling worth 
and character and a prominent agri- 
culturist, was born here, September 28, 1827. 
He was a son of John and Hannah (Prince) 
Pike, respectively natives of Waterford and 
Massachusetts. Grandfather Pike was the 
first of the name to settle in this town. 

John Pike, who w^as engaged in farming 
here throughout the most of his lifetime, was 
one of the leading agriculturists of the town. 
He subsequently removed to Sweden, Me., 
where his busy life closed. His first wife, 
Hannah (Prince) Pike, died December 21, 
1833; and he afterward married Miss Esther 
Richardson, of Sweden, who was born May 
10, 1804. The fruit of his first marriage was 
four children, namely: Mary A., deceased, 
born April 8, 1825; John C. , the subject of 
this sketch ; Susan Augusta, born July 29, 
1829, and Hannah M., born December 21, 
1833, who died September 27, 1844. By his 
second wife he had: Elias, born June 28, 
1837, who died December 28, 1862; Alvin, 
born April 28, 1841, now living in Sweden; 
and Gilman, born February 11, 1S45, who 
died December 17, 1862. 

When seventeen years of age John C. Pike 
left home, and went to California and to other 
points in the W^est, where for several years, 
until 1858, he was engaged in mining and 
loggin<r- After his marriage he settled on 
the farm now occupied by his widow, and was 
there successfully engaged in general farming 
until his death, which occurred December 6, 
1 89 1, at the age of sixty-four years. The 
farm, which is now carried on bv one of his 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



sons, contains about three hundred acres of 
productive land. It came to its present 
owners in a high condition. 

On June 28, 1854, Mr. I'ike was married to 
Miss Eliza A. VVilliard, who was born in 
Waterford, August 16, 1821, daughter of 
Louis and Mary (Plaisted) Williard. Mr. 
and Mrs. Williard were respectively natives 
of Harvard, Mass., and Gorham, Me. When 
Mr. Williard came to Waterford, he settled on 
the farm where his daughter, Mrs. I'ike, now 
lives. She has had two sons and a daughter, 
namely: Sarah M., born July 7, 1855, now 
the wife of Henry Wentworth, of W'aterford ; 
Bion H., born March 18, 1858, who married 
Miss Edith Nevers, and is living near the old 
homestead; and Ernest L. , born November 
24, 1859, who resides on the homestead farm 
with his mother, and is successfully engaged 
in general farming, lumbering, and stock busi- 
ness. The latter is now one of the leading 
men of the town, a member of the grange at 
Waterford, and a stanch Republican, having 
always voted with that party. 



/©jTo 



EORGE A. VIRGIN, a lumber man- 
\ •) I ufacturer of Hanover village, Oxford 
County, was born here, November 
15, 1851, son of Jonathan A. and Nancy K. 
(Elliott) Virgin. When a young man Rufus 
Virgin, the father of Jonathan A., came to 
this county from Concord, N. H., and settled 
in Rumford Falls. Jonathan A. was born at 
Rumford Falls, and there spent his earlv 
years, receiving his education in the common 
schools. He began his business career as 
manager of a grist-mill at Rumford Falls. 
About the year 1844 he came to Hanover, and 
purchased the old grist-mill and rebuilt it. 
At a later date he bought the old saw-mill and 
refitted it. He ran both successfully, and 
carried on a successful business until about 
1874, when he bought the old woollen-mill. 
This he tore down, and erected the mill now 
owned by his son. After renting it one year 
he sold out. In i S92 he again bought the 
woollen-mill, and, in company with his son, 
altered it into a sawmill. He died Septem- 
ber I, 1893, at the age of seventy-six years. 
In politics he was an adherent of the Republi- 



can party. His opinion on matters pertaining 
to the public welfare was much valued, and 
for several years he served as Treasurer of the 
town of Hanover. Although not a member of 
any church, he rendered material assistance 
in the erection of the Universalist church at 
Rumford Point. Nancy K. (Elliott) V'irgin, 
his wife, who was born in Livermore, Me., 
died at the age of forty-five years, leaving two 
sons — George A. and Rufus J. R. J. \'irgin 
resides now at South Bethel, this county, 
where he is engaged in manufacturing lumlier. 

After attending the schools here in Han- 
over, George A. Virgin took a supplementary 
course at Gould's Academy in Bethel and at 
Hebron Academy. After attaining his legal 
majority, he rented his father's saw-mill for 
a few years, 'and then bought it. He leased 
the grist-mill some time later, and thereafter 
conducted the two together until 1892. Since 
his father's death he has purchased the new 
saw-mill here in Hanover village, where he 
carries on quite an extensive business in gen- 
eral lumber and box manufacturing. 

On May 30, 1874, Mr. Virgin was united 
in marriage with Miss Emma G. Brown, who 
died January 26, 1887, leaving two children 
— George Lee and Dwight M. Both are now 
employed with their father in the mill. In 
politics Mr. Virgin is a Republican. He is 
a member of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, 
of F. & A. M., at Rumford Centre; and of 
Oxford Bear Lodge. No. 54, Knights of Pyth- 
ias, of Hanover. 



LIAS H. MORSE, one of the most pro- 
gressive farmers of Jay, Franklin 
County, was born .September 7, 
1830, upon the farm he now owns and culti- 
vates, son of John and Sally (Monroe) Morse. 
Nathan Morse, his grandfather, an English- 
man by birth, after following the sea as mas- 
ter of a vessel in his younger days, settled 
upon a farm in Weld, Me., still owned by a 
member of the family, and resided there for 
the rest of his life. John Morse, who was 
born in Weld, settled at the age of eighteen 
in Jay upon the farm where his son, Elias H., 
now resides, and spent the remainder of his 
active period occupied in its cultivation. He 



164 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



died February 18, 1872. His wife, Sally, who 
was a daughter of Abel Monroe, a prosperous 
farmer "f Livermore, Androscoggin County, 
bore him six children, as follows: Sally and 
Julia M., who are no longer living; Martha 
M., the wife of Dr. Bartlett, of East Dixfield; 
IClias, also deceased; Elias H., the subject of 
this sketch; and Melvina C. , who died Novem- 
ber 6, 1842. The mother's death occurred on 
February 23, 1879. 

Elias H. Morse was educated in the common 
schools of Jay, and has always resided at the 
homestead. He succeeded to the property, 
which is now a well-improved farm of two hun- 
dred acres. Besides the usual farm products, 
he makes a specialty of raising fruit. His 
prosperity has been achieved by good sense, 
industry, and perseverance. On October • 8, 
1857, Mr. Morse was first united in marriage 
with Ann Coolage Phinney, who was born in 
Jay, September 21, 1S38, daughter of Deacon 
Jonas and I-:iiza (Lampkin) Phinney, late of 
this town. She died May 28, 1885, leaving 
four children, as follows: Mary Eliza, born 
August 19, 1858, who married Wilbur Eibby, 
and resides in North Falmouth, Me. ; Jona- 
than Everett, born January 3, 1864, who mar- 
-ried Carrie Bolster, and resides in Lynn, 
Mass. ; Carrie P., born January 13, 1867, who 
is now the wife of Stillman B. Harlow, of East 
Di.xfield, this county; and I'.rnest Clifford, 
born December 8, 1S77, who resides at the 
homestead. On April 2, 1890, Mr. Morse 
wedded Mrs. Eleanor (True) Ramsdell, widow 
of Augustus Ramsdell. She was born in Phil- 
lips, Me., January 31, 1S43, daughter of the 
late Captain John True, formerly a well-known 
and highly respected citizen of that town. 
Mr. Morse is numbered among the stanch Re- 
publicans of Jay, having upheld the principles 
of that party since reaching his majority. He 
has a]wa\-s given his close attention to his 
farm, and is held in high estimation by his 
neisrhbors and fellow-townsmen. 



LBION EMERY BRADBURY, (me 

)f the largest real estate owners and 
most prominent residents of the town 
of Canton, O.xford County, Me., was 
born in l-Jyron, Me., in the .same county, on 




March 8, 1822, son of Thomas and Dolly 
(Morse) Bradbury. He comes of old Colonial 
stock, being a worthy representative of the 
family founded in America by Thomas Brad- 
bur)', who emigrated from England in 1634, 
and, settling in the District of Maine, became 
the possessor of a large tract of land. Some 
of his descendants were men of note during the 
Colonial period. 

i\Ir. Albion liradbury's grandfather, Daniel 
Bradbury, who was a native of Buxton. Me., 
and was a Quaker, settled in early manhood in 
Athens, Me., of which town he was a pioneer 
farmer and one who made good progress. An 
upright man and a highly respected citizen, he 
labored diligently and without selfish motives 
to secure the development of the town. He 
died in Athens at the age of eighty-six years. 
He reared a family of fourteen children, of 
whom Thomas, Mr. Bradbury's father, was the 
second -born. 

Thomas Bradbury grew to manhood upon a 
farm in tiie town of Buxton, his native place. 
He early displayed a capacity for both agri- 
cultural and business pursuits, and aside from 
tilling the soil he became a very prominent 
cattle dealer. He made his home in Byron for 
a time; but on March 25, 1828, he settled in 
Canton upon the farm where his son now re- 
sides. He was very successful both as a 
farmer and a business man, becoming one of 
the wealthiest men of this town ; and he re- 
sided here until his death, which took place 
October 15, 1S57, at the age of sixty-six years. 
In politics he was originally a Whig, but 
joined the Republican movement at its forma- 
tion, and was one of the first supporters of that 
party in this section. His wife, Dolly Morse, 
who was a native of Concord, N. H., became 
the mother of four children, two of whom are 
living, namely: Albion E., the subject of this 
sketch; and Fannie, who is the wife of Amos 
Childs and resides in Canton. The others 
were: Cynthia, who died April 29, 1857, aged 
thirty-two years; and Charles D. Bradbury, 
M.D., a successful physician, who died in 
1893, aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Dolly M. 
Bradbury lived to reach the age of eighty- 
seven years, and died November 4, 1882. 
Both she and her husband were Universalists 
in their religious belief. 




ALBION E. BRADBURY. 



I'.IOCRAI 



KAI 



RFA'IKW 



167 



Albion iMiiery Hradhury accompanied his 
jiarents to Canton when l)Ut six years of age. 
He was educated ])aitly in the public schools 
of this town, including; the high school, and 
partly under the direction of a private tutor. 
Having grown to manhood he .still continued 
to live with his father and mother, and for 
some time previous to his father's death he had 
entire charge of the business affairs of the es- 
tate. He now carries on general farming at 
the old homestead, of which he has come into 
possession, and where he has been a resident 
for nearly si.\ty-nine years. His agricultural 
operations are not necessarily on a very lim- 
ited scale, as he is the owner of over five hun- 
dred acres of valuable land. Mr. l^radbury 
has, however, not confined himself to labor 
in the fields, but has travelled extensively 
through the United .States, visiting all notable 
points of interest to an intelligent sightseer; 
and he is well-informed in regard to the 
natural resources and the industries of this 
country. Mr. Bradbury is unmarried. In 
])olitics he acts with the Re])ublican party, but 
has never aspired to public office. In his re- 
ligious views he is a Universalist. 




OX. SAML'EL P. CUSHMAN, one 
of the town fathers of Hebron, Me., 
born March 16, 1829, on the farm 
which is now his home, is a son of 
Ansel and Eliza (Pratt) Cushman. His grand- 
father, Caleb Cushman, an active and indus- 
trious farmer in his lifetime, was one of the 
early settlers of Hebron. Caleb died on the 
homestead at an advanced age. His family 
consisted of nine children, five daughters and 
four sons, all of whom have long since passed 
away. Ansel Cushman spent his life on his 
father's farm, and was one of the representa- 
tive farmers of the town. In politics he was 
originally a Whig. Upon the formation of 
the Republican party he gave his adhesion to 
its principles. He was a member of the Bap- 
tist church in Hebron. His death occurred 
in his eighty-third year, and that of his wife 
at the age of eighty-two. Six children were 
born to them, namely: Nancy, the widow of 
the late Lauren A. Bumpus: Henry M., 
deceased; Samuel P., the subject of this 



sketch; Horatio A., a resident of Hebron; 
Charlotte P., the wife of Jacob M. Drew, of 
Auburn; Maria I'".., now in l.os Angeles, 
Cal., the widow of Henry Kicker, who died in 
the late war. 

-Samuel P. Cushman grew to manhootl in 
Hebron, acquiring an education in the com- 
mon schools and the academy. After leaving 
the academy he taught school for a short time, 
and then turned liis attention to agriculture on 
the home farm. This property covers some 
eighty acres of land, and has neat and sub- 
stantial buildings, which Mr. Cushman him- 
self erected. 

Mr. Cushman was married Sejjtember 5, 
1856, to Mary B. Cushman, daughter of Major 
Albert and - Ro.setta H. ^Curtis) Cushman. 
She was born in Hebron, September 7, 1833. 
She has borne her husband three sons— Fred- 
erick VV., Hartley F. , and Albion K. P. 
The eldest, who was born December i, 1858, 
acquired a good education, studying at Hebron 
Academy. I-'or some time he has given his 
attention to carpentry and general farming in 
his native town, where he owns a farm of one 
hundred acres. He is a member of Hebron 
Grange, No. 43, Patrons of Husbandry, of 
Hebron. In politics he is a Rei)ublican, in 
religious belief a liberal. He was married 
February 4, 1891, to lulith L., daughter of 
Zibeon L. Packard, and has two children — 
Dwight P. and Fdellc. His wife is a member 
of the Baptist church. Hartley !•". Cushman, 
born July 24, 1864, who is in trade in Auburn, 
Me., married Miss Lillian E. Thomas. Al- 
bion K. P. Cushman, born February 11, 1870, 
who is as yet unmarried, and lives with his 
parents, follows the pursuit of agriculture. 
Mr. Samuel P. Cushman, who is a Republi- 
can, has been elected several times to the 
Hebron Board of Selectmen, and has served 
for a number of years as Chairman of the 
Board. He was Town Clerk and Treasurer 
for ten years, having previously filled minor 
offices. He has been a Justice of the Peace 
for many yeans, and in 1874 he represented 
the district in the State legislature. He is a 
member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 147, 
A. F. & A. M., of Buckfield, and is very 
prominent in social circles. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Cushman are members of Hebron 



ir,s 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IEW 



Grange, No. 43, Patrons of Husbandry, of 
Hebron. They are also members of the Bap- 
tist church at Hebron. 




LFRED A. OAKES, a member of the 
Board of Selectmen of Chesterville, 
Franklin County, Me., was born at 
the Oakes homestead, where he now 
resides, April 16, 1851, son of David and 
Marinda (Arnold) Oakes. Mr. Oakes is a de- 
scendant of a Revolutionary patriot, his great- 
grandfather, John Oakes, having been among 
the minute-men who took part in the battles 
of Le.xington and Bunker Hill, and died from 
the effects of exposure some three months after 
the last-named struggle. 

The wife of John Oakes married for her 
second husband Jonathan Knowlton, a native 
of Massachusetts, whom she met while he was 
on one of his trips to Maine, which he made 
by packet from Salem, being five months on 
his last voyage from that place to Hallowell. 
In 1780 Mr. and Mrs. Knowlton settled upon 
a tract of new land in F"armington. John 
Oakes, Jr., who was born in Massachusetts in 
1770, son of the first-named John, accom- 
panied his mother and step-father to Farming- 
ton, being, it is said, the first white boy 
brought by any settler to that town. Shortly 
afterward he removed to New \'ineyard : and 
he eventually settled upon one hundred and 
sixty acres of wild land, which he improved 
into a good farm. He resided there for a few 
years, and then removed to Chesterville, 
where he bought of his brother Eben and John 
Corbett the farm of three hundred and twenty- 
five acres, which has since been known as the 
Oakes homestead. A hard-working, thrifty 
farmer, he survived the vicissitudes of a 
I)ioneer's life, and lived to see the locality 
become a thriving agricultural district. He 
died at the homestead in Chesterville, Sep- 
tember 7, 1839, aged sixty-nine years. In 
politics he acted with the Democratic party. 
He was widely and favorably known through- 
out this section as Deacon John Oakes, from 
his official connection with the Baptist 
church. He married Wealthy Crapo, a native 
of Massachusetts, who was born in 1771, and 
they reared a family of eight children; 



namely. Wealthy, John, Mary, David, Jere, 
and Elkanah, who were born in New Vine- 
yard ; and Frances and Weighty, who were 
born in Chesterville. Grandmother Oakes 
lived to be eighty-three years old, dying May 
8, 1854. 

David Oakes, Mr. Oakes's father, was born 
April 13, 1802, and was the second son. His 
boyhood and youth were spent at the home- 
stead, acquiring a practical knowledge of farm 
work and attending the district school; and 
at the age of twenty-one he became his 
father's hired help. On the death of his 
father he and his brother John inherited the 
homestead, which they carried on together till 
1854, when he bought his brother's interest; 
and John went to Minnesota, where he died 
ten years later. Continuing to improve the 
property, David Oakes became a prosperous 
general farmer and stock raiser; and, as he 
was especially partial to good-blooded ani- 
mals, he always kept the best of horses and 
oxen. The active period of his life was spent 
in toiling industry. He died October 21, 
1879, aged seventy-seven years. In politics 
he was in his last years a Republican, and on 
religious matters he held broad and liberal 
views. His wife, Marinda Arnold, whom he 
married in 1833, was a daughter of John Ar- 
nold, of Augusta. They reared four children, 
namely: David, who died at the age of twenty; 
Augusta, who is living at the present time; 
Alfred A., the subject of this sketch; and 
John. The mother died April 5, 1855, aged 
forty-two years. 

Alfred A. Oakes was educated in the town 
schools of Chesterville, and resided at home 
until he was twenty-one years old, when he 
went to Foxboro, RIass., where he was en- 
gaged in the manufacture of straw hats for 
three years. He then returned to the home- 
stead, a third of which he inherited : and, hav- 
ing purchased the interests of the other heirs, 
he has since carried on the farm with energy 
and success. He deals largely in stock, 
keeps sixteen Durham and Guernsey cows, 
sending his milk and cream to the Turner 
creamery at Auburn ; and for some years he 
was quite an extensive breeder of Durham 
cattle for the market. 

On October 17, 1875, Mr. Oakes wedded 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFAM K\V 



169 



for his first wife Georgia A. Goodrich, daugh- 
ter of David Goodrich, of Wilton. She died 
March 17, 1879; and in 1885 he was united 
to his ]iresent wife, who was before marriage 
Brendena L. Russell, being a daughter of 
Charles A. Russell, of Temple. By this 
union there have been four children, namely: 
Arthur A., who was born May 5. 1886; Ralph 
G., who was born November 28, 1887: Percy 
B., who was born October 14, i8go, and died 
April 19, 1891 : and P'annie V... who was born 
February 25, 1892. 

In politics Mr. Oakes is an active supporter 
of the Republican party, and his natural abil- 
ity has placed him in a position of promi- 
nence in public affairs. Besides serving in 
the various minor town offices he was a mem- 
ber of the l^oard of Selectmen during the 
years 1881, 1882, and 1883, and has served in 
the same capacity for the past three years. 
He is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen 
both as an agreeable, kind-hearted neighbor 
and as an able and faithful public official. 



^mo 



1:0RGP: LEVITT MELLEX, a re- 
\ [>) I tired resident of Paris, Me., who 
^— -^ was for many years identified with 
the Oxford Doiiocrat^ was born at Paris Hill, 
January 28, 1823, son of Alanson and I\Iary 
(Bisco) Mellen. Mr. Mellen's father, who 
was a native of Hopkinton, Mass., came to 
Paris at an early date in the town's history, 
as agent for the Bemis family, who were at 
that time the owners of a large estate in this 
county. 

Alanson Mellen was an exceedingly able 
and upright business man. He took a promi- 
nent part in developing the natural resources 
of Paris, it being through his instrumentality 
that the great possibilities of this town as an 
agricultural centre were brought to the notice 
of investors and farmers. Soon after his 
settlement here he became connected with 
public affairs, and his valuable ofificial ser- 
vices extended through a period of many 
years. For several years he was Town Clerk, 
and for thirty-five or thirty-six years he was 
the Registrar of Deeds of Oxford County, 
being the second man to fill that position. 
He was also County Treasurer for a number of 



terms. A man of advanced ideas, he labored 
diligently and effectively in securing the 
growth and prosperity of this section of the 
State, his active endeavors for the general 
good of the community being maintained 
until his death. He entertained broad and 
liberal views upon religious subjects; and, 
politicall}', he was an earnest and influential 
supporter of the Democratic party, in which 
he figured as a recognized leader in this county. 
Alanson Mellen died at his home in Paris Hill, 
December g, 185 1. He and his wife, Mary 
Bisco, whom he survived some twenty-five 
years, were the parents of six children, as fol- 
lows: Leonard, who was born January 20, 
181 3; Jonas 1^., who was born December 7, 
1 8 14; Eunice- P"., who was born October 17, 
1816; Mary M., who was born November 1, 
1818; Charles T., who was born November 
20, 1820: and George Levitt, whose birth is 
mentioned above. Mrs. Mary B. Mellen died 
March 12, 1826. 

George Levitt Mellen, the fourth son, who 
is the subject of this sketch, acquired his early 
education in the district schools of his neigh- 
borhood, antl advanced in knowledge and men- 
tal discijiline by attending the Yarmouth and 
Bridgton Academies. After completing his 
studies he served an apprenticeshi]^ at the 
jirinter's trade in the office of the Oxfonl 
Democrat^ later being engaged at various 
places, including Lowell and Boston, Mass. 
While residing in the New England metropo- 
lis, he, in company with Mr. C. A. Putnam, 
purchased in 1849 a literary newspaper, called 
the Boston M/isctmi, which they conducted for 
a short time, and then sold. Returning to 
Paris, Mr. Mellen early in 1850 bought a 
half-interest in the Oxford Dcinocral^ the 
office and publishing-room of which had been 
destroyed by fire in December, 1849. Re- 
establishing that journal upon a firm running 
basis, Mr. Mellen, in company with George 
W. Millett, carried it on until October, 1850, 
when he with others purchased Mr. Millett's 
interest in the enterprise. The Dcjiiocrat 
continued to flourish under his management, 
with Mr. Emery, of Portland, as editor, until 
after the election of Franklin Pierce as Presi- 
dent of the United States in 1852, when Mr. 
Mellen sold his interest in the paper, and re- 



lyo 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



tired permanently from journalistic enter- 
prises. 

Soon after President Pierce took his seat, 
Mr. Mellen was appointed United States 
mail agent between Portland and Waterville, 
later having his route extended to Bangor 
upon the completion of the Maine Central 
Railway to that city: and he continued in the 
postal service until the change in the federal 
administration which accompanied the elec- 
tion of Abraham Lincoln in i860. He was 
subsequently appointed freight and ticket 
agent and depot master of the Portland & 
Rochester Railroad at Portland, in which po- 
sition he continued a few years. In 1868 he 
formed a partnership with G. G. Waterhouse 
for the purpose of opening and carrying on the 
Dewitt House in Lewiston, which was at that 
time one of the largest and best appointed 
hotels in Maine. He was connected vvith the 
Dewitt House for about si.\ years, at the ex- 
piration of which time he withdrew; and after 
spending two years in Pensacola, Fla., he en- 
gaged with Mr. Burgess in the lumber business. 
Since retiring from active business pursuits, 
about the year 1878, he has resided in Paris. 
On July 5, 1852, Mr. Mellen married 
Nancy Norris Wing. She was born in 
Wayne, Me., February 19, 1821, daughter of 
James and Nancy (Norris) Wing. Her 
father was born in Wayne, September 9, 
1792; and his wife was born May 24, 1794. 
James Wing was a prosperous farmer and 
prominent resident of Wayne, being an up- 
right, conscientious man, possessing intellect- 
ual ability of a high order. He represented 
the district which included Wayne and Leeds 
in the Maine legislature during the years 
1840 and 1 84 1. The date of his death was 
March 20, 1864, he having survived his wife, 
who died November 24, 1836. Of their six 
children four are living, namely: James M., 
a resident of Wayne; Orrin, residing in Har- 
vard, Mass. ; Eliza Seaver, wife of John R. 
Miller, of Concord, N.H.: and Frances 
Charlotte, whose home is in Paris. The 
others were Mrs. Sally Wing Burgess, who 
died September 2, 1874; and Nancy Norris, 
who became Mrs. George L. Mellen, and died 
November 8, 1890, leaving no children. 

In his younger days Mr. Mellen was promi- 



nently identified with local politics, which 
made him an eligible candidate for public 
office; and he served as Town Clerk in Paris, 
and was Postmaster for two terms at different 
times. Although he has not coveted political 
notoriety, he has been a firm supporter of the 
Democratic party since attaining his majority. 
In his religious belief he is a Universalist. 
He has had a long and successful career as a 
business man, and is now enjoying a well- 
earned period of rest and recreation at his 
pleasant home in Paris, where he is regarded 
by his fellow-townsmen with the utmost re- 
sjject and esteem. 




OLOMON S. HALL, who died at 
his homestead in Waterford, Oxford 
County, Me., January 8, 1896, was 
identified with the agricultural in- 
terests of this vicinity for nearly three dec- 
ades, having removed here in 1868 from the 
neighboring town of Norway, where he was 
born June 10, 1821. He was the eldest son 
of Jonathan Hall, and was a grandson of 
Jedediah Hall, a lifelong resident of Fal- 
mouth, Me. 

Jonathan Hall, after arriving at man's es- 
tate, left his native place and came to Oxford 
County to engage in agricultural pursuits. 
Buying land in the western part of Norway, 
he labored with tireless energy to clear a 
homestead, meeting with such success that 
before his death, whose date was April 30, 
1842, he had a well-improved farm. His 
wife, Mary Smith, whom he had married after 
settling in Norway, survived him a few years, 
passing away January 18, 1845. They had 
seven children, as follows: Emeline Maria, 
who was born December 12, 181 8, and died in 
March, 1887, the wife of Daniel Pierce; Solo- 
mon S. , the special subject of this brief bio- 
graphical sketch; Aaron Oliver, born P'ebru- 
ary 8, 1.8.23, who died August i, 1824; Oliver 
A., who was born March 28, 1825, and mar- 
ried Clara A. Stanley, who has lived in Cam- 
bridge, Mass., since his death, which occurred 
February 6, 1890; Albert Edwin, born March 
29, 1827, who died July 29, 1827; Helen, 
born June 3, 182S, who died the following 
day; and Albert Edwin, the second, who was 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



171 



born July 31, iSjg, and died Nov'cniljer 2S of 
the same year. 

Solomon S. Hall, the first-born son, grew 
to maturity, and was educated in Norway, this 
county, and subsequently was there engaged 
in shoemaking and market gardening for a 
number of years. lie resided in the village 
of his native town until October, 1868, when 
he purchased the old McWain farm in Water- 
ford, where he engaged in general farming, 
dairying, and raising garden produce until 
liis decease, by good management realizing a 
handsome yearly income from his well tilled 
fields. Politically, Mr. Hall was a steadfast 
ReiHiblican, true to the interests of his party; 
and, religiously, he and his wife were es- 
teemed members of the Universalist church 
of Norway. 

Mr. Hall was three times married. His 
first wife, formerly Miss Ruth B. Smith, died 
leaving no issue. His second wife, Emily A. 
Warren, was born April 22, 1834, and died 
August 29, 1861. His third wife, Olivia G. 
Warren, a sister of his second wife, was born 
September 16, 1836, antl died in June, 1894. 
He had three children by his second marriage, 
namely: Mary, born March 6, 1854, nt)w the 
wife of G. H. Shedd, M.D., a prominent phy- 
sician of North Conway, N.H., and mother of 
one child, George Harold, born November i, 
1882; Julia, born October 2, 1856, who died 
December 24, 1S91 ; and Lizzie li., born Au- 
gust 26, 1859, who lives with her brother on 
the old homestead. This brother, Sidney S. 
Hall, boi'n June 21, 1866, was the only child 
of the third marriage of Mr. Hall. He is one 
of the leading young men of Waterford, and 
with his sister now owns the old farm of two 
iiuntlred and thirty- three acres. They are 
carrying on the various branches of agricult- 
ural industry with unquestioned success, keep- 
ing some stock, but making a specialty of 
raising and marketing garden truck and fruit. 



-OHN MINOT SOULE HUNTER, 
the well-known editor of the Farming- 
ton Chronicle, of Farmington, Me., was 
born in this town on the 14th of De- 
cember, 1846, the son of Thomas and Sarah C. 
(Soule) Hunter. 



The lluijter family is of .Scotch descent, 
and settled in Sandy River Valley in 1767- 
James Hunter, the grandfather of the editor, 
was born in Bristol, Me. Later he removed 
to the town of Strong, where he finally set- 
tled, taking up a large tract of new land, 
clearing it and building upon it. Mr. Hunter 
was of a very strong constitution, and lived 
to a ripe old age. His wife, Rachel Dodge, 
was equal!)' vigorous. Her death at the age 
of eighty-three years was caused by an acci- 
dent. .She was about to step from her car- 
riage at the door of her church, when the 
horse, startled by the ringing of the church 
bell, ran away, and she was thrown out and 
fatally injured. 

Their son Thomas, the editor's father, was 
born on the joth of April, 1807, in the town 
of Strong. Arriving at a matmx' age, he 
began to earn his living by teaching school ; 
but preferring a more active life, and being 
possessed of considerable mechanical ingenu- 
ity, he gave up this profession, and devoted 
his time to various trades. Diligent and 
versatile, as a blacksmith, stone cutter, car- 
penter, millwright, and house joiner, he was 
a skilled workman. He became a "boss" 
builder in Farmington in a few years; and 
several houses which he built are still stand- 
ing to-day, witnesses of his skill and thor- 
oughness. At one time he trtok a contract, 
and erected a large sugar-mill, which was 
taken to Hawaii, Sandwich Islands. He 
'framed the mill in Farmington, and got it all 
ready to set up, then transported it by teams 
to Hallowell, where it was loaded on a sail- 
ing-vessel, and thence carried to its destina- 
tion. Mr. Hunter went with the mill, and 
set it up on its arrival there, and ran it for 
one year. At the expiration of the term of 
his contract he returned to P\armington, and 
followed his trade of a master builder until 
his death. 

He married Sarah C, the daughter of Zach- 
ariah .Soule, anil by this union he became the 
father of si.x children — James T., who died 
in infancy; Marcia S. ; Julia -S. ; Susan C.; 
John Minot Soule, of whom this short biogra- 
phy is written; and James T. Mr. Thomas 
Plunter was a stanch Re]jublican in his poli- 
tics, and in religious belief followed the doc- 



172 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



trincs of the Congregational church, of which 
both himself and wife were active and consist- 
ent members. 

John Minot Soule Hunter received his edu- 
cation in the public schools of his native 
town and at Farmington Academy. He early 
in life entered upon a business career, becom- 
ing a clerk in Farmington and at a later 
date in Bath and i-n Boston. He continued 
thus engaged until September 15, 1867, when 
he enterecf the Chronicle office in Farmington, 
in order to learn the printer's trade and the 
profession of a journalist. .Shortly after this 
he temporarily left the office of the Chronicle, 
having been appointed Deputy to Andrew C. 
Phillips, Esq. (then editor of the paper), who 
was appointed United States Consul at Fort 
Erie, Ontario. Later he resigned, and re- 
turned to the Chronicle, where he became fore- 
man of the office under editor A. H. S. Davis; 
and, upon the sale of the Chronicle by the 
latter to Captain C. W. Keyes, Mr. Hunter 
became foreman and general assistant, occu- 
pying those positions several years, or until 
June 20, 1S77, when he removed to Portland, 
where he became foreman of the Portland 
Daily Press composing-room and Liter tele- 
graph editor of the same paper. 

In June, 1886, Mr. Hunter resigned his 
position on the Portland Press, and returned 
to Farmington, having bought one-half of his 
old paper, the Farmington Chronicle, and 
leased the other half, of Captain Keyes. F"our 
months later- in the great fire of October 22, 
1886 — the office and its fine machinery were 
completely destroyed. The paper was, how- 
ever, published regularly every week, the pub- 
lishers of the Lewiston Journal generously 
volunteering to print and send the papers to 
Mr. Hunter, which they did for two weeks. 
In the meantime he had a new office and 
outfit prei^arcd, and in a little while the paper 
was on its feet again. The Farmington 
Chronicle is now in the fifty-seventh year of 
its existence, has a circulation of about three 
thousand copies, and is universally admitted 
to be not only the largest but the best paper 
in the county: and it ranks among the leading 
weekly papers of Maine. The Chronicle al- 
ways has been and still is the organ of the 
Republican party in Franklin County, though 



many of its firm friends and patrons are found 
in all the parties. It is, perhaps, needless to 
say Mr. Hunter is a Republican in politics. 

Mr. Hunter was married on the 14th of De- 
cember, 1874, to Miss Eldora Nichols, the 
daughter of Walter Nichols, of Searsport, 
Waldo County, Me. They have had three 
children — John Walter, Mabel E., and 
Charles W. Keyes; but only the daughter is 
living, their two sons having died in infancy. 

Mr. Hunter is a very popular man, not only 
in his native town, but wherever he is known. 
His friends and acquaintances are many, both 
in the social and business world; and all 
speak of him in the pleasantest manner. He 
is a member of numerous societies and frater- 
nities, among them being the following: Past 
Master, Maine Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & 
A. M.; Franklin Chapter, No. 44, Royal 
Arch Masons; Jephthah Council, No. 17, 
Royal and Select Masters; Pilgrim Command- 
ery. No. 19, Knights Templars; Kora Tem- 
ple, N. M. Shrine; Maine Consistory, An- 
cient and Accepted Scottish Rite; P. N. G., 
Franklin Lodge, No. 58, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows; also P. C. P., Sandy River 
Encampment, No. 9, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows. He is also one of the incor- 
porators of the P'ranklin County Savings Bank; 
a Trustee of the Public Library, as well as 
Secretary of the Library Association; and in 
1894 he was appointed by Governor H. B. 
Cleaves a Trustee of the Soldiers" Orphans' 
Home in Bath, Me. 




RTHUR E. MORRISON, Trial Jus- 
tice of Rumford F'alls and an enter- 
prising real estate dealer, was born 
in Rollinsford, N.H., January 27, 
1862, son of John W. and Abbie (Gates) 
Morrison. The father, a native of Alton, 
N.H., was reared upon a farm in that town. 
He is now a successful stone contractor of 
South Berwick, Me., an able, conscientious, 
and progressive man ; and he enjoys the respect 
of all with whom he has dealings. His wife 
was born in Groveland, N.H., and she is the 
mother of five children, as follows: George 
E., who is in the marble and granite business 
in Saco, Me. ; Arthur E., the subject of this 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'73 



sketch; John H., a business man of South 
Berwick; Nancy, the wife of George \V. Tib- 
betts, of South Berwick; and Mary Etta, who 
resides at home. Both parents are members 
of the Baptist church, of which the father is a 
Deacon. 

Arthur E. Morrison began his education in 
the common schools of South Berwick. At 
the age of twelve years he commenced to work 
in a store, devoting to his duties therein his 
mornings and evenings and the summer vaca- 
tion. With his earnings here he paid his, 
tuition at the Berwick Academy, from which 
he graduated in 1882. In the autumn of that 
year he went to liiddeford, Me., where he se- 
cured a position as clerk in a dry-goods store. 
A year later the firm for which he worked es- 
tablished at Norway, Me., a branch store, of 
which he was appointed manager; and he re- 
mained in that capacity four years. He then 
went to Dover, N.H., where he clerked for a 
year; and in the spring of 1888 he opened an 
insurance agency in Sanford, Me., remaining 
in that town two years. Having sold out his 
business there, he returned to Norway, and 
was employed by I'reeland Howe in the in- 
surance business. In 1892 this firm estab- 
lished a branch office in Rumford Falls, erect- 
ing the first business block on Congress 
■Street, which is now the principal thorough- 
fare of the town. Under Mr. Morrison's able 
management the business has been placed 
upon a firm and profitable basis. Since tak- 
ing up his residence here he has been identi- 
fied with the business develoiiment of the 
town; and his ability and sound judgment 
have been instrumental in forwarding several 
important enterprises, which are of much ben- 
efit to the general community. He was one of 
the organizers of the Rumford F"alls Publish- 
ing Company, of which he is a Director, was 
a principal mover in the formation of the Vil- 
lage Corporation, and is an incorporator and 
Director of the Rumford Falls Building and 
Loan Association. 

On March 10, 1885, Judge Morrison was 
united in marriage to Fannie Robertina 
Howe, daughter of Freeland Howe, of Nor- 
way. They have now two sons — Robley 
Howe and Freeland John. In politics Judge 
Morrison is a Republican. lie was appointed 




Trial Justice here in 1892, being the first to 
hokl that office in Rumford Falls. He is 
connected with O.xford Lodge, No. i S, A. F. 
& A. M., of Norway; and with I'enacook 
Lodge, No. 130, Independent Order of Odtl 
Fellows, of this town. Both he and Mrs. 
Morrison are zealous workers in the Univer- 
salist church. The Judge is a progressive and 
active business man. His courteous and 
affable manners have made him popular, and 
he has already laid the foundation of a suc- 
cessful career. 



ARROLL E. PROCTOR, M.D., the 
only physician in the town t)f Weld, 
l-'ranklin County, was born in Can- 
ton, Me., July 20, 1858, son of the 
Rev. Roscoe A. and lietsey R. (Smith) 
Proctor. On the father's side he is of Eng- 
lish descent, and on the mother's side he is 
of Scotch origin. The Proctor family was 
founded in America by two brothers who came 
from England and settled either in Salem or 
Merrimac, N. H. One of the brothers was 
the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Proctor. 
The grandfather, Uriah A. Pmctor, was born 
in Merrimac, July 18, 1791. In early man- 
hood, leaving Bethel, Me., he descended the 
Androscoggin River upon a raft, and settled 
at Jay Bend, where he engaged in farming. 
He served as a soldier in the War of 18 12. 
In January, 1813, he was married in Jay by 
Seth Carpenter to Abigail Fenno, who was 
born in Bethel, Me., August 18, 1791. He 
was a prominent man in his day in Canton, 
and was a member of the Baptist church. His 
children were: Mary F. , Rebecca B., Emcline 
B., Oliver F. , Charles A., Uriah A., Abi- 
gail, Abigail (second), Anna L. , Uriah (sec- 
ond), and Roscoe A. Abigail (first) died in 
infancy. 

Roscoe A. Proctor was born in Hartford, 
Oxford County, Me., November 10, 1833. 
He became a clergyman, and preached in Can- 
ton and Sumner, Me., for some time. He 
was subsequently called to Rangeley, Franklin 
County, where he remained eleven years. 
His last years were passed in Weld as pastor 
of the Free Will Baptist church; and he died 
December 2, 1891. He was a Republican in 



'74 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



politics, and was quite prominent in public 
affairs. His wife, Betsey, whom he married 
in Canton, July 20, I.S52, was born in Liver- 
more, Me., in 1834. She was a daughter of 
Jesse and Betsey A. (Knowles) Smith, the 
former of whom was born at Moose Hill, Liv- 
ermore. Me., in 1800. Jesse Smith was a son 
of Deacon Jesse Smith, who was born in 1764, 
and died at Moose Hill, Livermore, Me., No- 
vember 18, 1843. Deacon Smith's wife, Bet- 
sey A., was born in 1767, and died at Canton, 
Me., aged seventy-one years. Roscoe A. and 
Betsey R. (Smith) Proctor vvere the parents of 
two children, namely: Carroll E. , the subject 
of this sketch; and Gerry A., a merchant who 
lives in Rangeley. The mother died in Weld, 
June 7, 1896. 

Carroll E. Proctor acquired his early educa- 
tion in the common schools of Canton and at 
the Hebron Academy. He began the study of 
medicine with Dr. Yates, of West Paris, and 
subsequently entered Dartmouth College Med- 
ical School, from which he graduated with the 
class of 1880. He entered upon his profes- 
sion at Weld, where he has since resided. 
He is the only medical practitioner here, and 
attends patients over a territory within a 
radius of twelve miles. On Pebruary 14, 
1876, Dr. Proctor was united in marriage to 
Martha E. Bradeen, daughter of Theodore 
Bradeen, of Wilton, Me. Mrs. Proctor has 
had four children, three of whom are living, 
namely: Roscoe G. , aged nineteen, who is 
fitting for college; Eva B., aged seventeen, 
who is also attending school : and Bessie, 
aged si.\ years. In politics Dr. Proctor is a 
Republican, and has been superintendent of 
schools for the past three years. He is 
iiighly respected both socially and profession- 
;iliy, is connected with Mystic Tie Lodge, 
No". 154, A. E. & A. M., of Weld, and is a 
member of the Free Will Baptist church. 




'AMUEI, B. LOCKE, wholesale and 
retail dealer in flour, grain, and 
feed at West Paris, Me., where he 
is accounted one of the most stir- 
ring and enterprising citizens, was born at 
Locke's Mills in the adjoining town of Green- 
wood, April 18, 1840. He is the third in 



direct line to bear the name Samuel B. His 
grandfather, Samuel Barron Locke, first, set- 
tled in Bethel, Me., about 1796. He mar- 
ried Hannah Russell, of P'ryeburg, and was 
the father of nine children who grew to matu- 
rity, five sons — John, Luther, Samuel B. (sec- 
ond), James, and Charles Russell — and four 
daughters. All have now passed away. 
Grandfather Locke was a communicant of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and a Whig in 
political affiliation. 

Samuel Barron Locke, second, the father of 
the special subject of this sketch, was born in 
Bethel in 1801. He was a self-made man. 
A millwright by trade, he became a mill- 
owner; and he also followed farming to some 
extent. He settled at Locke's Mills about 
the year 1839. Many of the mills for miles 
around were built by him, the one now con- 
ducted by his son having been erected in 
1857. During the last years of his life, 
which were spent in West Paris, where he 
settled about the year i860, he carried on a 
large milling business. His death took place 
in 1870. In politics he was a Republican, in 
religion he was liberal. His wife, Mrs. 
Lucetta Edgerly Locke, who was born in 
Bu.xton, Me., in 1S06, died June i, 1888, 
aged eighty-two years. Their six children 
are all living, namely: Mary Ellen, wife of 
C. M. Morgan, of Portland; John Locke, a 
trader, residing in Fryeburg, Me.; Charles 
R. Locke, a mill-owner and lumber manufact- 
urer at North Chatham, N.H.; Frank I^ocke, 
a millwright in Fryeburg; George W., resid- 
ing in Norway, Me. ; and .Samuel B., third, 
of\Vest Paris.' 

Until sixteen years of age Samuel B. 
Locke, third, now to be further mentioned, 
lived at Locke's Mills. His education was 
completed at Gould's Academy in Bethel. 
He first went to work as a clerk for his 
brother John, whom he afterward bought out ; 
and he was then in trade here for seventeen 
years, keeping a general store. After dispos- 
ing of that he removed to Norway, Me., 
where he went into company with W. H. 
Whitcomb, and carried on quite a large mer- 
cantile business. Two years later, in 1885, 
he sold out. and returning to West Paris took 
up the milling business. He owned the mills 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



tor a number of years. He does custom ,i;riii(l- 
ing-, besides keeping feed, fiour, grain, and fer- 
tilizers for sale at both wholesale and retail. 

Mr. Locke was first married in June, 1865, 
to Miss Linnie H. Piummer, who died in 
1868; and second, in 1.S75, to Miss Elva K. 
Libby, who was born in Standish, Me. By 
the first marriage there were no children. By 
the second there are three children, a son 
and two daughters. They are: Linnie E., born 
March 2, 1876; Mary L. , born September 6, 
1882; and Samuel B., born October 2, 1885. 

Mr. Locke was elected on the Republican 
ticket as a Representative to the lower house 
of the State legislature for the term of 1874- 
75, and served very creditably. He has also 
served as Selectman of the town one term. 
He is President of the Oxford County Loan 
Association, and is a member of Granite 
Lodge, No. 182, A. F. & A. M., at West 
Paris; L.ewiston Commandery, No. 6, 
Knights Templars; and of West Paris Lodge, 
No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
at West Paris. His wife is a member of the 
Universalist church. Mr. and Mrs. Locke 
have a pleasant, attractive home, and are es- 
teemed members of society. 




FORGE M. ATWOOD, of Paris, 
senior member of the firm of Atwood 
& Forbes, publishers of the Oxford 
DcDiocrat, was born in I^uckfield, Oxford 
County, Me., October 6, iSdo. His parents 
were William H. and fielen M. Atwood; and 
it appears that they were ambitious for their 
son, giving him the best educational advan- 
tages within their reach. 

After assimilating the benefits to be derived 
from the public schools and Hebron Academy, 
he entered the Law School of Columbia Col- 
lege, New York, having determined to adopt 
the legal profession as his life work. With 
this end in view he also read law under the di- 
rection of Messrs. Bisbee & Hersey, both well- 
known lawyers, and was admitted to the Ox- 
ford bar in October, 1885. 

Very shortly afterward he purchased a half- 
interest in the Oxford Democrat, associating 
himself in this enterprise with Arthur \\. 
Forbes, of Paris, Me., under the firm name of 



.Atwood & P'orbes. Messrs. Atwood & P'orbes 
have been more than ordinarily successful a.s 
journalists and editors, and since they moved 
their office to the Billings Block in South 
Paris, have enjoyed increased facilities in their 
special line of journalism. This change was 
made November i, 1S95 ; and they now occupy 
the handsomest newspaper ofiice in the State 
of Maine. 

Mr. Atwood has not confined himself en- 
tirely to editorial work since his residence in 
his present home, but has been actively inter- 
ested in business and educational affairs, and 
has filled a number of important ofifices as a 
result of his energetic efforts in behalf of the 
community's welfare. He was elected County 
Treasurer of Oxford County in iSSS, and was 
re-elected iji 1890, 1892, 1894, and again in 
1896. He is also President of the Trustees of 
Paris Hill Academy and Chairman of its 
Executive Committee, Trustee of the South 
Paris Savings Bank, and a member of the 
Paris School Board. In 1894 Mr. Atwood and 
Mr. John Pierce, of Paris, constructed the 
Paris-Norway and Buckfield telephone lines 
and exchanges, under the name of the Paris 
Electric Comjjany, and now own and operate 
them. 

Mr. Atwocid was married to Miss Anna Har- 
low, a daughter of the Hon. lilbridge G. Har- 
low, of Dlxfield, April 5, 1S86. Two chil- 
dren were born to bless this union: William 
Fl , who.se birth date was January 9, i.SSS; and 
Raymond L. , who made his advent Mav 8, 
1895. A successful business career, a jiromi- 
nent and honored place in the regard of his 
fellow-citizens, and a happy home life leave 
little to be desired by the senior member of 
the editorial firm of Atwood & I-'orbes ; while 
both gentlemen may justly feel that they, 
through the organ of their paper, have been, 
and are, able to accomplish much for the com- 
munity whose best interests they ad\'ocate and 
support. 



RTHUR F:. FORBES, of Paris, Me., 
the junior member of the firm of At- 
wood & Forbes, was born near Paris 
Hill, May 30, 1862, son of F^lbridge 
and Angel ine (Thayer) I'orbes. His father 




176 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



was at cine time a printer, but afterward be- 
came a farmer in Paris. Mr. Forbes learned 
tile printer's art in the Oxford Di-inocrat office, 
working up to the position of foreman and 
afterward proprietor of the paper. He was 
edLicated in the public schools and at St. 
Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y. After 
finishing his education He became engaged in 
editorial work, and has been active in behalf 
of the Diinocrat' s interests. Although an 
unmarried man, Mr. l'\irbes is influential in 
social as well as business circles, and is a 
favorite in I'aris, where he has served with 
credit upon the School Board. He is also 
prominently identified with the Universalist 
denominatiiin, and is a highly respected citizen. 



(s^()H.\ JANETT MORTON, an es- 
teemed resident of South Paris, Me., 
his birthplace, and conductor and 
freight agent of the Grand Trimk Rail- 
road between South Paris and Norway, Me., 
was bom on October 20, 1830, son of Richard 
and Hannah (Perry) Morton. His father, who 
is supposed to have been a native of Raymond, 
Cumberlanil County, came to South Paris from 
(^tisfield, in that county, two brothers, Joseph 
and Lbenezer, accompanying him. 

A good mechanic, Richard Morton engaged 
in the manufacture of ploughs. At first, in 
deference to the popular belief that iron 
]iloughs were easily broken, he made wooden 
ploughs furnished with steel points, the mould- 
boards being of wood plated with thin strips of 
sheet iron. Later he substituted a cast-iron 
mould-boartl. The first plough used on many 
of the farms of this county was the handiwork 
of Richard Morton. After having carried on 
this industry alone for a considerable time, he 
entered into partnership with Hersey Brothers, 
who were engaged in the same manufacture, 
he taking into his special charge the woodwork 
department. He continued occupied in this 
way until his health failed, when he retired 
from active employment, taking up his resi- 
dence on a farm previously purchased by him. 
Here he died "September 28, 1861, at the age 
of si.xty-seven years. His wife, who was a 
daughter of James Perry, survived him until 
Januar}- 24, 18^17, when she died at the age of 



si.xty - seven years. Their children were — 
P"reeman C, James P., Angeline, Richard L., 
Ann M., John J., Newell J., and Horace J. 
The father was a member and class leader of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. Li his ear- 
lier years his political opinions were Demo- 
cratic; but, when the Republican party was 
formed, he joined it, and thenceforth sup- 
ported that party. 

John Janett Morton, whose name occupies 
the sixth place in this list, was reared and 
educated in South Paris. After leaving school 
he went to Roxbury, Mass., where he was em- 
ployed three years, at first learning the busi- 
ness of manufacturing cut nails, and then 
working at that calling. Subsequently he 
worked for his brother, Ereeman C. Morton, 
who was a contractor and builder, until 1850. 
Then he joined the crowd of gold-seekers at 
that time going to California. Near Aca- 
pulco, Mexico, the steamshiii "North Amer- 
ica," on which he had embarked, was wrecked 
on a sand-bank. The disaster caused a deten- 
tion of six weeks, and obliged him finally to 
ride to the next port on a mule, the distance 
being eighty miles. Here he took ship 
again; but before reaching his destination a 
further delay was occasioned b)* the breaking 
down of the engine, so that he was one hun- 
dred days upon the journey. On arriving in 
Sacramento, he engaged in carpenter's work 
for a short time; and then he went mining, 
visiting several places. Not liking his ex- 
]ierience in this occupation, he at length gave 
it up and returned home. -Soon after he was 
appointed freight agent of the Atlantic & St. 
Lawrence Railroad, now known as the Grand 
Trunk Railroad. In 18S3, when the road con- 
necting South Paris with Norway was built, he 
received the further appointment of conductor 
of the trains running upon this branch. In 
both capacities he has given entire satisfaction, 
alike to his employers and the public at large. 
On November 11, 1856, he was united in 
matrimony with Hannah B. Morse, a daughter 
of Nathan, Jr., and Mary (Crockett) Morse. 
Her father and mother were natives of Maine, 
born respectively in Lewiston and Danville, 
in the year 1788. The parents of Nathan 
Morse, Jr., were Nathan and Sarah (Bacon) 
Morse, natives of Dedham, Mass., who settled 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'77 



in Lcwistciii. Their son, Nathan, Jr., removed 
to Danville, where he was a prosperous farmer. 
When advanced in years he bought a home in 
Norway, and there dwelt in retirement until 
his death, which occurred in 1871, at the age 
of eighty-three years. His wife died in iS6g, 
having borne hirji twelve children. Of these 
nine attained maturity; namely, Joseph, Sally, 
Judith, lidwin, Jennie, I.ucinda, Benjamin 
I". , Julia, and Hannah B. Both parents were 
members of the Baptist church. In jjolitics 
the father was at first a Whig and subsequently 
a Republican. 

Mr. Morton and his wife have had four chil- 
dren, as follows: Ada May, born May 1, 1858; 
Ralph W. , born October 28, 1859, who died 
March 7, 1887; Harry R., born October 2^,, 
1861; and Helen T., born January 17, 1869. 
Ada May is now the wife of N. Dayton Bol- 
ster, the leading merchant of South Paris, and 
has four children — Elsie M., Morton \'. , 
Ruth M., and Philip C. Harry R., who con- 
ducts the night-lunch car at Auburn, Me., 
married Mina Daicy, and has one child, 
named Grace. Helen T. is the wife of George 
Hargrave, of Portland. In politics Mr. Mor- 
ton supports the Republican party. During 
the entire period of his emiiloyment in the ser- 
vice of the Grand Trunk Railroad Company 
he has lost but six months on account of sick- 
ness. He and Mrs. Morton reside at 29 Pleas- 
ant .Street, in a house erected by him on a lot 
purchased in i860. Few men of the town are 
so well known and esteemed as Mr. Morton. 



/^To 



P:0RGK R. BEAN, who was a well- 
\ •) I to-do farmer and a prominent resi- 
dent of Denmark, O.xford County, 
was born in Mollis, Me., July 3, 1834, son of 
William and Sarah F. (Blunt) Bean. The 
family was founded by John Bean, an emigrant 
from Scotland, who settled in lixeter, N.H., 
antecedent to the year 1660. Mr. Bean's 
grandparents were Abraham and Hannah 
(Burley) Bean, both residents of York County. 
Giles 13urley, the founder of the Burley fam- 
ily, came from luigland and settled in Ipswich 
in 1648. 

William Bean, born May 1 1, 1805, in Water- 
boro, York Countv, having been reared a 



farmer, in 1835 settled in JJcinnark, where he 
bought a large tract of land known as the 
Joshua Osgood farm. Dealing extensively in 
lumber, he resided here until his death, which 
occurred April 21, 1894. His religious be- 
lief was that of the L'niversalists. For many 
years he figured prominently in public affairs, 
having represented his district in the legislat- 
ure for three terms. He was twice married. 
PI is first wife, Sarah V., who was born J-'ebru- 
ary 2, i8o8, in Kennebunkport, Me., and died 
January 10, 1862, had four children, as fol- 
lows: George R., the subject of this sketch; 
Ellen S. , born December 13, 1838, who is 
now the wife of R. G. True, a prosperous 
farmer of Hiram, Me. ; JaneM., born Septem- 
ber 12, 1 84 1, who successively married Al- 
mond Perry and George P. Hoyt, of Baldwin, 
Me., and is now a widow residing in Old Oi- 
chard, Me. ; and Frances A., born September 
8, 1849, who is now the wife of the Rev. 
S. R. H. Biggs, a preacher and publisher of 
Lincoln, Mass. The father entered a second 
marriage, contracted with Sarah J. Warren, 
who was born in Effingham, N. H., October 
15, 1827. She died P'ebruary 19, 1889, leav- 
ing two children, namely: William C, born 
October 5, 1863, who married Lucy V. Allen, 
and is now engaged in agricultural pursuits in 
Hiram, Me. ; and Charles R., born November 
15, 1871, who resides with his brother in 
Hiram. 

After receiving his education in the schools 
of Paris Hill and Waterville, George R. 15ean 
taught school in Denmark for eight years. 
Throughout the rest of his life he was prosper- 
ously engaged in general farming at the home- 
stead. A great admirer of good cattle, he also 
bred stock extensively. He died at his home, 
January 30, iSg6, aged nearly sixty-two year.s. 
The estate left by him comjirises the home- 
stead jjroper, containing two hundred and 
thirty acres; twelve hundred acres of outlying 
land; and the Red Mill in Hiram, erected by 
him in 1895. In politics he was an active 
supijorter of the Republican party, by which 
he was elected to the offices of Supervisor and 
Collector. He was prominent in all move- 
ments conducive to the general good, and was 
highly respected by the community. 

On September 26, i860, the late Mr. Be:ui 



178 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



was united in marriage with Sarah M. Jordan, 
of Portland, Me., who, born June 13, 1836, 
came to reside in Denmark when she was five 
years old. Her parents, William M. and 
Almira 1'. (Harmon) Jordan, now deceased, 
were both natives of Maine, born respectively., 
ill Gray and 15iddeford. Mrs. Jordan passed 
some years of her life in Brownfieki, Me. Mr. 
and ^Irs. Bean have had five children, as fol- 
lows: Jennie, born February 23, 1863, who 
marrieil K. W. Hosworth, the ]iresent proprie- 
tor of the \\cil Mill in Hiram, and has one 
daughter, Ik-thesda I., born December 13, 
1893; Anna Maud, born July 6, 1865, who is 
now the wife of Fernando W. Witham, of 
Denmark Corner; Fred Roy, born December 
30, 1867, who resides at home; Mildred May, 
born February i, 1870, who died December 
II, 1894; and Mahlon, born August 24, 1872, 
who died March 14, 1S73. The father was a 
member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 53, 
A. F. & A. M. The farm is now carried on 
by Fred Roy Ik-an, an intelligent and ]Uo- 
gressive young man. He raises horses and 
cattle, runs a dairy, and sells a large amount 
of cream. Mrs. }?ean is a member of the 
Universalist church. Her many admirable 
(|ualities endear her to a wide circle of friends 
and acquaintances.. 




l.APTAIN WILLIAM TRUE, a re- 
tired carpenter of Farniington, Me., 
formerly a commissioned officer in 
the .State militia, is one of the most 
venerable and highh' respected citizens of this 
town. He was born in Temple, Franklin 
County, Me., June 10, 1S15, son of William 
and Hannah Abbott (Russell) True. He is 
a descendent of the Yarmouth Trues, a promi- 
nent Cumberland County family, who settled 
there at an early date in Colonial history. 

Zebulon True, Captain True's grandfather, 
son of William True, was born in Yarmouth, 
Me., May 21, 17^)5 ; and when a young man he 
resided for some time in Augusta. He served 
as a private in the Continental Army during 
the latter part of the Revolutionary War; and 
in 1791 he settled upon lot No. 18 in Farni- 
ington, which was then an almost unbroken 
wilderness, but few white men living here at 



the time. A few years later he sold his 
Farmington property; and in 1799 he bought 
another tract of wild land in the town of 
Temple, where he cleared a good farm, being 
one of the pioneer agriculturists of that local- 
ity. He died February 4, 1830. His wife, 
formerly Martha Kennedy, who was born in 
Ireland, October 26, 1770, became the mother 
of twelve children; namely, William, Betsey, 
Zebulon, Martha, Polly, Sally, James K., Jo- 
siah L. , John, Thomas, Ro.xaillany, and 
Jacob B. Captain True's grandmother died 
February 9, 1858. 

William True, son of Zebulon and Martha 
True, was born in Farmington, Me., April 12, 
1789. Upon reaching manhood he cleared a 
farm situated upon Porter's Hill, later selling 
and clearing a part of another tract containing 
one hundred and sixty acres, making two farms 
which were reclaimed by him from a wild 
state. From this it appears that he was a 
strong, able-bodied, exceedingly energetic 
man, capable of much physical endurance and 
hard work. He also followed the carpenter's 
trade in connection with his other labors; and 
he was one of the most successful among the 
early settlers of Temple, where he lived to be- 
come an octogenarian. He died at the home 
of his son. May 9, 1869. In politics he was 
a Democrat, and in his religious views a Con- 
gregational ist ; and by his industrious and ex- 
emplary life he gained the respect and esteem 
of his neighbors and fellow-townsrnen. He 
married for his first wMfe Hannah Abbott Rus- 
sell, who was born May 4, 1794, daughter of 
Thomas and Phebe (Abbott) Russell. She 
died March 16, 1838, leaving se\'en children, 
as follows: Sumner, who was born October 6, 
1 813; William, the subject of this sketch; 
Hannah A., born May 22, 1817; Julian, born 
March 7, 1824; Octavia, born Februar\' 4, 
1828; Marilla, born June 14, 1832; and 
Philip, born October 5, 1835. Captain True's 
father married for his second wife Elizabeth P. 
Haskell, who lived to reach the age of eighty- 
one years, and died in 1880, and whose only 
daughter, Octavia, was born December 3, 1839. 

William True, the subject of this sketch, 
attended school in his boyhood; and when old 
enough he began to learn the carpenter's trade, 
working with his father. At the age of 



p^^ii^ 




WILLIAM TRUE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



iSi 



twenty-four he settled in rhilli[)s, where he 
bought a farm which he carried on in connec- 
tion with his trade for tour years. At the ex- 
piration of that time he sold his property, and, 
moving to Worcester, Mass., worked as a jour- 
neyman carpenter in that city for three years, 
when his health failed. l-'or the next seven 
years he kcjjt a public house, for four years 
managing a hotel on the west side of the river, 
and for the succeeding three years being pro- 
prietor of the Blue Mountain House, which 
stood upon the site now occupied by the ]jres- 
ent Farmington Exchange. Retiring from the 
hotel business, he bought the Butler home- 
stead, which was the oldest residence in the 
village, and, having remodelled it and placed 
it in a substantial condition, has since resided 
here. He continued to follow his trade with 
energy and prosperity for several years, but 
has now jiractically retired from regular labor, 
although he is able at his advanced years to 
spend considerable time at his bench daily. 

On March 29, 1839, Captain True wedded 
Mary S. Smith, who was born in Farmington, 
December 19, 181 5, daughter of Samuel and 
Mary (Sprague) Smith. Mrs. True died July 
24, 1886, leaving no children. 

While residing in Temjjle, Captain True 
was prominent in the State militia, and re- 
ceived his commission, the title of which he 
has since borne. In politics he is a Republi- 
can. For the past thirty years he has had 
charge of the house of worship of the Old 
.South Congregational Church, of which he is 
an active member. He enjoys good health ; 
and there is not a citizen here who is more 
widely and favorably known than this venerable 
octogenarian, or more entitled to the respect 
and veneration which is extended to him by 
the entire community. 




lAL I'RANCISCO BRADBURY, 
M.D., a brilliant young physician of 
\r^ ) Norway, Me., son of one of the most 
eminent medical and surgical practi- 
tioners in Oxford County, was born in Spring- 
field, Me., February 5, 1861. He is a son of 
Dr. Osgood N. and Ellen R. (Scribner) Brad- 
bury. Dr. ]5radbury's immigrant ancestor, 
from whom he is eighth in descent, was 



Thomas l^radbury, who was bajitizetl at Wickcn 
Bonant, Essex County, England, on February 
28, 1610-1 1, and in 1634 appeared in Agamen- 
ticus (now York, Me.) as agent of the projiri- 
etor. Sir F"erdinando Gorges. 

Thomas Bradbury afterward settled in the 
town of .Salisbury, Mass., and married Mary 
Perkin.s, of Ipswich, who was' coinicted <if 
witchcraft, but escaped execution. Thomas, 
the immigrant, and his wife, Mary, had a son 
William, who was a land-owner in Salisbur)-. 
William Bradbury married Rebecca Maverick 
(i/C(- Wheelwright), and their son Jacob mar- 
ried Elizabeth .Stockman. Moses, the son of 
the couple last named, settled in North \'ar- 
mouth. Me., and later remo\'ed to New 
Gloucester. He married Abigail I'ogg ; and 
his fourth child and second son, l^enjamin, 
located in 1777 in the town of Minot, An- 
droscoggin County, on ]5radbury Hill. He 
married Eleanor P'ellows; and his descentlants 
are found in Oxford, Androscoggin, and Frank- 
lin Counties. 

Benjamin's son Josei_)h, who settled first in 
New Gloucester, in 1790 moved to Minot, in 
1794 to Poland, and in 1S07 to Norway, locat- 
ing to the south-west of Pike Hill, where he 
purchased- one hundred and five acres of land 
of Joshua Smith. This land he cleared for 
farming purposes, in the mean time working 
as a carpenter when opportunity offered. He 
was interested in political matters, voting with 
the Whigs, and in religious progress serving 
as Deacon of the Congregational church for a 
number of years. He died April 4, 1836, at 
the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, Tab- 
itha Cotton before marriage, died in 1845. 
Their children were: Charles A., .Sophia, 
Ruth, Eleanor, Betsey, Jacob, Nathan A., 
Moses, and Nathaniel M. 

Jacob Bradbury, last named, who was tlic 
grandfather of Dr. B. F. Bradbury, was born 
June 25, 1799. He inherited the homestead, 
and, as a farmer, took a leading place in the 
community; while as a schoolmaster he had a 
long and successful record, teaching thirty- 
three winters — twenty-seven winters in suc- 
cession. He died in Norway, August 2, 1880. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Sally K. 
Ripley, was a daughter of Uriah Ripley, of 
Paris, Oxford County, Me. She died October 



iSj 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



30, 1880. The children of this couple were 
— Sabiiia E. , Matilda A., Nathan O. , Osgood 
\.. Ilcnry A. M., Harriet N., Sarah A., liii- 
])hcniia J., Jacob F., Nellie F., James G. B., 
and Ida K. 

Osgood Nathan Bradbury, son of Jacob and 
Sally K. Bradbury, was born in Norway, Octo- 
ber 28, 1828. He finished his preliminary 
studies at the Norway Liberal Institute, and 
when he was eighteen years old took charge of 
the high school of Springfield, Me. In 1852 
he entered the counting-room of S. W. Pope 
& Co., of East Machias, as clerk, and in 1856 
went to California and into the mines. He 
soon after located in .San Francisco, where he 
was in business until Juh', i860. On his 
return to the East he took up the study of 
medicine under Dr. P. C. Jones, of Spring- 
field, Me. ; and after completing the curricu- 
lum of the Maine Medical School, where he 
was graduated June 4, 1864, he entered the 
Cony Lhiited States Military Hospital at Au- 
gusta as executive officer and assistant sur- 
geon. In January, 1866, he was made sur- 
geon-in-charge, and was in office until the 
hospital was abolished. During the ensuing 
years, until 1873, Dr. Osgood N. Bradbury 
conducted a successful practice as physici?ln and 
surgeon at Sjiringfield, Me. ; and in that year 
he moved to Norway, where he has since been 
an active factor in all progressive movements. 

While a resident of Springfield, Dr. Brad- 
bury, the elder, was elected to the House of 
Representatives, entering on his duties in 
1863 ; and the two years following he was Sen- 
ator from Penobscot County. He was a mem- 
ber of the Committee on f^ducation for three 
years, and also served on other important com- 
mittees; and in 1864 he was Chairman of the 
joint sjjecial Committee on the Death Penalty, 
which fountl the state of popular feeling such 
that public hearings were held during every 
week of the legislative session. Dr. Bradbury 
has been a Mason for more than forty years, 
is Past Master, and has taken all the degrees 
fif the York rite; and as an Odd Fellow he is 
a charter member of Norway Lodge and of 
W'ildey iMicampment, and has presided over 
the deliberations of the lodge and encamp- 
ment. He has been United States Examining 
Surgeon for pensions thirteen years. 



In 1886 he commenced the publication in 
the Norway Weekly Advertiser of a series of 
recollections; and he has broadened the scope 
of his writing until it has embr.aced a careful 
and extremely valuable compilation of the his- 
tory of all the early settlers, extending down to 
the youngest descendant. Dr. Osgood N. 
Bradbury was married June 13, 1852, to Miss 
Ellen R. Scribner, who was born in Spring- 
field, Me., Jul\- 10, 1832. Three children 
blessed their union: Nellie R., who died in 
infancy; Bial F., the subject of this sketch; 
and Guy, who was born March 24, 1872, and 
died May 17, 1876. 

Bial F. Bradbury was graduated at the Nor- 
way High .School, and first took up the study 
of medicine with his father. He continued 
his studies in the Maine Medical School at 
Brunswick, and later in Atlanta, Ga., where 
his father, whose health was failing, spent a 
year, and two years in South Carolina (1881- 
84), with beneficial results. The young man 
was graduated at the .Southern Medical Col- 
lege of Atlanta, highest in his class, taking the 
first prize, seventy-five dollars in gold. This 
was in 1882; and in the spring of that year 
he began practice in Norway, Me. Though he 
had taken the polyclinic course in Atlanta, he 
did not consider his preparatory studies fin- 
ished; and in 1885 he pursued an advanced 
course in the Post-graduate Medical College of 
New York City. Since then Dr. B. F. Brad- 
bury has been gradually taking his father's 
place, having practised in conjunction with 
him at first; and he is already one of the most 
successful physicians and surgeons in the 
count}'. In 1S85 he was appointed Assistant 
Surgeon and First Lieutenant of the First 
Regiment, National Guard of Maine; in 1894 
he was promoted to the rank of Captain; antl 
in April, 1896, to that of Major and Surgeon. 

Dr. B. Y. Bradbury was married March 22, 
1882, to Mabel F., daughter of Dr. George P. 
Jones, of Norway. He has no children. In 
politics he is a Democrat. The young Doctor 
is a member of the Town Board of Health, and 
actively interested in all projects for the im- 
provement of the town. He is a thirty-second 
degree Mason ; Master of Oxford Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M., of Norway; has taken all 
the degrees of the York rite; is a member of 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Kora Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Lewis- 
tdii ; and as an Odd Fellow he is Medical 
Director of the Odd Fellows Graded Relief 
Association, and a Knight of Pythias, in which 
he holds the rank of Colonel and Assistant 
Surgeon-general in the Uniform Rank, Maine 
Brigade. In the town of Norway no man is 
more ]iopnlar than Dr. Rial I', l^railbury. 




ILLIAM K. COOPER, an esteemed 
agriculturist of Paris, was born 
here, December ig, 1855, on the 
farm where he now resides. His father, Will- 
iam Cooper, was also born on this homestead; 
and his grandfather, Benjamin Cooper, was 
one of the early settlers of the town. Benja- 
min Cooper came to Paris when it was but a 
mere hamlet. Buying one hundred acres of 
land, he cleared a homestead for himself. A 
skilful carpenter, he also assisted largely in 
the building up of the place, remaining here 
until his death at a good old age. He was a 
man of upright principles, a stanch Democrat 
in politics, and a firm believer in the Univer- 
salist religion. To him and his wife, Susan 
Cooper, si.x children were born, of whom but 
one, Mrs. Miranda Cole, of Paris Hill, is now 
living. The others were — Harriet, John, 
Hannah, .Sarah, and William. 

William Cooper, the youngest member of 
his father's family, succeeded to the home 
farm, where he was busily engaged in farming 
for many years. He spent the last few years 
of his life in retirement at Paris Hill, and 
died there aged seventy-eight years. He mar- 
ried Charity Kyle, who was born and reared in 
the adjacent town of Peru. She survived him, 
and is now occupying their Paris Hill home. 
They had nine children, of whom two, Charles 
and Albert, have joined the silent majority. 
Those living are — Luella, Rowena, Herbert, 
Frederick, William E., Charles, and Delia. 
In politics the father was an unswerving Dem- 
ocrat and in religion a faithful Universal ist. 
William F. Cooper grew to manhood on the 
old homestead, obtaining his education in the 
district schools, and assisting in the care of 
the farm. The homestead is now his property. 
It is one of the best cared for farms in this part 
of the county. It contains one hundred acres of 



land, which yield abundant crops of hay, corn, 
potatoes, and grain. Inheriting those traits 
of character that distinguislied his ancestors, 
Mr. Cooper has won the regard of the com- 
munity. In politics he is a thorough Demo- 
crat. On December 26, i.S.S'5, Mr. Cooper 
married Miss Cora K. Tucker, who was born 
October 2, 1862, in Buckfield, Me., daughter 
of Lsaac and the late I^sther Tucker. Her 
father, a farmer by occupation, still resides in 
Buckfield. 



^HINFAS WHITTIER, a prominent 
v«^ resident of Chesterville, extensively 
£> engaged in fruit growing, was born 
December i, 1823, at the old Whit- 
tier homestea'd in this town, son of Peter and 
Deborah (Gordon) WHiittier. Mr. Whittier's 
great-grandfather, Thomas Whitticr, whose 
father was also named Thomas, resided in New 
Hampshire. Phineas Whittier, the grand- 
father, who was a native of that State, came 
to Chesterville among the very earliest set- 
tlers, and acquired a tract of one hundred and 
sixty acres of wild land. He lived in a log 
house until he had cleared and improved his 
farm. Then he erected a frame dwell inc, 
which he occupied until his death in 1828, at 
the age of fifty years. His wife, in maiden- 
hood Mehitable I'rench, who survived him 
some forty years, died at the age of eighty. 
Her children were: Josiah, hjioch, Peter, 
Mehitable, and Lucretia. 

Peter Whittier was born at the homestead in 
Chesterville about the year 1800. He passed 
his boyhood assisting upon the farm and at- 
tending the common school. .Succeeding to 
the property after his father's death, he suc- 
cessfully carried on general farming fluring 
the rest of his life. The old house built h)- 
his father was destroyed by fire in 1845, and 
in the following year he erected a new resi- 
dence. All of his seventy years of life was 
pas.sed upon the homestead. His wife, Deb- 
orah, whom he married in 1822, became the 
mother of the following children, namely: 
Phineas, the subject of this sketch; Newell 
G., who married Harriet Tilton ; Charles, who 
died during the Civil War; Daniel, who mar- 
ried Caroline Dyke; Josiah, who died in m- 



i84 



BIOGRAPHICAI. RKVIEVV 



fancy; Eleanor G. , who married W. H. Wan- 
ning; Waty E. , who became Mrs. Butterfield, 
and died in 1884; and Hattie, now deceased, 
who became the wife of David Thompson. 
Mr. Whittier's mother died in 1867. Mrs. 
David Thompson inherited the homestead; and 
it is now owned b\' her son, Charles H. 
Thomi)son. 

I'hineas Whittier obtained his education in 
the town schools of Chesterville and at the 
Earmington Academy. At the age of twenty- 
one he bought ninety acres of pasture land, 
now a part of his ]iresent farm. On this he 
erected a frame house, which is still standing, 
and began life for himself. Here he was 
steadily engaged in general farming until 
1S54, when he went to I-"oxboro, Mass. After 
sjiending about three years in that town, em- 
ployed at Carpenter's bonnet factory, he re- 
turned to the farm, which he has since carried 
on with unusual success. His estate now con- 
tains about three hundred and fifteen acres, 
including tillage, orchard, pasture, and wood 
land. His orchard, covering an area of eighty 
acres, has si.x thousand trees, which annually 
yield two thousand barrels of apples, chiefly 
Baldwins. Eor the past twenty years he has 
shipped all of his number one fruit to Hall & 
Cole, Eaneuil Hall Market, Boston. He dis- 
poses of surplus fruit by evajjorating and can- 
ning, for which he has ample facilities upon 
his premises. His evaporator has a capacity 
of forty bushels per day. Any further surplus- 
age is utilized to make vinegar. Mr. Whit- 
tier has a large storehouse, whose lower floor 
has space for three thousand barrels, while the 
upper floor will hold five thou.sand empty bar- 
rels. Upon the site of the old barn built by 
him in 1848 he has erected a large modern 
structure, having storage for seventy-five tons 
of hay and stabling for five horses, si.x cows, 
and one hundred and fifty sheep. 

On August 31, 1848, Mr. Whittier wedded 
Sarah Maddncks, daughter of Richard and 
Esther (Knowlton) Maddocks. Mr. Maddocks 
was a native of Chesterville and a son of 
Richard Maddocks; and his wife was a daugh- 
ter of Samuel Knowlton, of Earmington. Mr. 
and Mr.s. Whittier have three children, as 
follows: Emma Vodisa, born March 8, 185 1, 
who married Joel Maddocks, and resides in 



Eo.xboro, Mass. ; Grace, born November 6, 
1858, who married Erank H. Rollins, resides 
upon a part of her father's farm, ..nd has three 
children — Dean W., Kenneth '.., and Ruth; 
and Sarah I., born October 13, 1862, who 
married Chester Greenwood, of Earmington, 
and has four children — Lester, Donald W. , 
Vodisa, and Clinton. In politics Mr. Whit- 
tier acts with the Republican party. Eor a 
number of years he has served on the ]?oard of 
Selectmen and the School Committee. In his 
religious views he is liberal. His good health 
must be largely due to the fact that he has not 
tasted a dro]) of intoxicating liquor in his 
lifetime. 



^^Y^HN J. PIKE is a prosperous dairy 
farmer of Eryeburg, Me., where he wa.s 
born on February 17, 1833, son of 
Elder John and Hannah (Hubbard) 
Pike. Mr. Pike's father was a native of Cor- 
nish, York County, Me. He came to Erye- 
burg in 1819, and, settling upon the farm 
where his son now resides, became widely 
and favorably known as a Free Will Baptist 
preacher. He was first commissioned a Jus- 
tice of the Peace in 1821 ; and, being for many 
years the only resident of the town having the 
authority to witness and legalize civil acts, he 
attended to all such matters, and also sol- 
emnized marriage. Elder Pike died in No- 
vember, 1877. He and his wife, Hannah 
Hubbard, a native of Limington, Me., were 
the parents of six children, as follows: Lydia 
H., who was born in July, 1822, and died in 
August, 1823; Lydia H., second, who was 
born in 1825, and died in Wisconsin in 1893; 
Hannah T. , born in 1827, now the wife of 
Stephen Gowen, of Biddeford, Me. ; Dollie 
M., who was born in 1829, and died on April 
ir, 1883; John J., aforementioned; and an- 
other child who died in infancy. Mrs. Han- 
nah H. Pike died in 1881. 

It was the fifth-born child that was named 
for the father, and, now well ad\'anced in man- 
hood's years and achievements, is the direct 
subject of this biographical notice. John J. 
Pike in his early years acquired a common- 
school education, and after finishing his 
studies he began to work ujmu his father's 



BIOGRAl'HlLAL REXIKW 



iSj 



farm. He took charge of the property previ- 
ous to his father's death, and eventually suc- 
ceeded to the ownership of the homestead, 
which consists of two hundred acres. Mr. 
Pike is still actively engaged in general farm- 
ing, his princ'.nal products consisting of hay, 
corn, ant! potatjes; and he ]iays special atten- 
tion to his dairy, keeping thirty cows and mak- 
ing a hue quality of butter, which fiiuls a 
ready sale in Boston and Lynn, Mass. 

In 1857 Mr. Pike wedded for his first wife 
Mary J. Wiley, of Fryeburg, daughter of 
tlnoch W. and Miranda Wiley, the former of 
whom is no longer living, and his w'ife is re- 
siding in Fryeburg. By this union there were 
*■ six children, namely: John W. ; Hannah H., 
W'ife of P^rank Howe, of l^oston, and Miranda 
J., her twin sister, who married J. G. .Sever- 
ance, of Lowell, Mass.; pjioch W., who is 
living at home; Minnie IVP , who resides in 
Lowell, Mass. ; and Winnie .S., her twin 
brother, who is no longer living. Mr. Pike's 
first wife died in 1SS3 ; and he married for his 
second wife. May 20, 1885, Mrs. I'rancena B. 
(Benton) Wiley, widow of .Sullivan J. Wiley, 
late of this town. 

In politics Mr. Pike is a Kepublican, and 
though not an (3tfice-seeker he has ably filled 
some of the town offices. He takes an active 
interest in political afTaiis, and has never 
missed a national. State, or local election 
since becoming a voter. He is connected with 
I'ryeburg Lodge, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and Pequaket Lodge, Knights of 
Pythias. He enjoys the independent life of a 
farmer,' and is regarded with the highest re- 
spect by his fellow-townsmen. 




iDWIN N. HASKP:LL, of South Paris, 
^ a member of the firm of N. D. Bolster 
& Co., dealers in general merchan- 
dise and groceries, who do as large a retail 
business as any similar firm in (^.xford County, 
was born here on July 25, 1862, son of 
Ezekiel W. and Harriet (Rideout) Haskell. 

Peter Haskell, father of I^zekiel W. , was 
born in New Gloucester, Me., and spent his 
life in that town. He owned a farm of many 
acres, and was an industrious and progressive 
agriculturist. He married for his first wife 



Sail)' Pulsifer, by whom he had two sons and 
a daughter; namely, Jacob W. , I^zekiel W., 
and Mary P. lie marrietl foi- his second wife 
Betsey Hawes, by whom he had two sons 
Charles P. and 'I'liomas H. The grandparents 
were conimunicants of the Congregational 
church. 

Plzekiel W. llaskcll, the second son. was 
born in New (ilouccstcr on July ,^, 1831. .\t 
twenty-seven years of age, in 1858, he came tn 
.South Paris and went to work for the Grand 
'Prunk Railroad. A few )'ears later he jnu'- 
chased a wood-sawing machine, with which he 
prepared fuel for use on the railroad, cm]ilov- 
ing several men; and he carried un this busi- 
ness very successfully until 1)\' the introduc- 
tion of coal engines the demanil for the wood 
was cut off. - He ne.xt engaged in teaming and 
trucking for the Paris flouring-mill, owning 
several ilranght-horses. He was carrying on 
this business at the time of his death, July 5, 
1871. His wife, Mrs. Harriet Rideout Has- 
kell, survived hini fourteen years, dying in 
1885. I^oth were earnest, devoted Christians 
and communicants of the Congregational 
church. Their honie was at 7 Main Street, 
the residence jareviously owned by Abijah 
Hall. A son and two daughters were the fruit 
of their union, naniel)' : l{mma Whitman, born 
April 18, i860; lulwin Nelson, liorn July 25, 
1S62; and Plattie Lufkin, born December 2^, 
; S64. 

When eighteen years of age lulwin Nelson 
Haskell left school and went to work as a clerk 
for N. Dayton Bolster, continuing in that ]>o- 
sition for fourteen years, during which time he 
gained a practical and thorough knowledge of 
the business. He was then, in i8c)3, received 
into partnership by Mr. Bolster. They have 
a large trade, eniploying several clerks and 
delivery wagons; and in South Paris the name 
of N. Dayton Bolster & Co. stands for straight- 
forward business transactions. Mr. Haskell 
and his sisters owii the old homestead, upon 
which they have made numerous general im- 
provements. He is a nieniber of the Congre- 
gational church, and is connected with the 
following fraternal organizations: Mount Mica 
Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd 
P'ellows; Hamlin Lodge, No. 31, Knights of 
Pythias — both of South Paris. 



iS6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 




:ACHARIAH NORTON, a retired 
railroad conductor of Farmington, 
I'ranklin County, and a veteran of 
the Civil War, was born in Phillips, 
this county. Me., June 20, 1843, son of Zebu- 
Ion and Abigail (Hartford) Norton. Mr. 
Norton is a descendant of Zachariah Norton, a 
native of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, 
who served as a Captain in the Revolutionary 
War, and settled in Farmington at an early date 
in the history of the town, where the records 
show that he was ta.xed for a house and lot in 
1798. Zachariah bought a farm located upon 
what is now known as Norton I-'lats, became 
one of the progressive men of this locality, 
and contributed generously toward building 
the Centre Meeting-house in 1803. He was 
active in public affairs of both the town and 
county, serving as Town Treasurer in 1805 
and as Representative to the legislature in 
1807. Later in life he sold his property here, 
and, moving to Madison, Me., took up a 
squatter's claim and became one of the leading 
citizens of that town. Both he and his wife 
lived to an advanced age. Their children 
were: Dehave, Peter, Zebulon, Abigail, Han- 
nah, Marshall, Elihu, and Abraham. 

Zebulon Norton accompanied his father to 
I'armington. As it was intended that he 
should enter the legal profession, he was given 
a good education. After studying law for a 
time, he concluded that his chances for success 
in life lay in another direction; and, turning 
his attention to agricultural pursuits, he 
bought the homestead here: The good judg- 
ment and industry with which he subsequently 
managed this property soon placed him among 
the most prosperous residents of the j^lace. 
He was one of the number who contributed 
five thousand dollars for the establishment of 
the p-armington Academy. He displayed his 
patriotism by enrolling himself as a private 
and serving in the War of 1813. After his 
return to civil life he sold his property and 
moved to the northern part of the town, then 
to Industry, and still later to Phillips, this 
county. The rest of his active period was 
jiassed in Phillijos, prosperously engaged in 
farming and extensive lumber operations; and 
he died at the advanced age of ninety-si.x years. 
His first wife, whose maiden name was Louisa 



Pratt, was cut off in young womanhood, leav- 
ing four daughters — Louisa, Hannah, Huldah, 
and Lydia. His second wife, in maidenhood 
Abigail Hartford, bore him nine children; 
namely, Daniel L. ," Joshua H., Abigail, 
Charlotte, Ichabod, Zachariah (first, now de- 
ceased), Mary, Caroline, and Zachariah (the 
subject of this sketch). She lived to the age 
of seventy-si.x years. 

Zachariah Norton passed his boyhood in at- 
tending the town schools of Phillips. After- 
ward he was for some time engaged in assisting 
his father. On .September 11, 1862, he en- 
listed as a private in Company D, Twenty- 
eighth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, for nine 
months' service, and subsequently took part in 
the siege and capture of Port Hudson. When 
discharged he returned home, and bought one 
hundred and sixty acres of land, which in- 
cluded a part of his father's propert)'. This he 
sold later in order to purchase a farm of two 
hundred acres in the town of Freeman. After 
making some improvements he sold the latter 
property also, and then removed to New Vine- 
yard, Me. Here he bought another farm of 
one hundred and fifteen acres, and resided on 
it for five years. Abandoning agricultural life 
after this, he went to L\nn, Mass., where he 
entered the employ of the I^astern Railroad 
Company as a switchman in their yards. 
From this position he rajiidly rose in the reg- 
ular line of promotion to that of conductor, 
which he held until i88ci. He then resigned, 
and once more took up his residence in New 
Vineyard. In iSgohc moved to P'armington, 
where he bought the Melvin Tufts place, a 
handsome residence on Main Street, also a 
village farm of forty acres, together with two 
tenement-houses. Although he gives his per- 
sonal attention to his property, he has practi- 
cally retired from active business pursuits. 

On September 11, 1864, Mr. Norton wedded 
Orianna, daughter of Thomas and Harriet 
(Libby) Taylor. Mr. Taylor, who in his 
early life was a farmer, afterward became a 
resident of Boston, where he died at the age of 
forty-eight. Harriet died at the age of thirty- 
five, having been the mother of four other chil- 
dren ; namely, Washington L., Philena, Ros- 
coe, and Charles. 

Her surviving husband subsequently con- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



,87 



traded a second marriage with Maryfone 
Stevens, who bore him one child, True T. 
Mr. and Mrs. Norton have two sons, as fol- 
lows: La Forest W. , who was born June 4, 
1.S69; and Arthur R., who was born June 24, 
1880. Politicall}-, Mr. Norton acts with the 
Republican party. He is highly esteemed 
both in business and social circles here, and 
is popular among the veterans of the (irand 
Army of the Republic. A fact worthy of note, 
and one which he may look upon with pride, 
is that representatives of three generations of 
the Norton family have assisted in the defence 
of their country in the three jjrincipal military 
struggles fought and won by the United States. 



JRA JOHNSON, a successful lumberman, 
stock dealer, and general farmer of Nor- 
way, O.xford County, and one of the 
most prominent business men of this 
town, was born at the Johnson homestead in 
the north-east part of Waterford, where he 
now resides, December 3, 1S38, son of Ira, 
Sr., and Mary (Townc) Johnson. 

The first of the family to settle in Maine 
was his grandfather, Asa Johnson, a native of 
Massachusetts, who served three years as a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was 
one of the pioneer farmers of Waterford, 
whither he came in 1786, and remained a resi- 
dent for the rest of his life. He married 
Hannah Horr, a daughter of Philip and Han- 
nah (Harrington) Horr, and reared a family 
of nine children, as follows: Clarissa, who is 
said to have been the first white child born in 
Waterford; Hannah; Asa, Jr.; Lucy; Ira, 
Sr. ; Sally; Elijah; Mary; and Leonisia. 
Of these none are now living, though all grew 
to maturity, and were married. 

Ira Johnson, Sr.. second son of Asa (ohn- 
son, was born in Waterford in 1796, and was 
reared to agricultural pursuits. When a 
young man he bought the farm which is now 
owned by his son Ira, and he cultivated the 
land with profitable results for many years. 
He was an able and industrious farmer and a 
prominent citizen, who gained the respect and 
good will of his neighbors and fellow-towns- 
men. He resided at the homestead until his 
death, which took place December 27, 1878. 



His wife, Mary Towne, whom he married 
November 20, 1828, was born in Albany, Me., 
February 14, 1809, daughter of Samuel and 
Lydia (Ilolt) Towne, both of whom were na- 
tives of Andover, Mass. Samuel Towne set- 
tled in Albany, this State, among the early 
pioneers, and became a prosperous farmer and 
a leading citizen of that place, where he was 
elected to serve in various town offices. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ira Johnson, Sr., had a family 
of eight children, as follows: Augustus, who 
died at the age of fourteen months; Lydia 
Merriam, now deceased, who married for her 
first husband Frederick Fuller, and for her 
second Samuel Hersey; Amanda, wife of 
Justin E. Mclntire, of Waterford, a sketch of 
whom appears elsewhere in the present vol- 
ume; Ira, tlie subject of this sketch; An- 
toinette, wife of David L. Merrill, of North 
Bridgton, Me. ; Jerome A., who married 
Fanny M. Bancroft, and is engaged in farming 
in Waterford; Harriet H., wife of W. S. 
Merrill, an energetic farmer of Norway; and 
George Hersey, who married Sarah E. Upton, 
neither of whom is living. Mr. Johnson's 
mother, who is now eighty-seven years old, 
resides with him. 

Ira Johnson grew to manhood in Waterford, 
and at the age of eighteen he engaged in fell- 
ing trees, working for si,\ weeks; and his 
wages were used to pay for one half-term of 
school. He afterward attended the Waterford 
High School for one term, and then began 
work for his father at one hundred dollars 
per year, with which he made the first pay- 
ment toward the purchase of the homestead 
property. He continued to improve the farm, 
which he paid for by his own industry and 
toil; and he has always resided upon it. Be- 
sides conducting general farming with energy 
ami success, in company with Justin VI. Mc- 
lntire he engaged in stock dealing, lumber- 
ing, and the manufacture of pulp wood, in 
which they carried on a large and profitable 
business here for several years. Mr. Johnson 
has now practically retired from active pur- 
suits, but still devotes considerable attention 
to his agricultural interests, owning in all 
about one thousand acres of land. 

On December 3, 1859, Mr. Johnson married 
Melissa J. Merrill, who was born in Norway, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



August 30, 1840. She is a daughter of John 
and Jane (Dickey) Merrill, the former of 
whom was born in Andover, Mass. ; and his 
wife also was a native of that State. Coming 
to O.xford County, Maine, John Merrill first 
settled on a farm in Norway, afterward remov- 
ing to Albany; and he finally took up his resi- 
dence in Norway village, where his last days 
were passed. He died in April, 1875; and 
his wife died February 2"/ , 1S39. Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson have three children, as follows: 
Lillian, who was born May 28, 1864, and is 
now the wife of Clarence W. I'ride, a promi- 
nent resident of VVaterford and Chairman of 
the Board oi Selectmen of that town; Virgil 
Howard, who was born June 29, 1867, married 
Sophronia B. Kimball, of North Bridgton, 
Me., and is now residing with his parents; 
and Eva Mabel, who was born December 11, 
1870, and is now the wife of Harry L. 
Hutchins, a successful merchant of North 
Fryeburg, Me. 

As one of the most extensive farmers in this 
section, upright and straightforward in busi- 
ness dealings, in manners always courteous and 
kindly, Mr. Johnson is widely and favorably 
known. Visitors at the pleasant old home- 
stead, whether friends and neighbors, or chance 
acquaintances, receive a cordial welcome. 



'rank \V. CHICK, a young and cnter- 
])rising business man of Madrid, I'" rank- 
liu County, was born here, October 8, 
1862, son of Isaiah and Louisa (Moores) 
Chick. The founders oi the family, which is 
of Scotch origin, settled in Maine and New 
Hampshire. Isaiah Chick, the paternal 
grandfather of Frank W., was a native of 
Ossipee, N.H., whence he came to Madrid, 
where he resided for the rest of his life. In 
jiolitics he was a Whig. He reared a family 
of seven children, of whom the only survivors 
are: Nancy, the wife of M. Philbrick, of 
Houlton, Me. ; and Charles N. Chick, of 
Cadillac, Mich. 

Isaiah Chick was born in Ossipee, March 
30, 1820. When a young man he worked 
upon one of the first railroads built in Amer- 
ica. At a later date he moved to Madrid, and 
engaged in lumbering and trading. He also 



kept a store here for more than fifty years, 
conducted the hotel of Madrid for many years, 
and for a long time owned and operated a saw- 
mill, which was destroyed by fire on October 
30, 1883. He served either as a Selectman 
or Town Treasurer every year for nearly half 
a century, was a Justice of the Peace for up- 
ward of forty-two years, acted as Postmaster 
for twenty-five years, was County Commis- 
sioner for six years, and represented this dis- 
trict in the State legislature for two terms. 
In all these offices he acquitted himself with 
distinguished ability. He was an honorable, 
upright man, and had the highest respect of 
his townsmen. He was an esteemed member 
of the Independent Order of Odd P"ellows. 
In politics he was an earnest supporter of the 
Republican party from the time of its forma- 
tion, and was one of the very first to uphold 
its principles in this locality. His death 
occurred at his home in Mach'id, March 3, 
1894, when he was nearly seventy-four years 
old. His wife, Louisa, whom he married 
November 30, 185 1, was a native of Madrid. 
She became the mother of nine children, 
three of whom are living, namely: P'rank W., 
the subject of this sketch; Lura M., the wife 
of William Parlin, of Weld, Me.; and Alice 
M., who resides at the homestead. 

After attending the public school of Madrid 
for the usual period of time, P'rank W. Chick 
completed his studies with a business course 
at the Portland Commercial College. He 
then eneaiied in business with his father, and 
has since been identified with trade and the 
lumbering industry here. He has rebuilt the 
mill that was burned in 1883, and he is to-day 
one of the most prominent and active business 
men in this locality. He is a leading spirit 
in public affairs. He is the Secretary of the 
Republican Town Committee, is serving his 
second term as a member of the Board of Se- 
lectmen, and he ably discharges the duties of 
superintendent of schools. 



OHN SMALL, an active member of 
the farming community of Greenwood 
township, was born in the town of 
Lovell, this State, October 13, 1855, 
a son of Cyrus L. and Eunice Ann (Whit- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



189 



more) Small. Mis paternal grandfather, also 
John Small, who was a lifelong resident of 
Cumberland County, in his earlier life was a 
farmer in Raymond, and in his latter days was 
the proprietor of a saw and grist mill in the 
adjoining town of Casco. 

Cyrus L. Small was a native of Raymond, 
Cumberland County. While still a youth he 
went West, and spent three years in Madison, 
Wis. Returning then to his native State, he 
learned the blacksmith's trade, and worked at 
it afterward in Casco and Lovell for a year or 
two. He then bought a farm in Greenwood 
township, where for five years he carried on 
mixed husbandry, besides running a smithy. 
Disposing of that property, he bought the 
homestead now owned and occupied by his son 
John, and here devoted himself to general 
farming until his death, which occurred Sep- 
tember 14, 1883. His wife, who survived 
him ten years, died August 4, 1893, leaving 
five children, of whom the following is re- 
corded: Evangeline, born November 26, 1854, 
lives with her brothers on the old home farm; 
John is the subject of this sketch; Charlotte 
L., born August 6, 1864, is the wife of Fred- 
erick H. Webster, living in Farmington, Me. ; 
Cyrus Franklin, born May 5, 1857, is a car- 
penter, and resides at Minneapolis, Minn. ; 
and Charles W., born October 19, 1872, lives 
on the old homestead. 

John Small, until he was twenty years old, 
remained with his parents, attending the dis- 
trict school and helping about the farm. He 
then worked at farming in West Paris three 
months, after which he studied medicine with 
Dr. Yates, of that place, for fifteen months. 
Instead of continuing his medical studies, 
however, Mr. Small worked in a number of 
factories during the ne.xt few years. For six 
months each he was employed in a box factory 
in Norway village and in a rifle shop at Me- 
chanic F"alls, Androscoggin County. From 
the latter place he went to Paris Hill, this 
county, to work in a sled factory. A few 
months after he removed to Jackson's Cross- 
ing, accepting a position in a pulp-mill, where 
he remained three and a half years. The suc- 
ceeding year he was employed in tin-plating 
at Paris Hill, when his father's death obliged 
him to return to the old homestead in Green- 



wood, where he has since resiiletl. He has 
one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he 
successfully manages, carrying on the various 
branches of general agriculture with good 
financial results. 

Mr. Small married Miss h'annie A. Ayer, 
daughter of A. J. and Harriet M. Ayer, who 
are now living on their farm near Locke's 
Mills, this township. Mrs. Small is a native 
of Bethel, her birth having occurred here, 
June 29, i860. Mr. Small is a stanch adher- 
ent of the Republican party, and has served 
acceptably in several of the smaller town ofifices. 
He belongs to the Mount Mica Lodge, No. 
17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of 
South Paris, and to the Golden Cross Lodge. 
Both he and his estimable wife are members 
of the Methodist I-lpiscopal church, in which 
they are active and valued workers. 



LISHA S. BISBEE, a large land-owner 
of .Sumner, Oxford Coimty, is a repre- 
sentative member of one of the oldest 
and best-known families in this vicinity. He 
was born on his [iresent farm in Sumner, 
April 15, 1830, and is a son of Elisha and 
P'anny (Bryant) liisbee. His grandfather, 
Elisha Bisbee, who was born in Massachu- 
setts, and served in the Revolution, after the 
close of the war settled in Sumner, where he 
cleared a farm. (For further particulars see 
sketch of Captain Lewis Bisbee.) PLlisha 
Bisbee was a blacksmith, mason, farmer — in 
fact, a man who could turn his hand to almost 
anything. He lived to be quite old, owned a 
good farm in the southern part of the town, 
and ranked among the leading agriculturists of 
the time. The maiden name of his wife was 
Mary Pettingill. 

Elisha Bisbee, the father of Elisha .S., was 
born and reared in Sumner. In early life he 
followed the shoemaker's trade. Later he 
settled on the farm now occupied by his son, 
and achieved marked success in the pursuit of 
agriculture. He gave his political support 
to the Republicans, and served acceptably as 
Selectman, Town Treasurer, and in other 
official cajjacities. He was a Baptist in relig- 
ious belief, and died at the age of eighty- 
nine. He was twice married. His first wife. 



igo 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Joanna ( Stint evant) Bisbcc, bore him three 
children, who have all passed away. His 
second wife, in maidenhood Fanny Bryant, 
was born in I'lympton, Mass., and died in 
Sumner. -She was the mother of nine chil- 
dren, six of whom are living, namely: Sabra 
W.. the wife of Orville Robinson, of Peru, 
Me.; Sophia (i., now residing in Sumner; 
Jane T., the widow of James W. McDonald, 
late of Peru, Me. ; Levi B., a resident of East 
Sumner; Elisha S., the subject of this sketch; 
and Hopestill R., now of Auburn, Me. 

Elisha .S. Bisbee, who is a lifelong resident 
of Sumner, has been very successfully en- 
gaged in general farming since his early 
years. His property, including the home- 
stead formerly occupied by his father, com- 
prises over two hundred acres of land. The 
present residence, which was erected by him- 
self, is one of the handsomest in the locality. 
Mr. Bisbee was married January 4, 1857, to 
Miss Martha J. Parsons, of Hartford, Me. 
She died April i, 1867, leaving three children 
— Lietta J., now the wife of William H. 
Barrows, of Paris, Me., and the mother of 
three children — Eva, Hattie, and Wilbur; 
Hattie E., the wife of P"remont Hollis, of 
Paris, and the mother of one son, Halley; and 
Hiram S., a resident of Sumner, who married 
Miss Anna E. Holmes. 




IRAM THAYER CUMMINGS, a 
successful and well-known farmer of 

I9 y the town of Paris, Oxford County, 
Me., was born April 30, 18 18, in 
Gray, Cumberland County, a son of Joseph, 
Jr., and Ruth (Thayer) Cummings. He is of 
Scottish descent, his great-grandfather having 
been born and reared in Scotland. 

Joseph Cummings, Sr., the grandfather of 
Hiram Thayer, was one of the very early set- 
tlers of Gray, having made his way there at a 
time when bears, deer, wolves, and other wild 
animals alone disputed the rights of the 
Indians to the larger part of the territory. 
He cleared a tract of land, improving a com- 
fortable homestead, but spent his closing 
years in Greenwood, this county, dying at the 
home of one of his sons at the ripe old age 
of ninety-si.v years. He served in the Revo- 



lutionary War, was a Federalist in politics, 
and in religion was a Congregationalist. To 
him and his wife, Patty Sargent, seven chil- 
dren were born; namely, William, Lucy, 
John, Benjamin, Mary, Isaac, and Joseph, Jr.. 
all of whom have passed from earth. 

Joseph Cummings, Jr., was born in the 
town of Gray, where he was prosperously en- 
gaged in farming during the first half of his 
busy life. In 1836 he removed to the village 
of Paris, establishing himself in the mercan- 
tile business, which he carried on several 
years, having an extensive trade. .Selling out 
his store, he resumed his former occupation in 
the town of Greenwood, living there to an ad- 
vanced age. He was a Republican in politics, 
and was a Universalist in his religious belief, 
but not a church member. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Ruth Thayer, was born in 
Oxford, Me., in 1799, and died in Greenwood 
in 1885. They had a family of eleven chil- 
dren; namely, Hiram Thayer, Tuckerbury, 
Nelson, Harriet, Christiana, Joseph, Roxanna, 
Orrie, Woodbury, Wellington, and Ruth. 
Of these, five are living — Hiram T., Rox- 
anna, Ruth, Joseph, and Woodbury. 

Hiram Thayer, the eldest-born, who is the 
special subject of this sketch, received his ed- 
ucation in the district schools of Gray and at 
Kent's Hill, where he pursued his studies two 
years. At the age of eighteen he came with 
his parents to Paris, and for a year thereafter 
worked at anything he could find to do, having 
no permanent employment. During the next 
few years he worked in woollen-mills in differ- 
ent places and in various capacities, being 
employed in South Paris, Locke's Mills, Ox- 
ford, and again in South Paris, the last time 
having charge of the finishing department. 
In 1851 Mr. Cummings severed his connection 
with the mills, and, after spending a year in 
travelling, secured a situation on the Atlantic 
& St. Lawrence Railroad, now the Grand 
Trunk, on which he was an engineer until 
1865. Locating then in Shelburne, N.H., he 
was there engaged in farming for about four- 
teen years. While a resident of Shelburne 
he was elected a delegate to the State Consti- 
tutional Convention in 1872, and he served in 
that capacity. In 1879 he removed to Paris, 
and settled on the farm he now occupies. 




JOHN WHITMAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'93 



]ieing a man of good judgment and practical 
ability, Mr. Cummings has his farm well im- 
proved, and his tillage land in a good state of 
cultivation. In politics he has been a Reinib- 
lican since the formation of the party. In 
religion he is a Methodist, and has served as 
superintendent of the Sunday-school. While 
in Shelburne he was active in town affairs, 
and for some years was .Selectman. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- 
ing to Lodge No. 94 of .South Paris; and 
both he and his wife are members of the local 
grange. Patrons of Husbandry. 

Mr. Cummings on April 30, 1840, married 
I-^liza A. Cloutman, who was born in Paris, 
September 29, 1821, and died in this town, 
March 11, 1881. Six children were the fruit 
of this union, the following being their rec- 
ortl : Georgiana, born in South Paris, Novem- 
ber 22, 1841, is the wife of William E. 
Kellcy, of Hoston ; Wellington, born in South 
Paris in March, 1844, died in Julv, 1S93; 
Hannibal, born in Greenwood, April 20, 1846, 
is a railway engineer in Pennsylvania; Eliza 
M., born in South Paris, .September 2, 1849, 
died November 9, 1853; Mary I., born in 
South Paris in November, 1852, died Febru- 
ary 3, 1873: and Charles S. , born in Gorham, 
N.H., September 25, 1856, is pastor of the 
Methodist Episcopal church at Augusta, Me. 

On September 29, i88i, Mr. Cummings 
married Mrs. Mary A. Potter Ripley, widow 
of Orrison Ripley. .She was born May 21, 
1836, in Lee, Me., a daughter of Alexander 
and Mary (Ware) Potter. Mr. Potter, a suc- 
cessful farmer of Lee, was a native of Bow- 
doin, and lived to the age of sixty-eight years. 
His wife, a native of Topsham, this .State, 
lived to the advanced age of eighty-three 
years. They had a family of eight chil- 
dren, five of whom have passed to the life im- 
mortal ; namely, Betsey, Jane, Adaline A., 
John W., and James T. The three living 
are: Alexander, a resident of Belmont, N.Y.; 
Charles A., of Lee, Me.; and Mary A., now 
Mrs. Cummings. 

The nuptials of Mary A. Potter and Orrison 
Ripley were solemnized May 31, 1857. Mr. 
Ripley, a prosperous farmer during his active 
life, was born March 15, 1832. He enlisted 
in 1863 in Comiiany K, .Seventeenth Maine 



\'(dLuitecr Infantry, and with his coniraiies ac- 
tively participated in many of the important 
engagements of the war of the Rebellion, and 
at the battle of the Wilderness lost an arm. 
He died June 17, 1872, leaving a widow, now 
Mrs. Cummings, and one son, Wilson A., 
born Sepcember 21, 1858, who lives in Au- 
burn, Me. Another son, William B. Ripley, 
born November 24, 1868, died March 21, 
1870. 



OHN WHITMAN, formerly a farmer 
and real estate dealer of South Paris, 
Oxford County, Me., now living in re- 
tirement, was bom in Hebron, this 
county, December 22, 18 16, son of Calvin and 
Sally (Record) Whitman. With an ancestry 
extending back to the early days of the Colo- 
nial period, the family is entitled to be ranked 
among the oldest in New England. From 
Mitchell's " History of Bridgewater, Mass.," 
we learn that John Whitman, the immigrant 
progenitor, was the first Deacon of the church 
in Weymouth, Mass., where he was made a 
freeman in 1638, and where he died in 1692, 
at the age of ninety years. He was the father 
of four sons — Thomas, John, Abiah, and 
Zechariah — and five daughters. Thomas and 
John Whitman were among the early proprie- 
tors of Bridgewater; but Thomas is said to 
have been the only son of John Whitman, Sr., 
who settled in that town. Abiah Whitman, 
brother of Thomas, was the father of John 
Whitman, third, who lived one hundred and 
five years, and is alleged to have been a very 
strong and active man at the age of one hun- 
dred years. 

His son, Jacob, who was grandfather of the 
present John Whitman, was born in l-'.aston, 
Aroostook County, Me., November 28, 1753. 
The mother of Jacob was his father's third 
wife, and at the date of his birth his father 
was aged fourscore years. Grandfather Whit- 
man fought for independence in the Revolu- 
tionary War. In 1780 he became a resident 
of Buckfield, this county, locating close to 
the line of the town of Hebron. As yet the 
district had but few settlers, and the land was 
still in the condition of a wilderness. In 
consequence much of his labor was directed 



194 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



toward clearing a farm, and in due time he 
iiad two hundred acres under cultivation. A 
simple but eloquent memorial of his work is a 
large block of granite, which would need a 
derrick to put in place to-day, still to be seen 
in the remains of an old building. Assisted 
by his brothers, he placed it in the position it 
occupies, remarking that it would be there for 
several generations. He was much esteemed 
bv his neighbors, was a Deacon of the Con- 
gregational church, served the community in 
sundry public capacities, and died December 
29, 1842, in the ninetieth year of his age. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail 
Packard, and who was born in 1756, died in 
1837. Of their children, eight reached ma- 
turity; namely, Luther, Jacob, Joseph, 
Calvin, Joshua, Rebecca, Abigail, and Win- 
chester. 

Calvin Whitman, the fourth son, was a na- 
tive of Buckfield, born May 5, 17S5. Reared 
on his father's farm, he made farming the oc- 
cupation of his life. After his marriage he 
bought one hundred acres of land in Hebron, 
took up his residence upon it, and spent the 
rest of his days in clearing and cultivating the 
soil. His religimis belief was that of the 
Universalist church. In politics he followed 
the fortunes of the Democratic party. At his 
death he was nearly eighty-two years old. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Sally 
Record, lived to the age of ninety-six years. 
They had seven children; namely, Hannah, C. 
Winchester, John, Remember, Jonathan, 
Jacob S., and Augustus. 

John Whitman remained under the parental 
roof-tree for the first twenty years of his life, 
acquiring the knowledge and practical experi- 
ence of agricultural operations that subse- 
quently enabled him to become an expert 
farmer. In 1837 he commenced to work for 
the farmers of the district at the wages of 
eleven dollars per month. At the time of his 
marriage he bought the old homestead, and 
there carried on farming until 1856. He 
then sold the property, ami ])urchased the 
Penley farm in the town of Paris, containing 
three hundred acres. Here, after erecting a 
new set of buildings, all of a first-class char- 
acter, he kept a large dairy of choice cows for 
several years. In 1885 he disposed of this 



farm, and purchased the llersey house, at the 
same time removing to South Paris. There- 
after he dealt considerably in real estate. 
Since his dwelling was remodelled and re- 
ceived the addition of a barn, his place has 
been one of the finest in the town. He also 
owns some desirable land adjoining the lot on 
which his residence stands, and keeps a few 
select cows. 

In November, 1844, Mr. Whitman was 
united in. matrimony with Miss Sarah De 
Albra Bumpus, daughter of Alden Bumpus, of 
Hebron. Their children are: Edwin J., born 
January 24, 1850, who married Miss Lizzie 
Green, and is in the wholesale commission 
business in Boston; E. Melvina, born June 
22, 1855, now the wife of Joseph Jones, a 
commercial traveller of South Paris, and 
mother of two children — Edwin S. and Philip 
Jones: Mary C, born April 13, 1857, who 
married J. H. Stuart, a publisher of maps and 
atlases in South Paris, and is the mother of 
four children — Herman H., William E., 
Grace M., and Leona D. ; and Laurin A., 
born August 12, 1864, who married Miss 
Mabel Murch, and is associated with his 
father. Mrs. Whitman died in 1895, at the 
age of seventy-one years. In religion Mr. 
Whitman professes the Baptist faith, while in 
politics he is a Republican. Although now 
in his eightieth year he enjoys remarkably 
iiood health. 




EV. ABIJAH R. CRANE, D.D., 
pastor of the Baptist church in He- 
bron, Oxford County, and Professor 
of Literature at the Hebron Acad- 
emy, was born in Wayne, Kennebec County, 
Me., and is now about sixty years of age. 
Abijah Crane (first), Dr. Crane's grandfather, 
who was a native of Dedham, Mass., joined 
the Continental army at the age of fourteen, 
and served all through the Revolutionary War. 
He settled in Eayette, Me., when twenty-one 
years old, becoming one of the pioneers and 
progressive farmers of that town, and resided 
there for the rest of his life. He was a Whig, 
very prominent in the community, and served 
with ability in various town offices. He was 
one of the founders of the Baptist church in 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



•95 



Fayette, and acteil as its Deacon foi- many 
years, and was warmly esteemed by his neigh- 
bors for his manly adherence to high prin- 
ciples. He reared a family of seven children, 
none of whom are living. 

Abijah Crane (second), Dr. Crane's father, 
was born in Fayette in 1792. When a young 
man he enlisted in the army for service in the 
War of 1812. Upon his return to civil life 
he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and con- 
ducted a good farm in Fayette for the rest of 
his active period. Originally a Whig, he 
later acted with the Republican party, and 
was a leading spirit in his locality. For 
many years he was identified with the town 
government. He served as a member of the 
Board of Selectmen for several terms, and he 
represented his district in the State legis- 
lature for one term. Like His father, he was 
Deacon of the Baptist church for a long 
period. At his death, which occurred in his 
ninety-second year, he was mourned as a 
worthy, upright citizen and a Christian 
gentleman. He married Harriet F'ifield, who 
was born in Fayette in 1801. She became 
the mother of nine children, six of whom are 
living; and she died in her ninety-third year. 
Abijah R. Crane acquired his early educa- 
tion in the schools of Fayette, and prepared 
for his collegiate course at the Waterville 
Academy, now the Coburn Classical Insti- 
tute. After graduating from Colby Univer- 
sity with the class of 1856, he was for a time 
engaged as a teacher at the liast Corinth 
Academy. At the same time- he was studying 
law with the Hon. George ICvans, with the 
result that he was admitted to the bar in 1858. 
However, giving ui) the idea of entering the 
legal profession, he turned his attention to 
theology, and spent three years at the Newton 
(IVIass.) Theological Seminary, from which he 
graduated in 1861. His first pastorate was 
in Hallowell, Me., where he occupied the 
pulpit of the Baptist church for thirteen years. 
Upon his retirement therefrom he became 
financial secretary of Colby University, which 
important position he held for two years. 
While so engaged, he raised the sum ■ of one 
hundred thousand dollars, which was given for 
educational work to the Coburn Classical Insti- 
tute and the Hebron and Ricker Academies. 



lie was SLdxsequently called to the pastorate of 
the Baptist church in East Winthrop, Me., 
where he labored for twelve years, at the same 
time having charge of the public schools 
there. In 1890 he accepted the pastorate of 
the Baptist church here, in which capacity he 
has since labored diligently and successfully. 
His influence among his congregation, and, 
indeed, outside of it, is becoming stronger 
every day. He is also Professor of Literature 
at the Hebron Academy, in which he is 
deeply interested. 

On November 3, i86j, Dr. Crane was 
united in marriage to Frances I\I. Derrick, 
of Waterville, Me. He has one daughter, 
Fanny, who is now the wife of Professor 
A. H. Brainard, of Augusta, Me. In politics 
he is a Republican, and he exercises a whole- 
some influence in public affairs. He was a 
member of the State legislature during the 
years 1879 and 1880. For the past twenty- 
five years he has been a member of the Board 
of Trustees of Colby University, which in 
1882 conferred upon him the degree of Doctor 
of Divinity. 




DWIN B. LUFKIN, of Weld, iManklin 
County, Me., Justice of the Peace, land 
surveyor and retired farmer, is a 
well-known veteran of the Civil War, having 
served as a private in the Federal ranks during 
the greater part of the conflict, and since its 
close having written a history of his regiment, 
the Thirteenth ' Maine Volunteers. He was 
born in the house where he now resides, .Sep- 
tember 26, 1 84 1, son of George W. and La- 
vinia H. (Sweet) Lufkin. 

The family is of F]nglish origin; and its 
founder in America was Thomas Lovekiii, who 
settled in Gloucester, Mass., in 1673. His 
son Benjamin was the father of Zebulon, Mr. 
Lufkin's great-grandfather. Zebulon Lufkin 
was born in Gloucester, and was a seafarinjr 
man. He resided there until the beginning 
of the Revolutionary War; and he then moved 
to Durham, Me., where he lived until 1785. 
His last days were passed in Freeport, Me. 
His children were: Zebulon, Jr.; Sarah, who 
married T. Wharf, of New Gloucester, Me. ; 
Jonathan ; Ruth, who married Andrew Adams, 



ig6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of Durhnm : Aaron; Kbenezer; Joseph; Abi- 
gail, who nianieil H. Richardson, of Pownal ; 
Tk'njamin; Sanniul ; and Judith, who married 
T. Woodman, of Minot. Zebulon Lufi<in died 
October 31, 1S13, aged ninety-one years. 

Samuel Lufkin, Mr. Lufkin's grandfather, 
was born in Gloucester, Mass., and became 
a sea captain. He settled in Freeport, Me., 
in 1790, and made foreign voyages until 1812, 
when he engaged in the coasting trade. He 
continued to follow the sea until disabled by 
age. He died May 14, 1834, aged seventy 
years. His children were: l^.Nperience, who 
died in infancy; Samuel; Joshua; William 
P.; Benjamin; Charles; Klmira; George W. ; 
Eliza G. ; and John. 

George W. Lufkin, Mr. Lufkin's father, was 
born in Freeport, Me. In early life he was a 
fisherman; and after learning the blacksmith's 
trade he at the age of twenty-four settled in 
Weld, and followed that calling here until 
1859. He died December 2t,, 1884, at the 
age of seventy-five years. In politics he was 
originally a Democrat, but soon became a Free 
Soiler. He joined the Republican party at its 
organization. 

Mr. George W. Lufkin first married Mary 
J. Nichols, of Durham, who had two sons, 
namely: George W. , now residing in Lake 
Valley, N.M. ; and Samuel, a resident of 
Auburn, Me. His second wife, Lavinia H. 
Sweet, who was a native of Strong in this 
county, became the mother of three children, 
and of these two are living, namely: F^dvvin 
P., the subject of this sketch; and his sister, 
Abbie F. , who resides with him in Weld. 

Edwin 15. Lufkin was educated in the com- 
mon schools of Weld and at the Wilton High 
School. In 1 861 he enlisted as a private in 
Company V., Thirteenth Maine Regiment, 
under Captain Isaac F. Ouinby, of Westbrook. 
He was in several engagements during the Red 
River campaign, including Sabine Cross- 
roads, Pleasant Hill, and Cane River, and 
was mustered out January 6, 1865. He then 
engaged in farming at the homestead in Weld; 
but about five years later he changed his occu- 
pation, becoming an operator in the spool 
factory, in which he worked four years. Once 
more retinning to agricultural pursuits, he 
continued tn till the soil until 1S88, when 



failing health caused him to relinquish hard 
labor; and he has since lived in retirement. 

In politics Mr. Lufkin acts with the Repub- 
lican party. He has filled the office of Town 
Treasurer four years, and has served upon the 
School Board for three years. He is a man of 
literary tastes and abilities, and has contrib- 
uted numerous interesting articles to the Lew- 
\stnn /o//n/n/ und the Xa/ioiuil Tribune. He 
is a great reader, and has quite a large library 
of choice books, which enables him to pass his 
leisure hours both pleasantly and profitably. 
Mr. Lufkin has devoted much time to writing 
a history of his regiment, which is now in the 
hands of the publisher. He has been Com- 
mander of a Grand Army Post, also Master of 
a Masonic Lodge, and is a Knight Templar. 




LBRO R. JENNESS, of Fryeburg, 
O.xford County, the Secretary, Treas- 
urer, and Superintendent of the 
P'ryeburg Water Company, is one 
of the most prominent business men in the 
county. He is a native of Barton, Vt. , born 
P'ebruary 13, 1836, son of John and Susan 
(Twombly) Jenness, both also natives as well 
as lifelong residents of Barton. John Jenness, 
who was a prosperous farmer and a leading 
man in that place, died in 1849. His wife, 
having survived him nearly thirty years, died 
in 1S78. Their children were: Albro R., the 
subject of this sketch; Emeline, who is no 
longer living ; Austin T., now teaming in Bos- 
ton, who served all through the Civil War, 
first in the Twelfth Regiment, Massachusetts 
Volunteers, and later as Master of Wagons for 
the Fifth Army Corps; Adeline, who is now 
the widow of John Tripp, and lives at Barton 
Landing, Vt. ; Martha C, who is now the 
widow of Cheney Green, and resides in Cam- 
bridge, Mass. ; Richard PL, who is engaged in 
teaming in Boston ; and John, who is no longer 
living. 

Ali)ro R. Jenness acquired a limited educa- 
tion in the common schools of Barton. At the 
age of fifteen he went to Boston, Mass., where 
he was employed in the store of S. D. Warren 
& Co. for four year.s. Subsequently he gained 
a footing in the teaming business, which in 
those days was a very profitable occupation. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'07 



During the Civil War he had a LH)iitract with 
the United States government, employing a 
crew of twenty men and thirt}' horses at the 
Charjestown na\'y yard, h}- which he earned 
sixty thousand dollars yearly for himself and 
his men. At this time he was a leading hose- 
man in the Boston Fire Department, with 
which he was connected four years. He con- 
tinued to carry on a large and successful team- 
ing business in Boston until 1875, when, influ- 
enced by the favorable reports of its business 
possibilities, he came to I^'ryeburg, where he 
has since resided. His business enterjirises 
consisted principall}' of transactions in lumber 
and real estate, which were exceedingly jirofit- 
able to him, at the same time that they were 
beneficial to the town. These and his farm- 
ing were conducted with unusual abilit}' until 
some years ago, when he withdrew from them. 
In 1882 he constructed the water works, and 
he is now actively connected with that enter- 
prise in the capacities already mentioned. He 
is also Treasurer and a Trustee (if the well- 
known Fryeburg Academy. 

Mr. Jenness has been twice married, and 
now is a widower. He attends the New Jeru- 
salem Church. In politics he gives active 
support to the Republican party, and he is a 
firm believer in protection and sound money. 
He is well advanced in Masonr\-, and is a 
member of De Molay Commandery, Knights 
Templars, Btjston ; and he is connected with 
Pickwauket I.ntlge, Knights of Pythias, of 
Fryeburg. Althougli forced to start at the 
lowest round of the ladder, he has reached a 
secure footing in life, and is to-dav one of the 
substantial men of Frvebure- 




\1-;TFR N. HASKELL, a member of 
an old Maine family and one of the 
largest real estate owners in Oxford 
County, is extensively engaged in 
lumbering in the town of Waterford. He was 
born in Otisfield, Me., December i, 1822, the 
son of Captain Joseph and Jerusha (Moores) 
Haskell. His father was a native of Gorham, 
Me., his mother of Otisfield. 

Joseph Haskell was a son of John Haskell, 
a Revolutionary soldier, who was wounded 
three times while in the service. John Has- 



kell removed from Gorham, Me., to Knox, 
Me., where he died. Joseph Haskell went to 
Otisfield from Gorham, Me., in 1801, or near 
that date, being then about ten years old. Ik- 
rode on horseback behind his uncle, CJliver 
Pierce, and brought with him among other 
belongings a tin box containing five dollars 
in silver. The box being not quite full, the 
coins rattled about, making so much noise that 
his uncle made him dismount and fill the va- 
cant space with leaves. He resided in Otis- 
field about .seventy years, engaged, after reach- 
ing manhood, in farming and trading in cattle 
and horses. He was a Captain of the State 
militia, and he was often chosen Constable and 
Collector. Captain Haskell died in the vil- 
lage of Norway, May 2, 1876. His wife, 
Jerusha M(5ores Ha,skell, died there two years 
later. May 8, 1878. Her father, Major Jona- 
than Moores, the grandfather of Peter N. Has- 
kell, was a soldier of the Revolution. He 
subsequently removed from Groton, Mass., to 
Otisfield, Me., being one of the first settlers 
of the town. His wife. Relief Nutting 
Moores, made three trijis from ()tisfield to 
Groton on horseback. On the first trip she 
carried her one-year-old son, who would have 
been the first white child born in Otisfield had 
she not been taken with an ox team to Gray to 
stay during her confinement, owing to the lack 
of a woman to nurse her at home. Captain 
and Mrs. Joseph Haskell were the jiarents of 
six children — Rhoda, Jane, Susan, and Cyrus, 
all deceased; Mary Ann, widcnv of l^ben An- 
drews, residing in Concord, Mass. ; and Peter 
N., of Waterford, aforenamed. 

Peter N. Haskell's early educational advan- 
tages were limited to the common schools. 
He remained at home until twenty years of 
age, starting then for himself in the lumber 
business near Bangor, Me. Three years later 
he returned to the home farm; and about 1846 
he went to .South Waterford, where he lived on 
a farm some nine years. He then lemoved 
to another farm in Waterford, which was his 
home for twenty years; and while attending to 
its cultivation he was also engaged in jobbing, 
such as doing stone work and moving build- 
ings, being an expert in the latter business. 
His next removal was to his present home in 
East Waterford village. Here he purchased 



iqS 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



in 1870 the saw-mil I then known as the old 
Upton Mill, which under his management is 
the cenii-e of a large business. His property 
comprises some eight hundred acres of land, 
some of which is under cultivation ; but on ac- 
count of his advancing age he is not now ac- 
tively engaged in farming. 

Mr. Haskell was married August 5, 1846, 
to Mary Green, who was born in South Paris, 
Me., March 15, 1826, the daughter of Nathan- 
iel \V. and Polly (Willis) Green. Mr. Green 
belonged in Leicester, Mass., Mrs. Green in 
Paris, Me. He was a currier, tanner, and 
shoemaker; and he and his brother, Josiah 
("ireen, made the first sale boot in the State of 
Massachusetts, now so widely noted for its 
shoe trade. Mr. Green was for a number of 
years in the boot business. He and his wife 
died in Norway, this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Haskell have twelve children : the eldest 
child, George A., died in the army; the ne.xt 
two children died in infancy; the third, Rose, 
is the wife of Sewell F. Millett, of Lisbon, 
Me. ; the fifth, Susan, lived but one year; and 
the sixth, Frank, died in 1880. Joseph P., 
born Sejitember 23, 1858, resides with his 
father, and is engaged in business. He is an 
experienced mill man, having had charge of 
mills in Newry and Kumford, Me. Clemen- 
tine D. is the wife of H. O. Rolfe, of Kum- 
ford, this county; Mary P^tta is the wife of 
George Towne, of Oxford, Me. f Georgia is the 
wife of E. H. Haggart, of South Paris, this 
county. Tlie eleventh child died in infancy. 
Pile twelfth, Andrew Johnson, resides in PZast 
Waterford village, where he is Postmaster, 
manages a general store, and is engaged in the 
cider business. He married Miss Delia P'lint. 

Mr. Haskell is a stanch Democrat. Though 
not a seeker for iniblic place, he has held a 
number of minor offices in the town. He is 
widely known in this section of the county and 
highly esteemed. 



KNDON W. COUSINS, an extensive 
lumber manufacturer of P'ryeburg, 
Oxford County, was born in Winne- 
conne, Wis., September 20, 1849, 
son of Richard and Cordelia P. (Nutter) 
Cousins. His grandfather, Enoch Cousins, a 




nati\'e of Porter, Me., having followed the 
sea ill his younger days, subsequently set- 
tled upon a farm in his native town, where he 
died at the age of ninety years. 

Richard Cousins was born in Porter. He 
learned the trade of a blacksmith, and after- 
ward followed that calling in Porter until 
1846. He then went to Wisconsin, and set- 
t-led upon a farm in Vineland. After spend- 
ing a short time there he removed to Winne- 
conne, where he resumed his trade, and resided 
until his death, which occurred in December, 
1894. He married Cordelia P. Nutter, a na- 
tive of Porter and a daughter of Charles 
Nutter, a prosperous farmer of that town. By 
her he became the father of si.x children, 
namely: Henry A., a successful farmer of 
Morris, Minn., who married Annie Shaver, 
and has four children; Hendon W., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Olive Jeannette, who mar- 
ried Daniel GafTner, a prosperous farmer of 
Winneconne, and has one son, Richard, for 
some years employeil by his uncle in Frye- 
burg; Noyes Jackson, an ice dealer in Winne- 
conne, who married Plattie Van Dyke, and 
has one son, Archie, born in 1S88; Mary 1{. , 
the wife of William Morenus, a farmer in 
Chadbourn, N.C. ; and Charles 1'^., who mar- 
ried Alice Purchase, a native of Prince lid- 
ward Island, and is now a member of the Port- 
land police force. The mother died October 
2, 1894. 

Hendon W. Cousins acquired his education 
in the common schools of Winneconne. When 
nineteen years old he came east to Raymond, 
N. H., where he was engaged in operating a 
saw-mill until 1875. He then came to P^ rye- 
burg, antl a short time later became a member 
of the firm of Shirley & Cousins, who carrieil 
on a saw-mill here. In 1888 he bought his 
present mills, the business of which has since 
steadily grown in importance. Here he man- 
ufactures all kinds of lumber for building pur- 
poses, beside shooks, spool stock, etc., which 
he ships to Portland, employing an average of 
fourteen men. He also does a large business 
as a dealer in corn, meal, Hour, and feed, 
coal, wood, and brick. 

Mr. Cousins has been three times married. 
His first marriage was contracted July 10, 
1873, with Mary A. Parker, of Cape Eliza- 



BIOGRAl'lllCAL REVIEW 



199 



beth, Me., who died July ig, 1S75. ]5y his 
second marriage, performed June 30, 1877, ho 
was united with Ella M. Heath, of Fryeburg, 
who died in December, 1882, leax'ing two 
children. These were: Mary E., born No- 
vember 25, 1S7S; and Ralph VV., who was 
born No\ember 3, 1881. Mr. Cousins's pres- 
ent wife, in niaiilenhood Eliza D. Osgood, 
whom he wedded October 20, iS8^, was born 
in Fryeburg, May 2, 1864. She is a daugh- 
ter of lilbridge G. and Emily M. (Osgood) 
Osgood, who were both natives of Fryeburg, 
born respectively on August 31, 1827, and 
March 18, 1830. Mrs. Osgood now resides 
with her daughter. Her husband died No- 
vember 8, i8go. Mrs. Cousins's paternal 
great-grandfather was Samuel Osgood. Her 
grandfather, Asa Osgood, who married Mary 
Hardy, was a well-known farmer and bridge 
builder in his day. Upon the maternal side 
her great-grandfather was James, known as 
"straight-haired Osgood," who married Abi- 
gail Evans, and for many years owned and 
conducted the old Oxford Hotel in this town. 
The maternal grandparents were James and 
Eliza (Lovejoy) Osgood, both of whom died 
in Fryeburg. Mrs. Cousins is a member of 
the Congregational church. 

In politics Mr. Cousins is a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party, though too 
much engrossed in business to desire or accept 
office. He is a Mason of Pythagorean Eodge, 
No. II, of this town. His present prosperity 
is entirely due to his personal energy and 
ability. 



-OHN A. RICHARD.S, M.D., the old- 
est and most successful medical practi- 
tioner in Farmington, Franklin County, 
Me., was born September 26, 1829, son 
of John and Mary (Thomas) Richards. His 
parents were then residing in the town of 
Strong, which was his birthplace. 

Dr. Richards's paternal grandfather, John 
Richards, Sr., at an early age began to follow 
the sea. He witnessed the burning of Fal- 
mouth, now Portland, during the Revolution- 
ary War, that event having occurred when he 
was sixteen years old; and later in life he be- 
came one of the early settlers of Durham, 



Me., where he owned a good farm, u[)on which 
he resided for the rest of his days. He was a 
progressive, industrious, antl successful farmer 
and a man of extraordinary physical jiowers, 
retaining his usual strength and activity until 
he was ninety-eight years old, when he be- 
came somewhat crippled from the effects of a 
fall. He continued to be otherwise vigorous 
and healthy, possessing iierfect contnd of his 
mental faculties to the last; and he lived to 
attain the unusually advanced age of one hun- 
dred years, eight months, and ten days. His 
wife al.so lived to reach a good old age. 
Their children were: John; Barzilla; Moses; 
and Ira, who is still living. 

John Richards, Dr. Richards's father, was 
born in Durham, Me., and in early manhood 
settled upOn a farm in Pliiliips, Franklin 
County. Selling his jjroperty a short time 
later, he removed to Strong, where he bought 
two hundred acres of wiUl land covered with 
heavy timber, cleared and improved a produc- 
tive farm, planted an orchaixl, and erected a 
good set of buildings. He was one of the 
sturdy pioneers whose persevering toil paved 
the way for the future development of the 
vast agricultural resources of this county; and 
he lived to see the work of progress attain an 
advanced and flourishing condition. He held 
several important town offices, supporting the 
Whig party in politics until the advent of the 
Republican movement, and subsequently act- 
ing with that party until his death, which 
took place when he was seventy-nine years 
old. His wife, who was before marriage 
Mary Thomas, was a native of Durham. .She 
became the mother of eight children, as fol- 
lows: Isaiah; James; Abbie M. ; Louise; 
John A., the subject of this sketch; P21iza; 
George; ami Elbridge. The children were 
carefully educated, being thus enabled to fill 
useful positions in life. Mrs. Mary T. Rich- 
ards lived to reach the age of sixty-five. Both 
parents attended the Congregational church. 

John A. Richards acquired his early educa- 
tion in the district schools; and, after complet- 
ing an academic course, he began the study 
of medicine with Dr. Edward Russell, of 
Strong and later of Lewiston. He graduated 
from the medical department of Bowdoin Col- 
lege with the class of 1854; and, returning to 



lilOGRAPHlCAL REVIEW 



Strong, he bought the practice of Dr. Russell, 
which he maintained and increased, and con- 
tinued to reside there for sixteen years. In 
i.Sjfi he moved to Farmington, where his prac- 
tice increased to such an extent as to necessi- 
tate his covering a very wide circuit. He 
act|uired and maintained an enviable reputa- 
tit)n for reliability and punctuality, but 
labored much beyond his strength. He con- 
tinued to attenil to his professional duties 
steadily and faithfully, without neglecting a 
single call, no matter how great was the dis- 
tance or how inclement the weather, until the 
present year, when bodily injuries of a more 
or less serious nature have caused him some 
annoyance in pursuing his daily routine of 
work. His practice in this town, although 
attended with severe labor and self-sacrifice, 
has been exceedingly successful, both profes- 
sionally and financially; and he occupies a 
position of high standing among his fellow- 
townsmen, by whom he is regarded as one of 
the most able physicians who ever practised in 
this locality. 

On June ii, 1S55, Dr. Richards was united 
in marriage with Sophronia Hillman, daughter 
of Gilbert R. and Mary (Pettingill) Hillman, 
of Farmington. Gilbert R. Hillman was born 
in Tisbury, Mass., on the island of Martha's 
Vineyard, March 16, 1802, and at the age of 
nineteen began to follow the sea. He became 
captain of a whale-ship; and after twenty-five 
years of seafaring life he relincjuished it to 
become one of the early pioneers of California, 
where he was for some time engaged in farm- 
ing and in transporting freight along the Sac- 
ramento River. He finally returned East, 
and settled upon a farm in the northern part 
of Farmington, where during the remainder 
of his active period he displayed energy and 
thrift, serving as a worthy example for others 
to follow. He married Mary, daughter of 
Abel and Doris (Davis) Pettingill, and reared 
eight children, namely: Robert; Sophronia, 
who is now Mrs. Richards; Marie; Margaret; 
Rebecca; Mary E. : Gilbert R., first, who is 
no longer living; and Gilbert R., second. 

Dr. and Mrs. Richards are the parents of 
four children, as follows: F'dward Russell, 
who was born June 27, 1857, and is now pub- 
lisher of the Wood River Xews-Mirror in 



Hailey, Idaho; Elmer Ellsworth, an account of 
whom will be found appended to this sketch; 
Effie May, who was born March 16, 1866, and 
is now an accomplished and successful music 
teacher; and Frank Morrison, who was born 
December 13, 1S68, and is now a taxidermist. 

In politics Dr. Richards is an earnest sup- 
porter of the Republican party; but his profes- 
sional duties have always prevented him from 
taking an active part in public affairs, and he 
has necessarily declined the nomination to 
various town and county offices. He was 
formerly connected with the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, and he is a member of 
the Unitarian church. He occupies a cen- 
trally located residence at 7 High Street, 
which he has remodelled, refitted, and other- 
wise improved. 

Elmer Ellsworth Richards, a leading attor- 
ney of Farmington and a prominent member 
of the Franklin County bar, son of Dr. Rich- 
ards, was born in Strong, August 24, i860. 
He was graduated from Bates College, Lewis- 
ton, in 1880. Deciding to adopt the legal 
profession, he studied law in the offices of 
J. B. Severy, Sr., and J. C. Holman, Esq., 
and later at the law school of Michigan Uni- 
versity. He has advanced rapidly in his 
profession, having a numerous clientage, and 
conducting a very successful general law busi- 
ness; and in 1884 he was elected Register of 
Probate for this county. 



^■•♦♦•»- 




ARSHALL SANDERSON, who,se 
death occurred February g, 187S, 
was for many years a conspicuous 
factor of the farming and indus- 
trial interests of Waterford, Oxford County, 
Me. He was a man of solid worth, and ]")os- 
sessed in a high degree those traits that com- 
mand respect in the business world and win 
the esteem and confidence of neighbors and 
associates. He was a son of Joseph .Sander- 
son, and was born July 10, 1821, in the town 
of Sweden, this county, joining Waterford. 

Joseph Sanderson, son of .Stephen .Sanderson 
and the father of Marshall, was born, reared, 
and married in Waterford, his union with Folly 
Bryant being the first marriage of native-born 
bride and groom solemnized in this town. 




f^^i- 



MARSHALL SANDERSON. 



BIOGRAl'IIICAL REVIEW 



203 



He settled in Sweden, where he was engaged 
as a farmer and mill operator during the larger 
part of his life, although he died in Dedham, 
Mass. His wife, who died in 1876, bore him 
five children, namely: Joseph, who married 
Mary French, of W'aterford, and was for sev- 
eral years Chief of Police in Cambridge, 
Mass., where both he and his wife died; Will- 
iam, a lumberman and farmer, who married 
Ruth Dresser, of Lovell, Me., both [massing 
their last years at Pomona, Cal. ; Marshall, 
who is the subject of this sketch; Charles, a 
speculator and farmer living in Massachusetts, 
who married Alnieda A. McW'ain ; and Mary 
J., now deceased, whose husband, Oliver 
Hapgood, was killed in the late Rebellion. 

Marshall Sanderson, who was the third 
child born to his ]iarents, obtained his educa- 
tion in the comnmn schools, and from his early 
years was engaged in industrial activities. 
]'"rom the time of his settlement in Waterford 
lie was numbered among the foremost agricult- 
urists and business men of the place, his mill- 
ing operations being as extensive and lucrative 
as his farming interests. He was a promi- 
nent memljer of the Democratic party, genu- 
inely interested in the welfare of his adopted 
town, which he served as Selectman several 
years. He was a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, belonging to a lodge of Waterford. 

Mr. Sanderson was married November 25, 
1S47, to Miss Angeline McWain, who was 
born in this town, April 13, 1829, a daughter 
of David and Laura (Willard) McWain, both 
natives of \ew Hampshire. Her father's 
birth occurred in 1784, and the mother's in 
1793. Mr. McWain removed from the Granite 
State to O.xford County, settling in the town 
of Waterford, where he was an extensive 
farmer and mill-owner, being at one time the 
proprietor of a section of land in this locality. 
Mr. McWain was twice married. His first 
\v\{e, Hannah Hailey, of New Hampshire, bore 
him four children — Jane, William, and two 
that died in infancy. l^y his union with Miss 
Laura Willard five children were born, as fol- 
lows : David, now living a retired life in New 
York, who has been twice married, his first 
wife having been Melissa Potter, and his sec- 
ond Mrs. Harriet Tracy, widow of Albert 
Tracy, of Lewiston, Me. ; Andrew, who died 



when young; Leavitt B. (deceased), who mar- 
ried Lorinda Gould, and was a farmer and 
mason in Milan, N. H. ; H. Angeline, who is 
now the widow of Mr. Sanderson, and resides 
at South Waterford; and Almeda A., now- 
deceased, who married Charles Sanderson, of 
Dedham, Mass. 

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall .Sanderson had two 
children — Leroy and Josephine A. Leroy 
Sanderson, who is a prosjierous farmer and a 
prominent citizen of Waterford, married Miss 
P'lorence Shaw. Josephine A., who died 
June 8, 1884, was the wife of Robinson 
Hastings, a native of Bethel. 



rpTON. TIMOTHY JARXTS CART1{R, 
j-^-j iov .'Several years County Attorney of 
_\js I Oxford County, Maine, residing at 

— ' Paris Hill, and latei' a member of 
the Twenty-fifth Congress, was born August 
18, 1800, in the town of Bethel, Me., son of 
Dr. Timothy and P^rances (P'reeland) Carter. 
He was a descendant of the Rev. Thomas 
Carter, who was the first settled minister in 
Woburn, Mass. P'rom the history of that 
town we learn that Thomas Carter was born in 
England; was educated at St. John's College, 
Cambridge; came to America in 1635, being 
then a divinity student; lived for a time in 
Dedham, later in Watertown ; and a church, 
the First Congregational, having been gath- 
ered, "with much solemnity," in Wolmrn in 
August, 1642, he was ordained, and settled as 
its pastor on November 22, O. S. (or Decem- 
ber 2, N. S. ), of that year. He died in 1684, 
in the forty-second year of his ministry, sur- 
vived by his wife, Mary Daltoii, who died in 
1687. They had reared six children, inchifl- 
ing three sons, one of whom, named .Samuel, 
received a college education. 

Among the jiosterity of the Rev. Thomas 
Carter living in New lingland at the close of 
the century following his death, was Dr. Tim- 
othy Carter, above mentioned, born November 
29, 1760, who was the first of the family to 
.settle in Oxford County. He began the prac- 
tice of his profession in the town of Bethel in 
1798. He was very successful for many years, 
occupying a leading position among the promi- 
nent physicians of this county; and many 



204 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



young men who .subsequent!)' acquired fame in 
their profession studied with him. He con- 
tinued his residence in Bethel until his death, 
February 25, 1S45, retaining to the last his 
active inHuence as physician, citizen, and 
counsellor. Dr. Carter was a strict Congre- 
gationalist in religion, and for manv years 
served as Deacon of the church. In [lolitics 
he was a Whig, and in his later years was a 
strong advocate of the temperance cause. 
For several years he was Justice of the Peace, 
and in this capacity much of the legal busi- 
ness of this county passed through his hands. 

Dr. Carter w-as twice married. His first 
wife, born September 4, 1771, was Frances, 
daughter of Dr. James Freeland, of Sutton, 
Mass. Her father was a surgeon in the Conti- 
nental arm\' in the Revolution, and subse- 
quently became a member of the Cincinnati 
Society. Mrs. Frances F. Carter died No- 
vember 14, 18 1 5, having borne her husband 
seven children, as follows: Lawson, born No- 
vember 20, 1793; Galen, born June 19, 1795; 
James F., born May 12, 1797; 1 imothy Jar- 
vis, the sjiecial subject of this sketch; Luther 
C, born February 25, 1805; Frances F., the 
only one now living, born September i, 1809, 
the widow of Robert A. Chapman, of Portland ; 
and Elias M., born September 10, iSii. Dr. 
Carter's second wife, Lydia, daughter of Theo- 
dore Russell, of Bethel, was the mother of 
three daughters and tw-o sons, namely : Lydia 
D., born March 22, 1S23; Sarah \V., born 
May 8, 1824; Abigail A., born April 9, 
1825; Theodore R. , born July 12, 1827; and 
l^enjamin, born July 4, 1832. Of these three 
are living — Mrs. Abigail A. Gould, of 
Worcester, Mass. ; and the two sons, both 
residents of Montclair, N.J. 

Timothy Jarvis Carter, Dr. Carter's fourth 
son, received his early education in some of 
the best schools of O.xford County. He pur- 
sued the study of law under Governor Enoch 
Lincoln at Paris Hill, and later at Judge 
Howe's Law School in Northampton, where 
he was graduated in 1824. Mr. Carter then 
entered the law office of F'essenden & DuBlois, 
and remained with them until his admission 
to the bar in February, 1827. Locating him- 
self first in Rumford, Me., he practised there 
for a year, then came to Paris, O.xford County, 



in 1829; and from that time until his death he 
was one of the most successful lawyers of this 
part of the State, standing high among hfs as- 
sociates. P^or several years Mr. Carter was 
County Attorney; and in 1836 he was elected 
a member of the Twenty-fifth Congress, in 
which he served two terms, dying while in 
Washington, D. C, March 14, 1838. In jjoI- 
itics he was a stanch Democrat, and he was 
liberal in his religious belfef. 

On September 11, 1828, Mr. Carter married 
Arabella Rawson, who was born in Paris, Ox- 
ford County, Me., February 22, 1807, and is 
still living in the house in which she first 
opened her eyes to the light of this world. 
Her father, Samuel Rawson, was born Septem- 
ber 4, 1771, in Sutton, Mass. ; and his wife, 
Polla, daughter of Dr. James Freeland, was 
born in Sutton, Mass., September 17, 1778. 
P^or further history of Mrs. Carter's ancestors 
see the "Rawson Genealogy and Memorial." 

The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Carter 
was Samuel Rawson Carter, whose birth oc- 
curred June 22, 1829, in the house in which 
his widowed mother now lives. This house 
was built in 1789, and bought by Samuel 
Rawson in 1804. Samuel Rawson Carter was 
graduated at Union College, Schenectady, 
N. Y., in the class of 1852, and was admitted 
to the bar of Oxford County in 1854. He 
took an es[)ecial interest in having that bar sup- 
plied with a good law library, and was libra- 
rian and member of the bar as long as he lived. 
In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, firm 
and unchanging in principle, also an active 
supporter of every measure he thought would 
benefit the farming communit\- and his native 
town. He was for many years a communicant 
of the Lpijcopal church and always ready to 
give his best efforts to aid that church. He 
devoted much of his time to scientific pursuits, 
es])ecially to mineralogy and geology. He 
was one of the original owners of Mount Mica, 
noted for valuable tourmalines; and he left a 
valuable cabinet of Mount Mica minerals, also 
a large collection of other minerals and Indian 
relics. Samuel Rawson Carter was an asso- 
ciate member of the Boston and Portland So- 
cieties of Natural History and a correspond- 
ing member of the Academy of Natural Sci- 
ence in Philadelphia, and received diplomas 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



from biith of those societies. He was niairictl 
February 26, i<S57, to Julia, daughter of the 
Hon. ]{lijah L. and I{liza Choate Hamlin, 
resided in Paris, and dieil A])ril 24, 1893. 
His wife, Mrs. Julia Hamlin Carter, died 
August 12, 1S94. The}' had i)reviously been 
bereft of their son, a \'ery capable and promis- 
ing young man, whose brief record follows. 

Jarvis Livermore Carter, born I-"ebruar\- 11, 
1858, died August 4, 1892, only child of .Sam- 
uel Rawson and Julia Hamlin Carter. He 
was graduated at L'nion College, .Schenectatly, 
N. Y., and, having finished his education at 
Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, 
N.Y. , afterward became connected as a ]iartner 
with the commercial and exporting house of 
W. l-:. Smith & Co. of New York City. He 
was an e.xjjert accountant, and managed in a 
most successful manner tlic finances of the 
firm, doing the business of a million dollars 
annually. He was a communicant of the 
Episcopal church and, like his father, a stable 
Democrat. June 12, 1883, he married Mary 
Blanche, onl\- child of Cullen E. and Eannie 
A. Carter, and aftei- his marriage resided in 
Brookh'n, .\. \'. Jar\'is Eivernn)re and Mary 
Blanche Carter were the |)arents of three chil- 
dren, namelv: Julia V., born .Se]itember 5, 
1884; Dorothea M., born April 8, 1887; and 
Jarvis Ereeland, born Jul\' 20, 1889, who died 
May 6, 1895. 

These two great-grand-daughters are the 
only living descendants of Timothy Jarvis and 
Arabella Rawson Carter. Mrs. Carter has 
preserved much interesting data lelating to 
the Rawson and Carter families. 

A woman of cultivated mind, well-read and 
thoughtful, notwithstanding that she is nearing 
the ninetieth milestone of life's journey, she 
retains the capacity of her earlier years and 
takes an active interest in passing events. 

Some choice spirits of earth happily grow 
not old, but, filled with childlike trust and 
broad human sympathy, pass as cheerily down 
the sunset slopes " as up the hills of morn. " 



/^^TTlbERT MILEER, Sheriff of Frank- 
V 5 I lin County, proprietor of the Wilton 
House, and one of the most promi- 
nent business men in this town, was born in 



Wilton, Octolx-r 20, 1826, son of David antl 
Ik'tsey (Pierce) Miller. The family is of 
early Colonial origin, its founder having, no 
doubt, emigrated from bjigland or Scotland; 
but his name, as well as the jjlace of his na- 
tivity and date of arrival in America, cannot 
now be ascertained. 

The first ancestor nf whom there is any 
authentic knowledge was Robert Miller, who 
resided in I''all River, Mass., where he fol- 
lowed ship-carpentering and farming. He was 
the father of seven children, including four 
sons — namely, John, Job, Robert, and David 
— all of whom were carpenters and farmers, and 
resided upon the Taunton River. David 
Miller, son of Robert and grandfather of Gil- 
bert Miller, settled upon a large farm in Fall 
River, which is now the property of his grand- 
son, another Gilbert Miller, a cousin of the 
subject of this sketch. David Miller served 
as a soldier in the French anil Indian War, 
and participated in the siege and capture of 
Uuebec under General Wolfe. He married 
Hannah Merrick, and reared a family of nine 
children; namely, John, Ebenezer, Job, Isaac 
M., Gilbert, David, Hannah. Abbv, and 
Polly. 

David Miller, son of David and Hannah 
(Merrick) Miller, was born in b'all River, 
February 22, 1787. While still young he 
shi])ped as a cabin boy, and, later becoming 
an able seaman, remained in the merchant 
service for fifteen years. Tiring of sea life, 
and not desiring to rear his sons in a locality 
where they were liable to become sailors, he 
visited his sister, Mrs. Maconiber, who was 
living in Wilton, Me., and, being favorably 
impressed with the country, decided to settle 
here. Purchasing the Gooclell farm of eighty 
acres, which he improved b)- I'emodelling the 
house and erecting a new barn, he continued to 
reside here until his death, which took place 
March 15, 1849. The property is now occli- 
pied by John Miller. Although for many 
years a sailor, he readily adapted himself to 
agricultural pursuits, developing a capacity 
for tilling the soil and raising stock which 
enabled him to attain a degree of prosperity 
equal to the majority of his neighbors who 
had been reared and trained to farm life; and 
he was esteemed and respected by the entire 



206 



BIOGRAnilCAL REVIEW 



communit}'. lie was a Whig in politics and 
lil:)eral in religious views. His wife, Betsey 
Pierce, whom he married June 20, 1813, was 
born in Somerset, Mass., August 26, 1794. 
She became the mother of eight children, 
namely: Julia A.; David; Eliza; Betsey; 
John; Gilbert, the subject of this sketch; 
James C. ; and Nathan R. Mrs. Betsey P. 
Miller possessed a remarkably strong constitu- 
tion, and lived to reach the advanced age of 
ninety-three years. 

Gilbert Miller, the third son as here enu- 
merated, and the special subject of this sketch, 
was educated in the schools of his native 
town, and resided with his parents until he 
was twenty-one years old. He then engaged 
in peddling confectionery, cigars, tobacco, and 
Yankee notions for E. J. Smith, later repre- 
senting J. Richards in the same line of trade: 
and after travelling through the country with 
a team for seven years, during which time he 
realized good financial results, he bought a 
farm of one hundred and fifty acres in the 
town of Temple. Selling this property a 
year later, he moved back to Wilton, where he 
purchased the M. Luffkin farm, upon which 
he resided from i<S57 to 1876. He remodelled 
the residence, and built a new stable; and, 
besides keeping well forward in the line of 
progress as a general farmer, he dealt largely 
in cattle, sheep, and horses, most of which he 
bought in the home market. Having pur- 
chased his present hotel jjroperty in 1873, he 
began to manage it in 1876, coming here 
with his family. Having sold his farm build- 
ings with five acres of land, he still retains 
the remainder of his farm, which he carries on 
in connection with the house. Since becom- 
ing proprietor of the Wilton House, he has 
made various improvements, including the en- 
largement of the building, which now contains 
eighteen light and well-furnished sleeping- 
rooms; and connected with it are a good stable 
for baiting purposes and a spacious hall for 
public use. He also owns a valuable farm of 
one hundred and fiftv acres in the town of fav, 
which he rents to good advantage; and, be- 
sides attending to a great amount of private 
business, he has been intrusted with the set- 
tlement of many estates, and has held various 
town offices. Mr. Miller served as Hiffh 



Sheriff eight years, as Deputy Sheriff eighteen 
years, and as Chairman of the Board of Select- 
men for twelve years, in all of which capaci- 
ties he established an honorable record as a 
capable and upright jnililic official. In poli- 
tics he has been a firm supporter of Republi- 
can principles ever since the formation of that 
party. 

In November, 1852, Mr. Miller married 
Martha A. Lord, his first wife, who was born 
in New Sharon, October 20, 1830. She died 
May 2, 1868, leaving seven children, as fol- 
lows: Erank G. , who was born September 3, 
1853, and died September 2, 1872; Ida M., 
who was born June 30, 1855, and married 
Lester P. Hiscock, a prosperous merchant of 
East Brookfield, Mass. ; Horace, who was born 
December i, 1856, and died at the age of 
twenty years; Clarence A., a successful livery 
stable keeper of Wilton, who was born Sep- 
tember 5, i860, married Emma Wilkins, and 
has two children — -N. Maud and Clifford G. ; 
Nathan R., who was born November 29, 1862, 
married Lillian Lake, and is now assisting his 
father in business; Carrie N. , who was born 
April II, 1864, and is now the wife of Milton 
Holmes; and Lydia E., who was born October 
I, 1865, and married P'red Young, an ener- 
getic miller of New Sharon. Mr. Miller's 
present wife was before marriage Nellie M. 
Woodbury. She is a daughter of the Rev. 
J. M. Woodbury. By this union there is one 
son, P'rank G. , who was born July 19, 1879. 

Mr. Miller is still engaged in attending to 
his business affairs, and goes about with the 
activity of a much younger man. He takes a 
liberal view of religious matters, and is a 
member of Williamson Lodge, No. 20, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd I'ellows. 




ILLIAiM EDWARD SAK(;i:NT. 
Principal of Hebron Academy, in 
O.xford County, was born in San- 
ford, York County, Me., on May 23, 1856. 

His father, the late Rev. Walter Taylor 
Sargent, was born in Methuen, Mass., in 
1809; and his mother, Mrs. Joan G. Quint 
Sargent, was born in Bowdoinham, Me., in 
1829. The Rev. Walter Taylor .Sargent was 
a well-known divine in his dav, his life being 




-•^f '«»■ 




WILLIAM E- SARGENT. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKAV 



209 



devoted to preaching the gospel in many dif- 
ferent localities. He died at Freeport, Me., 
in 1886, his wife having gone before him in 
1885. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom are yet living; namely, 
Mary Ellen, Maria Frances, Susan Jane, 
Sarah Elizabeth, Anna Louise, Emma Caro- 
line, William lulward, and Alice Crosby 
Sargent. 

An only son, William E. Sargent passed his 
boyhood in many different towns of Maine, 
as his father mo\ed from one place to another 
in attending to ministerial duties, princi|ially 
staying in the towns of Greene, Dexter, Rich- 
mond, and Freeport. Young Sargent received 
his early education in the public schools of the 
towns in which he resided, and prepared him- 
self for college under the supervision of the 
Re\-. j. J. Hulfinch, of Freepnit, who was a 
friend of his father. 

He entered ]5owdoin College in 1874, and 
was graduated in the class of 1S78. In April 
of that year he acce])ted the position of princi- 
pal of the high school of Topsham, which he 
lield for a period of two years, at the expira- 
tion of which time he went to Freeport, where 
he had charge of the high school until 1885, 
when he was called to Hebron Academy. 
Here he has remained ever since. 

What Professor Sargent has done for the 
academy in these years must be seen to he 
thoroughly understood and appreciated, but it 
might be well to say a few disinterested words 
on the subject. He has from the very first 
given his strict attention to building up 
the school in every desirable way. To-day 
Hebron Academy is universally acknowledged 
as one of the best fitting schools in all New 
England. Its high standing is in a great 
measure due to the utter devotion and strenu- 
ous labor that Professor Sargent has sjient 
upon the work for over a decade; and liberal 
support has been accorded the dear old .school 
by its numerous and generous friends, who 
were influenced by the stirring appeals and un- 
tiring efforts made by Professor Sargent in its 
behalf and by his example of devotion and self- 
sacrifice. 

William F.. Sargent was married on August 
20, 1S83, to Ella C. M. Hale, of My.stic, 
Conn. They have no children. Mr. and 



Mrs. Sargent are earnest as well as active 
members of the Baptist church. In ])olitics 
the Professor is a stanch Republican. He is 
a member of l-'reeport Lodge, No. 23, A. F. 
& A. M., at iMceport, Me., also a member of 
Harraseeket Lodge, No. 30, of the Knights of 
Pythias at Freeport, and of Pejepscot Lodge, 
No. 13, Inde|)endenl ( )rder of Odd P\'llowsat 
Brunswick. 

Hebion Academy was foiiiKkd in 1804 bv 
two God-fearing, strong-hearted men — lilder 
John Trip|i and Deacon William Harrows. 
John Tri])p perhaps was the more instrumental 
of the two in the actual conception and foun- 
dation of the schfjol. 

■ John Tripp was born in Dartmouth, now 
Fairhaven, on March 25, 1761, the son of 
Jesse Tripp. In his early y(aith even he 
began to show that he was destined to be a 
grave and serious man, deeply religious in 
thought and feeling. In 1774, before he was 
fourteen years of age, he vohmtarilv connected 
himself with the Second Pa|)tist Church of 
Middleboro, Mass. A short time later he 
went into the ranks of the Continental army, 
showing decisively that he could not only 
pray, but fight. He conducted himself 

throughout the \vai- with the greatest heroism 
and honor. 

In 1787, some time after the wai-, he re- 
ceived a license to ]:)reach the gospel. After 
twelve years o'f wandering from ]jlace to place, 
twelve years of exhausting work, both men- 
tally and ]ihysically, twelve years of earnest 
endeavor to do good, not one time and then 
another time, but all the t.ime — in fine, twelve 
years of the life of an old-fashioned Christian 
preacher, bringing the gospel on foot or on 
horseback through a sparsely populated coun- 
try, with long distances to traverse and no 
time to stay except to exhort and attemjDt to 
convert, he finally settled down in Hebron, 
arriving here on July 5, 1798. The journey 
from Portland was made with a horse and cart 
— John Tripp, his wife, and one child in 
arms on the liorse, and the rest of the children, 
with the household goods in the wagon. He 
settled on the farm where his descendants still 
live. He had married shortly after or during 
the war a lady of P'rench descent named Expe- 
rience Deland. She bore him ten children. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



all of whom are now dead. W'licn he came to 
Hebron the whole place was new and wild. 
There were no road.s, only narrow bridle paths. 
The woods were full of bear, deer, fo.xes, and 
other game. His first house was built of 
rough-hewn square logs. 

Always interested in educational matters 
and expecting to spend the rest of his life 
here, he with a friend. Deacon William Bar- 
rows, conceived a plan for instituting a school, 
as had been done long before in Plymouth, 
and as quaintly expressed there "for the better 
education of the youthe of the towne and the 
better employement of their time."' This 
scheme, planned by the two worthies in 1804, 
was carried into effect in the next year, 1805; 
and the first academy was erected. The first 
church, which was organized with a member- 
ship of thirteen persons on August 23, 1791, 
was finally established in a substantial build- 
ing in 1820. Of this church Elder Tripp was 
a devoted supporter. His wife died on May 
20. 1835. John Tripp himself died on Sep- 
tember 16, 1847, after a long and useful life. 
The school thu.s established for the benefit of 
the generations that were to follow him has 
done remarkably well in every way that he 
himself wouUl have desired. 

The academy itself is very advantageously 
situated on high land among the picturesque 
hills of Oxford County, Maine. All con- 
nected with the place, the scenery, the care 
exerted, the instruction, the amusement pro- 
vided, all tend to give the Hebron students, as 
their well-beloved principal says of them, 
"a spirit that identifies them wherever you 
find them. Thev have the qualities of strong, 
earnest men and women. They know how to 
use the shovel and hold the plough, know how 
to economize. " 

How the friends and benefactors of Hebron 
Academy feel toward the old institution, and 
what they do for it, as well as how their gifts 
are received and in what spirit, is also best 
shown by a few words from the address made 
by Professor Sargent on the dav the class of 
1896, composed of thirty strong-minded, ear- 
nest boys and girls, graduated. He says of 
the late Mr. Sturtevant, a dear friend of 
Hebron Academy, among other things (chief 
among these things being an expression of the 



great thanks and the just praise due Mr. Stur- 
tevant) : 'T went and saw him. Mr. Sturte- 
vant in his mild way told a story or two, just 
to collect his thoughts and get them down into 
a crystallized form. When he got down to 
business he said, 'I have made up my mind to 
gi\e you ten thousand dollars to start with.' 
But that was not all." And Professor Sargent 
goes on to tell how he had helped them in 
every way, how he had asked their plans, sug- 
gested, formed new ones, and done everything 
to help the school to raise all the money it 
needed for improvements. At length, owing 
to the generosity and efforts of Mr. Sturtevant, 
and the energy and devotion displayed by Pro- 
fessor Sargent, the requisite sum, and more 
than that, has been raised, a sum that no great 
university need be ashamed to accejjt as a gift 
— fifty thousand dollars. 

The academy, which is in truth what Pro- 
fessor Sargent has set forth in his modest but 
attractive circular, a splendidly endowed fit- 
ting school for Colby University, makes an 
ideal place for study. It was founded as we 
know "by praying patriots of the Revolution." 
Among the great names that have been in- 
scribed, in the youth of their distinguished 
bearers, on the roll of honor of the old acad- 
emy, are those of Hannibal Hamlin, John D. 
Long, ex-Governor of Massachusetts, William 
Pitt Fessenden, and Senator Plugene Hale. 
The academy offers- fine advantages in every 
line, three courses of studv, college, classi- 
cal, and pjiglish, together with year-in and 
year-out de]iartments in music and ]3ainting, 
and a fine gymnasium, being a few of them. 

Professor Sargent is known and admired as 
a most successful teacher; and his friends hope 
he will remain at the head of Hebron Acad- 
emy for many years to come, continuing, as 
he has always done, to increase the prosperity 
and renown of this ancient and revered insti- 
tution. 



■QHN WARD, senior member of the 
firm John Ward & Co., Fryeburg, 
Oxford County, manufacturers of and 
dealers in carriages and sleighs, was 
born in this town, August 26, 1838, son of 
Jonathan Hale and Harriet (Durgin) Ward. 



BIOGRAPIirCAT. REVIEW 



His grandfnthcr, Jonathan Ward, was a clock- 
maker by trade ; and many of the old and re- 
liable time-pieces now doing service in Frye- 
burg are the work of his hands. Jonathan 
married Rachel Abbott, a native of Conconl, 
N. H.; and both died in this town. 

Jonathan Hale Ward, who was born in Frye- 
burg, entered the lumber business in his early 
manhood, and subsequently became an exten- 
sive speculator in timber lands. He was also 
the proprietor of the Oxford Hotel in Frye- 
burg village for several years. Leaving the 
reputation of an able business man, he died in 
1 84 1, being then in the prime of life. The 
interment of his remains was the first made in 
the present town cemetery. His wife, Har- 
riet, was a native of Fryeburg and a daughter 
of Joshua Durgin, an early settler of this 
town. Her father, a native of Massachusetts, 
who was a tanner and currier, and followed 
those trades in connection with farming, 
passed his last days in F"r)eburg. Jonathan 
Hale Ward and his wife were the parents of 
four children, as follows: Fanny L. , who be- 
came the wife of James F". Webster, a pros- 
perous farmer of Conway, N. H., both now de- 
ceased; Henry D., who is a machinist by 
trade, and resides in Worcester, Mass. ; John, 
the subject of this sketch; and Harriet D., 
the wife of Henry Putnam, a well-to-do 
farmer of Worcester, Mass. The mother lived 
to the age of seventy-six years. 

John Ward was left fatherless when a mere 
child. At the age of eleven he went to Rridg- 
ton, Cumberland County, where he lived in 
the family of Henry Smith for four years. 
During the succeeding five years he resided 
with Augustus Carsley upon a farm in that 
town. His education was acquired in the 
common schools and at the Bridgton Academy. 
When at the age of twenty, he began to learn 
the carriage-maker's trade with William F. 
Perry, now the proprietor of a large factory in 
Bridgton. After remaining with Mr. Perry 
for six months he engaged with Thomas F. 
Mead, under whose direction he finished his 
apprenticeship. He then worked as a 
journeyman for Burnham & Mead in Bethel, 
Me., for two years. Coming to Fryeburg in 
i860, he, in company with his uncle, com- 
menced the manufacture of carriages under 



the firm nLune- of A. C. & John Ward. 
Three years later Thomas F. Mead bought an 
interest in the business, and the firm became 
known as Mead & Ward. A Hourishing trade 
was carried on for four years, and B. M. 
Glines then became a partner under the pres- 
ent title of John Ward & Co. This firm man- 
ufactures all kinds of carriages and other 
vehicles, carries a varied stock of carriages 
and sleighs of other manufacture, also does 
general repairing and mill work. 

In January, 1871, Mr. Wartl was united in 
marriage to Augusta L. Mead, who was born 
in North l?ridgton, daughter of Thomas H. 
Mead. Mr. Mead was a successful merchant, 
was very prominent in political affairs, and 
served as Treasurer of Cumberland County for 
several yean-s. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are the 
parents of two children, namely: Augustus 
H., who works in his father's factory, and is 
an able machinist; and Thomas Hale, who re- 
sides with his parents. In politics Mr. Ward 
is an earnest supporter of Republican prin- 
ciples, but has never aspired to prominence in 
public affairs. He has always applied him- 
self to his calling with industry, and as a re- 
sult has worked his way forward to his present 
business success. He has many friends both 
in business and social circles, and is a mem- 
ber of Pequaket Lodge, No. 34, Knights of 
Pvthias. 




LOXZO B. ADAMS, M.D., of Wil- 
ton, a member of the United States 
Board of Examiners in pension 
cases, a veteran of the Civil War, 
is one of the leading physicians and surgeons 
of Franklin County. He was born in Wilton, 
July 8, 1843, son of Charles K. aiul Julia A. 
(Miller) Adams. His grandparents were 
Moses and Martha (Kinney) Adams, the 
former of whom was a prosperous farmer and 
a well-known resident of Wilton in his day; 
and the paternal and maternal ancestry of Dr. 
Adams were representatives of highly repu- 
table families. 

Charles K. Adams, son of Moses and 
Martha Adams, continued to reside with his 
parents after attaining his majority, caring for 
them in their declining years, and finally sue- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ceeding to the ownership of the homestead of 
one hundred and fifty acres. He was success- 
ful both as a general farmer and a live stock 
dealer, buying large numbers of cattle and 
sheep, which he shipped and drove to Reading 
and Brighton. Able, industrious, and pro- 
gressive, he remodelled his residence, erected 
new barns, and made other notable improve- 
ments in his i)ro|ierty. Being stricken with 
tyi^hoid fever, from which he was unable to 
rally, he died at the age of fifty-four years. 
In public affairs he was prominent and in- 
fluential, having followed the majority of the 
Whig element into the ranks of the Republi- 
can party at its formation; and, as a member 
of the Board of Selectmen and as a Represent- 
ative to the legislature, he displayed such 
marked ability in sustaining and forwarding 
the principles of good government as to re- 
ceive the hearty commendation and approval 
of the voters in general, as well as his con- 
stituents. His wife, who was before marriage 
Julia A. Miller, became the mother of ten 
children, namely: Charles N.; Josephine: 
Alonzo B., the subject of this sketch; a child 
who died in infancy; Abbie; Madeline; 
Irandus: l{lla F. : another who died in in- 
fancy; and Frank \V. Mrs. Julia A. Ailams 
died of consumiJtion at the age of forty-si.x 
years. She and her husband attended the 
Free Will Baptist church, and were generous 
contributors toward its support. 

Alonzo B. Adams, the second son, the date 
of whose birth is given above, acquired his 
early education in the jiublic schools, where 
he labored diligently with the view of subse- 
quently pursuing the higher branches of 
study; but at the age of nineteen his patriot- 
ism overweighed his desire in this direction, 
and on August 4, 1862, he enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company C, Sixteenth Regiment, 
Maine Volunteer Infantry, for service in the 
Civil War. On December 13 of the same 
year, while participating in the battle of 
Fredericksburg, he received a serious wound 
just above the left ankle, which made amputa- 
tion necessary; and, after passing through one 
operation at Alexandria, he was in 1865 
obliged to suffer the inconvenience of another 
amputation. When suflficiently recovered to 
resume his studies he entered the Maine 



Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, where he 
was graduated in 1866, and, after reading 
medicine with Dr. Russell, of Farmington, 
he matriculated at the Bowdoin College Med- 
ical School, where he was graduated with the 
class of i86g. Locating for practice in 
Strong, Me., he remained there three and one- 
half years, at the expiration of which time he 
returned to Wilton, where he bought the prac- 
tice of Dr. Peaslee, and has since resided 
here. As a skilful and reliable physician and 
surgeon, he has not only acquired a high repu- 
tation throughout the wide section included 
within his circuit, but he is frequently called 
to distant parts, either to personally treat diffi- 
cult cases or in consultation with other prac- 
titioners; and his professional success has 
been upward and onward from the commence- 
ment. Soon after his establishment in Wil- 
ton he bought the Hall residence on High 
Street, which he has greatly improved; and in 
1893 he erected upon the premises a hand- 
some office and operating-room, which is fur- 
nished and equipped with all modern conven- 
iences. 

On July 12, 1870, Dr. Adams was united in 
marriage with Mary C. Fletcher, daughter of 
David and Sarah (Stickney) Fletcher, of this 
town. Earl Adams, one of the two children 
born of this union, died at the age of twenty- 
one months ; and the other, Lynne F. Adams, 
who was born March 7, 1877, is now a student 
at Colby University. 

In the Masonic fraternity Dr. Adams is 
well advanced, being a Past Master of Wilton 
Lodge; a member of Franklin Chapter, 
Jephthah Council, Pilgrim Commandery, 
Knights Templars; and the Maine Consistory. 
He is Past Grand of Williamson Lodge, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and Past Chief 
Patriarch of the encampment; is connected 
with the Foresters and the Order of the 
Golden Cross; and as a comrade of the Grand 
Army of the Republic he has held all of the 
important offices of R. C. Woodman Post, No. 
18, has been Junior Vice-Commander and Sur- 
geon of the department, and a delegate to the 
national encampment. He holds an appoint- 
ment upon the Board of L^nited States Pension 
Examiners, and he acted in an important ca- 
pacity in the United States census enumera- 




JOHN M. STEVENS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



2'S 



tion of 1870. In politics he acts with the 
Republican party, and he ably filled the office 
of Town Treasurer for three years. Dr. and 
Mrs. Adams are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 



OHN M. STEVENS, one of the oldest 
practical farmers of Canton, 0.\ford 
CoLuity, i\Ie., who is about to retire 
from the toil of the fields, was born in 
this town, November 25, 1826, son of Aaron 
and Susan (Conant) Stevens. The farm upon 
which Mr. Stevens has spent his life up to the 
present time, the autumn of 1896, was cleared 
from the wilderness by his grandfather, Jere- 
miah Stevens; and it has been held bv the 
family until quite recently. 

Jeremiah Stevens was a native of Massachu- 
setts, and served in the Revolutionary War. 
In 1805 he came to Canton as a pioneer, and 
lived in a log house until he had cleared his 
farm and erected frame buildings. With un- 
abated energy he continuetl to till the soil 
until the time of his death, which took place 
when he was si.xty years old. Me was a Dem- 
ocrat in politics and a strict Baptist in his 
religious views. He was the father of si.x 
children, three sons and three daughters, of 
whom Aaron, Mr. J. Af. Stevens's father, was 
the youngest. None are now living. 

Aaron Stevens was born in Methuen, Mass. 
He was a small boy when he accompanied his 
parents to Canton, where he eventually suc- 
ceeded to the possession of the homestead. 
A strong, able-bodied man, he was an indus- 
trious farmer and a useful citizen. He died 
in 1880, at the age of eighty-two years. In 
politics he supported the Republican party dur- 
ing the later years of his life, and in his relig- 
ious belief he was a Universalist. He antl his 
wife, formerly Susan Conant, who was a na- 
tive of I5ridgewater, Mass., reared two chil- 
dren, namely: John M., the subject of this 
sketch ; and Susan, who is now Mrs. Stubbs, 
and resides in Canton. Mr. Stevens's mother 
lived to reach the age of eighty-four years, 
and died in 1885. 

An only son, John M. Stevens was educated 
in the district schools of Canton, and grew to 
manhood as a farmer. He has followed that 



occupation at tlie homestead, which he in- 
herited from his father, and has made a good 
record for himself as an energetic and exceed- 
ingly successful agriculturist. He has also 
dealt in stock and horses to a considerable ex- 
tent, and has accjuireil a high reputation 
throughout this section ftir his honesty and re- 
liability. With the intention of retiring from 
active labor, he has recently sold his landed 
property, consisting of over three hundred 
acres, to the Portland & Rumford Railroad 
Company; and the purchasers are to take pos- 
session as soon as he has harvested his crops. 

Mr. Stevens has never married. He is lib- 
eral in his ideas concerning religious matters, 
and in politics he acts with the Republican 
party. He is connected with the lodge of In- 
dependent 'Order of Odd F"el lows' in Canton, 
and is highly respected by the entire connini- 
nity as an upright, conscientious man ;uul a 
worthv citizen. 




HARLES P. BARTEETT, a wealthy 
farmer and influential citizen of Han- 
over, O.xford County, was born in 
this town, August 18, 1842, son of 
Stephen and Martha (Stearns) Bartlett. 
Peregrin Bartlett, the father of Stephen, was 
a native of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 
whence he came to Oxford County, Maine, 
about the year 1793, accompanied by several 
of his brothers. He purchased about three 
hundred acres of land, and spent the re- 
mainder of his life in clearing and cultivating 
it. He died at si.xty-si.x years of age. His 
son, Stephen, who was born here, became a 
stirring, progressive farmer and stock raiser. 
In politics he was a Democrat, and he served 
in nearly all the town offices. He died at 
fifty-two years of age. His wife, Martha 
Stearns Bartlett, was a native of Bethel, this 
county, where she resided until her marriage. 
She died in Hanover when seventy-six years 
old, leaving three children — Sarah, widow of 
Charles Ivons, residing in Lowell, Mass. ; 
Charles P. ; and Solon, a physician in Lowell, 
Mass. 

Charles P. Bartlett was educated in the 
common schools. He has always resided on 
the old homestead faim, the one purchased by 



2l6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



his graiultathcr in 1793, located near Newry 
on the ■An(h'oscoL;gin River. He also owns 
about twenty thousand acres of wild timber 
land, the greater part of which is in Oxford 
County. He is one of the leading lumbermen 
in the county, anil until recently was exten- 
sively engaged in stock raising. On April 
23, i8gi, Mr. Hartlett was married to Miss 
Martha E. Hartlett, of Hanover. They have 
two sons — Alton F. and Charles F. In poli- 
tics Mr. Bartlett is a Democrat, and, though 
declining office, exerts no small influence in 
local matters, his social position and natural 
ability qualifying him as a leader. 




iLINTON V. .STARBIRl), an exten- 
sive lumber manufacturer of the town 
of Strong, and Chairman of the 
Hoard of Selectmen, was born in 
Freeman, Me., August 14, 1868. He is a 
son of Amos IJ. and Mary J. (Gilkey; Star- 
bird, natives of P'reeman, now residing in 
Florida, and grandson of Moses Starbird, who 
moved to Freeman from Gorham, Me., and 
was a prosperous farmer through life. 

Amos D. Starbird was for several years en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits and lumbering 
in the town of Freeman; but he removed later 
to Orange County, Florida, where he is now 
residing, and is identified with the lumber 
interests of that region. His wife, Mary J. 
Gilkey, is a daughter of Captain John Gilkey, 
who moved from Lisbon to this county when 
a young man, and became a well-to-do farmer 
in Freeman. Mr. and Mrs. Amos D. Starbird 
have had eight children, as follows: Edwin 
R., who wedded Mattie Thompson, and is now 
a photographer of Brunswick, Me. ; Albert 
W., who married Leola Weymouth, and is 
now a photographer in Florida; Rose I., wife 
(jf W. T. Hinds, a lumber operator and manu- 
facturer of Phillips, Me.; Clinton \'., of 
Strong, to be further mentioned in the next 
paragraph; Lionel F., who died at the age of 
twenty-three years: Austin C, who married 
Cora Love, and is now in the lumber business 
with his father in Florida; Adelbcrt M. and 
I'ercivilla L., both of whom are residing in 
I*"lorida, engaged in the lumber business. 

Clinton \'. Starbinl acquired his education 



in the common schools. At the age of twenty- 
one he went to Erie County, Pennsylvania, 
and worked in a grist-mill for a year. He 
then engaged in lumbering, and for the next 
three years contracted quite extensively for 
the cutting of timber. He next operated a 
saw-mill in l-'reeman, Me., where he contin- 
ued in business for four years; and then re- 
moving to Strong he built a mill, and engaged 
in the manufacturing of lumber. Since locat- 
ing here his business has developed into large 
proportions, requiring additions to his plant 
from time to time, in order to meet the in- 
creasing demand for his products; and aside 
from sawing all kinds of buikling material, 
including hard-wood flooring and shingles, he 
makes a specialty of manufacturing packing- 
cases, which are shipped in large quantities to 
Portland, Boston, and Providence, R.I. Al- 
though he has met with serious reverses, hav- 
ing passed through two disastrous fires, he has 
recovered the lost ground, and his business, 
to which he has steadily applied himself, is 
now in a most flourishing condition. In poli- 
tics he supports the Republican party. He 
was elected a Selectman in 1894, and is now 
Chairman of the Board. 

On June 23, 1886, Mr. Starbinl was united 
in marriage with Flora A. Kilkenney, of New 
Vineyard. She is a daughter of James and 
Ellen (Brackley) Kilkenney, ]3ros|ierous farm- 
ing people of New X'ineyard. Mr. and Mrs. 
Starbird have one son, Raymond A., who was 
born F"ebruary 26, iSgi. 

Mr. Starbird is Treasurer of Dax'is Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M., of Strong, acts in the same 
capacity for Marathon Lodge, Knights of 
Pythias, and is also a member of the Order of 
the Golden Cross. He occupies a [irominent 
place among the business men of Franklin 
County, and is universally respected and es- 
teemed. Mrs. Starbird is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 



IRAM MILLETT EVERETT, for- 
merly a well-known and highly es- 
l9 I teemed resident of Hebron, who 

died at his home in this town in 
April, 1S93, was born in Norway, Me., No- 
vember 2, 1 81 8, son of Peter and Charlotte 




BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



■'7 



(Parkhurst) I-^vcictt. The late iMr. I^verett 
was of French descent. His grandfather, Peter 
Everett, a native of France, is said to have 
accompanied General Lafayette to America 
for the purpose of assisting the patriots in 
their struggle for independence; antl while 
serving in the Continental army he lost an 
arm. Deciding to become a citizen of the 
Republic which he had so gallantly assisted 
in founding, he settled in Norway, Me., of 
which town he was one of the earliest pioneers; 
and he died at a good old age. His wife, who 
was a widow Burn.s, a lady of much ability 
and intelligence, is said to have been the first 
woman teacher in Norway, teaching school in 
her own house before school-houses were built. 
She and her husband reared three children, 
namely: John; Susannah; and Peter, Jr. 

Peter Everett, Jr., Mr. Plverett's father, was 
born in Norway, and became a sturdy, indus- 
trious man and a worthy citizen. From Nor- 
■ way he moved to Poland, Me., where the last 
years of his life were passed; and he died there 
at the age of seventy-four years. He was ex- 
ceedingly prosperous, his natural ability caus- 
ing him to be successful in whatever he under- 
took; and he provided his large family with a 
comfortable home and a common-school educa- 
tion. In politics he was originally a Whig, 
but in his later years he voted with the Repub- 
lican party. His wife, Charlotte Parkhur.st, 
became the mother of eleven children, ten sons 
and one daughter; and of these five are living. 
Mr. Everett's mother lived to be si.xty-three 
years old. She was a member of the Methodist 
]{piscopal church. 

Hiram Millett I^verett passed his boyhood 
in Norway, and was educated in the di.strict 
schools. At the age of fourteen he began life 
for himself by learning the cooper's trade, 
which he followed during the winter season, 
working as a farm laborer in the summer; and 
he continued thus employed until he was 
twenty-six years old. Being of a prudent and 
economical turn of mind, he husbanded his 
earnings, and bought his father's estate in 
Norway, which, however, he held but a short 
time. In 1844 he married Cordelia Barrows 
Marshall, of Hebron. Selling his property in 
Norway, he bought a farm in East Hebron, 
and lived thereon for three years. From East 



Hebron he moved to Poland, where he resided 
for the succeeding three years, engaged in 
farming; and from Poland he removed to Minot 
Corner, and while living in that place he 
learned the shoemaker's trade. A little later 
he returned to Hebron, where he purchased a 
farm and followed agricultural pursuits in con- 
nection with shoemaking for the rest of his 
life, which terminated at the age of nearly 
seventy-five years. He left a widow, one son, 
and a daughter-in-law. Industrious and an 
able business man, possessing rare judgment 
in regard to the value of lands, he succeeded 
in accumulating a good estate, owning at one 
time over three hundred acres. In politics he 
supported the Republican party, by which he 
was for several years elected to the offices of 
Constable and Collector; and he attended the 
Baptist church, of which his wife is a member. 
Mrs. Cordelia B. Everett has had four chil- 
dren, as follows: Anna Delphina, who was 
born August 27, 1845, and died Ajjril 3, 1853; 
Persian V., who was born July 5, 1847; Jus- 
tin, who was born February 12, 1854, and 
died April 17, 1859; and Anna Bethany, who 
was born March 13, 1862, married Henry K. 
Stearns, of Paris, Me., and died June 19, 
1888, leaving one daughter, (Jra B. Persian 
V. Everett, the only survivor of Mrs. Everett's 
children, served as a private in the Thirtieth 
Regiment, Maine Veteran Volunteers, the last 
year of the Civil War, and is now a prosperous 
farmer in this town. He married Ella Has- 
kell, and has three children, namely: Minnie 
L. , who is now Mrs. P'ernald, and has one 
daughter, Marion Faye ; Charles H. ; and Mar- 
garet L. Mrs. Everett has four grandchildren 
and one great-grandchild. She still resides in 
Hebron, where she is well known and highly 
respected. 




VRUS P. P:AT0N, Superintendent of 
the Rumford Falls Light and Water 



Compan)-, was born in Rumford, 
Oxford County, Me., July 11, 1846. 
As a son of Osgood, Jr., and Bet.sy (Putnam) 
Eaton, it is evident that he is a descendant of 
early New England colonists, immigrants of 
the seventeenth century. Different branches 
of the Eaton family have been flourishing on 



2l8 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



tliese shores for more than two hundred and 
fifty years, and tlie same is true of the Put- 
nam s. 

Osgood Eaton, Sr. , who was a native of 
Concord, N.H., settled on what is known as 
Maton Hill, and was the first white settler in 
that locality. He was an officer in the old 
State militia. Osgood Eaton, Jr., son of the 
elder Osgood and father of Cyrus P. Eaton, 
was horn on the farm in Rumford which was 
his son's birthplace, and s]ient his life there 
until about fifty years old. Then, though past 
the age liinit for military duty, he enlisted in 
Company A, Twelfth Maine Regiment, for the 
defence of the Lhiion, and was enrolled among 
the musicians as drum-major. He was in 
Louisiana with General Putler's army, much 
of the time near New C)rleans, and died of 
swamp fever. He was a stanch Republican, 
deeply interested in local |iolitics, and was a 
prominent member of the Methodist P]piscopal 
church. His wife, who also is a native of 
Rumford, and is now a bright and active lady 
of fourscore, makes her home with her son, 
Cyrus P. She, too, is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, deeply interested in 
religious work. 

Cyrus P. Eaton acquired a fair education 
while still a member of the parental household, 
attending school and doubtless making himself 
useful on the farm until he was nineteen years 
of age. He then left home and went to Lewis- 
ton, Me., to learn the caipenter's trade, which 
he followed in that cit)' about six years. Re- 
turning then to his native town, he managed 
a carpenter and carriage shop until 1890. In 
that year he entered the employ of the Water 
I'ovver Company, for whom he worked two 
yeais at Rumford Falls, hax'ing charge of a 
number of men who were engaged in building 
ilams and in other constructive operations. 
The first saw-mill in the place was erected at 
this time, the lumber for the dams being sawed 
there, largely under Mr. Eaton's direction. 
This mill was owned by the Power Company. 
In the fall of 1X92 Mr. P2aton entered the em- 
ploy of the Light and Water Company, and 
assisted in buiUling their jjlant ; and since its 
completion he has acted as superintendent of 
the works. Fully qualified for his position, he 
lierforms his duties quicth' and efficiently, and 



enjo)'s the confidence and esteem of all with 
whom he comes in contact. Mr. Eaton owns 
a farm in the township and a residence in the 
village. 

He was married July 13, 1888, to Mary E., 
daughter of Otis Howe, of Rumford. She was 
born in this town December 24, 1850, and died 
July 16, 1893. She was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and trained her 
children to belief in its doctrines. She left 
one son and two daughters, namely : P'rederick 
O., clerk for the Light and Power Conii:)any, 
and Town Clerk of Rumford I'alls; and Eva 
M. and Sadie K., who are still with their 
father. 

Mr. Iiaton is a Republican and takes an 
active part in town matters. He is a member 
of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 99, A. F. &. 
A. M., of Rumford P\alls; Rumford Chapter, 
Royal Arch Masons, of the same place; Me- 
talluc Lodge, No. 99, Knights of l^ythias, of 
this town; and Wawanunka Tribe, No. 41, 
I. O. R. M. Though not a church member, 
he regularly attends the Methodist lipiscopal 
church and contributes to its support. 




INA HYDE GREENWOOD, a well- 
known citizen of Farmington, was 
born in Bethel, O.xford County, Me., 
.September 2 1, 1824, son of Nathan- 
iel and Huldah (Howe) (ireenwood. A car- 
penter by trade, Mr. Greenwood for a number 
of years was actively engaged as a contractor 
and builder. Also at one time he was in the 
corn-packing business, and more recently he 
has dealt somewhat in real estate. He is now 
practically li\ing in retirement. 

The family trace their lineage through quite 
a number of Colonial ancestors to Thomas 
Greenwood, probably a native of Wales, who 
was a land-owner in what is now ]5rookline, 
Mass., in 166S. In 1665 he was following the 
trade of a weaver in Boston, where he was 
made a freeman and united with the church in 
1681; and he served as Selectman, 'I'own 
Clerk, and Constable. He married Plannah, 
daughter of John Ward, a representative of an 
early Boston family of prominence, and she 
bore him two sons, namely: Thomas, who was 
one of the first graduates of Harvard College, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



2 19 



and became a minister in Rehobotli, Mass. ; 
and John, wIid became a leading citizen of 
Newton, Mass. The ne.xt in line was William 
Greenwood, who was horn October 14, i68g. 
On June 21, 1715, he married Abigail, daugh- 
ter of John Woodward, of Cambridge, and in 
1725 moved to Sherborn, Mass., where he 
became a land-owner. lie was an e.\tensi\e 
business man, serveil as Selectman, Town 
Clerk, Representative to the General Court, 
and a Deacon of the chiuxh in Sherborn, where 
he died about the year 1756. 

The descent continues through Joseph, his 
ninth son, who was born in Sherborn, June 10, 
1734, and learned both the carpenter's and 
weaver's trades. After residing in Sherborn 
and Holden, he moved to Dublin, N.H., 
where he attained to a high position among the 
citizens of that town, serving as Selectman, 
Town Clerk and Treasurer, Justice of the 
Peace, and as a Representative to the first Pro- 
vincial Congress of New Hampshire. In 
1793 he disposed of his property and business 
interests in Dublin, and removed to Bethel, 
Me., where he died December 27, 1825. He 
married Sarah, daughter of Josiah Greenwood, 
had three sons, only one of whom reached ma- 
turity; namely, Nathaniel, first, who was Z. H. 
Greenwood's grandfather. The others were: 
Ebenezer, who was born in 1759; and John, 
who was born in 1760. 

Nathaniel Greenwood, first, was born in 
I7r)i; and, settling in Bethel in 1793, lie re- 
sided there for many years, finally moving to 
Farmington, where he died November 7, 1846. 
On June 24, 1782, he married for his first 
wife, Mary, daughter of Moses and Lydia 
(Knapp) Mason. She died in Bethel in 1825; 
and in 1827 he wedded Mrs. Abigail Irving, 
of Paris, Me. He was the father of fourteen 
children, eleven by his first union and three by 
his second; and his three sons by his first 
marriage — namely, Ebenezer, Nathaniel, and 
Thaddeus — settled in Farmington. 

Nathaniel Greenwood, son of Nathaniel, 
first, and father of Z. H. Greenwood, was b6rn 
in Dublin, N. H., December 27, 1790. His 
younger days were passed in Bethel with his 
father. Although his opportunities for obtain- 
ing an education were limited, he succeeded 
in familiarizing himself with manv branches 



of stuil)' through his own efforts, and he be- 
came a thoroughly capable and well-iufdinied 
business man. \Vhile still in the prime of 
life he settled in I'"armington, where he bought 
the farm which is now owned by L. B. Manter, 
and, purchasing the saw-mills at I'"armington 
[•"alls, he carried im logging ojierations u|)on 
an extensive scale, placing large crews of men 
in the woods during the winter season; and he 
als(j engaged in the manufacture of hunber. 
He was the first to introduce the mariufact- 
ure of hogsheatl shooks in this localit)', a busi- 
ness which proved exceedingly remunerative; 
and his other enterprises were equally success- 
ful. His business ability was of the highest 
order, his foresight and judgment being recog- 
nized among his associates, who often sought 
his advice' in regard to their own affairs; and 
he was called u|5on by his fellow-townsmen to 
serve in various offices of public trust. He 
retained his customary energy and activity up 
to the time of his death, which took place 
April 15, 1867; and his loss was keenly felt 
by the business men of Farmington, who re- 
garded him with the highest respect ami es- 
teem. 

His wife, Huldah Howe, whom he mairied 
May II, 1815, was born in Maine on Ma\' 25, 
1796, daughter of Jacob and Betty (Foster) 
Howe. She became the mother of ten chil- 
dren, as follows : Julia, who was born March 14, 
1816; Mason K., who was born July 17, 181 8; 
Albert N., who was Ijorn August 14, 1820, 
and died P'ebruary 4, 1888; Zina Hyde, the 
subject of this sketch ; Alfred Alanson, who 
was born February 25, i8;?7; Marcia A., 
who was born March 28, 1829; Ihddah |aiie, 
who was born June 2", 183 1, and dietl March 
28, 1885; Alma E. , who was born May 11, 
1833; Charles M., who was born December 
31, 1834; and Charles, second, who was liorn 
P'ebruary 17, 1837. Mrs. Huldah H. Green- 
wood died at the home of her son, Zina H., in 
1S92. As an affectionate, self-sacrificing 
mother and a kind-hearted, sympathetic neigh- 
bor, her memory is dee|ily cherished liy her 
loving children and large circle of friends and 
acquaintances. 

Zina H. Greenwood, the fourth in the family 
group, now to be further mentioned, was edu- 
cated in the district schools. After completing 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



his studies he servcil an apprenticeship at the 
carpenter's trade; and he was subsequently em- 
ployed as a journeyman in Augusta, Me., until 
1854, when he returned to Farmington and 
opened an office for the transaction of insur- 
ance business. As his health demanded out- 
of-door employment, he later bought the Jesse 
Butterfield farm, upon which he settled. En- 
gaging as a contractor, he built several large 
bridges in this county. After that, in com- 
pany with B. F. Morrill, George H. Stinch- 
field, and Z. A. Greenwood, he built the 
Sandy River corn-packing factory, which they 
carried on successfully vmtil 1892, and did 
a very extensive business in canning sweet 
corn, their goods commanding a ready sale in 
the metropolitan markets. In 1887 Mr. 
Greenwood bought nine acres of the Stewart 
farm on High Street, where he erected a hand- 
some residence and spacious barns. He has 
subdivided a portion of the land into building 
lots, some of which he has sold, and he still 
has some choice sites for sale to the right 
parties. He has followed his trade to some 
extent during the past few years, but may be 
said to have retired permanently from active 
business pursuits, his easy circumstances per- 
mitting him to enjoy a life of leisure. 

On November g, 1849, Mr. Greenwood 
wedded Emily M. Fellows, who was born in 
Athens, Me., June 11, 1829, daughter of Isaac 
and .Sarah (Bradbury) Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. 
(ireenwood are the parents of six children, as 
follows: Edward, who was born November 17, 
1850, married 1-lmma R. Dutton, and has 
cliarge of the Sandy River Railway shops at 
Phillips, Me. ; Albert Mellen, born P'ebruary 
2, 1853, who married Afifie M. Sanborn, and 
is now a jeweller in Phillips; Orville S., born 
July 14, 1855, who married Cora L. Prescott, 
and is now carrying on a hardware and plumb- 
ing business in Maiden, Mass., having three 
children, namely — Mildred F. , Phil P., and 
Fred A. ; Chester, born December 4, 1858, 
who married Isabel S. Whittier, and is en- 
gaged in the manufacture of ear protectors and 
is also a dealer in mill supplies in Farmingtoi), 
he and his wife having four children, namely 
— Lester C, Donald \V., Vodisa E., and Clin- 
ton; Lizzie A., born April 13, 1861, who 
graduated from the State Normal -School here 



and is now a teacher in Haverhill, Mass. ; and 
Emily, born June 28, 1863, who resides in 
Farmington. The last named young lady is 
extensively engaged in the cultivation of bed- 
ding plants, in which she has proved herself 
an expert. Her greenhouse, seventy-six by 
sixteen feet, built with the assistance of her 
father in 1887, is the only one of its kind in 
town. She is very successful in her business, 
and has raised as high as eight thousand 
tomato and five hundred celery plants in a 
season. 

In public affairs Mr. Greenwood has ren- 
dered his share of service to the town, having 
been a member of the Board of Selectmen 
during the years 1865-68, 1876, and 1877, his 
rare business ability being amply displayed in 
the discharge of his official duties. 



^ATHANIEL KNIGHT, formerly a 
well-known and highly respected resi- 

k9 V dent of Paris, was born August 10, 

1801, upon the farm which he car- 
ried on with prosperity for many years. His 
parents were Edmund and Dorothy (Haskell) 
Knight. The father was a native of Fal- 
mouth, Cumberland County, born May 18, 
1 767 ; and the mother was born at New- 
Gloucester in the same county. May 9, 1768. 

In the spring of 1799 Edmund Knight came 
to Paris, where he settled upon a large tract of 
wild land containing about two hundred acres. 
By the fall of the same year he had made a 
clearing and erected a house, which is still 
standing in a good state of preservation, when 
he brought his family to reside there. He 
was a sturdy, hard-working man, was possessed 
of the pioneer faculty of thriving under the 
most adverse circumstances, and he succeeded 
in establishing a comfortable home for himself 
and family. Besides attending to his farm he 
made ox carts and sleighs. He continued in 
active occupation until his death, which took 
place June 3, 1830, at the age of sixty-three 
years. His wife had died June 12, 1821. 
They were the parents of eight children, as 
follows: Dorcas, who was born December 11, 
1790; Dorothy, who w-as born September 16, 
1792; Hudson, who was born August 22, 
1794; Henry, who was born May 30, 1797; 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Hannah, wlin was born May 19, 1799; Natlian- 
iel, the subject of this sketch ; Andrew, who 
was born October 3, 1803 ; and I<;iiza, who 
was born November 14, 1806. 

Nathaniel Knight grew to manhood ujion 
the farm, which was his home during his entire 
life. His education was acquired in the dis- 
trict schools. He was engaged in farming, 
the cooper's trade, and made violins and 
drums. The latter articles were sought for 
and highly prized by the neighboring residents. 
Temperate in his own habits, he was an ear- 
nest advocate of total abstinence. His relig- 
ious belief was that of the Methodist denomi- 
nation. In politics he was a Republican, 
having joined that party at its formation. He 
was nearly seventy-three years old when he 
died at the Knight homestead, June 16, 1874. 

On November 4, 1832, Mr. Knight wedded 
Martha Houghton, who was born in VVaterford, 
Me., September 4, 1805, daughter of Moses 
and Martha (Haskell) Houghton, early settlers 
of Norway, Me. She died July 12, 1891, 
having borne her husband three children, 
namely: Hudson, who was born July 31, 1834; 
Livonia, who was born December 13, 1835; 
and Horace, who was born May 11, 1838. 
Hudson, Horace, and Livonia Knight, all of 
whom are unmarried, occujiy the homestead 
farm, and form a very happy and contented 
family. The farm of one hundred and si.xty 
acres is conducted by the brothers, who make 
the best use of its fertile soil by ]5roducing 
large and superior crops. They enjoy the 
hearty good will of their neighbors, are liberal 
in their religious views, and in politics act 
with the Republican party. On September 
lo, 1862, Hudson Knight enlisted as a private 
in Company F", Twenty-third Regiment, Maine 
Volunteers, under Captain Horace Bolster, and 
served in the Civil War until honorably dis- 
charged, July 15, 1863. He is a comrade of 
Harry Rust Post, No. 54, Grand Army of the 
Republic, of Norway. 



:iBl':ON LEWIS PACKARD, who 
was a veteran of the Civil War and a 
prominent business man of Hebron 
in the early years of this decade, was 
born in Hebron, May 30, 1829, son of Captain 




Lewis and I^lizabeth (Webster) Packard. The 
family is of Puritan ancestr\'. Its founder, 
who emigrated from pjigland, landed at Plym- 
outh, Mass., in 1638. Reuben Packard, 
great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, 
was a native of Massachusetts and a Revolu- 
tionary soldier. He settled as a pioneer in 
Hebron shortly after the struggle for indejien- 
dence, and made the first clearing upon the 
Packard homestead, which has since remained 
in the family's possession. He died in He- 
bron at a good old age. His .son, Ichabod, 
Mr. Packard's grandfather, was also an early 
settler here. At Ichabod's death the property 
passed into the hands of his son Lewis, the 
father of Zibeon Lewis. 

Captain Lewis Packard was born in Hebron, 
of which 'town he was a lifelong resident. 
Aside from his prominence as a large general 
farmer, he was active in the public affairs of 
the town, held various important offices, and 
was long identified with the early State 
militia. In ])olitics he supported the Whig 
party, and in his religious views was a Congre- 
gationalist. He died at the homestead in 
1853. His wife, whose name before marriage 
was Elizabeth Webster, became the mother 
of five children — P'lizabeth, Zibeon L., 
George, Hannah, and Charles. Of these the 
only survivor is George, who resides in Kan- 
sas. The mother died in 1879. 

Zibeon Lewis Packard acquired his educa- 
tion in the common schools and at the Hebron 
Academy. After completing his studies lie 
taught school for several terms. During the 
Civil War he served as a private in the Thir- 
tieth Regiment, Maine \'olunteers. Ujion 
returning to ci\'il life he engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits. Succeeding^ in his turn to the 
ancestral property, he displayed unusual en- 
ergy and ability in its cultivation. By paying 
special attention to its extensive orchards, he 
became one of the leaders in the fruit-growing 
industry of Hebron. His capacity for business 
was of special value to the town in the admin-, 
istration of the public offices he filled. He 
served for a time successively as a member of 
the Board of Selectmen and the Supervisor of 
-Schools, and he was Town Collector and 
Treasurer for fourteen years. He took an 
active part in securing the erection of the He- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



broil Academy, of which he acted as a Trustee 
for nian\ years; and in his day was noted for 
his public spirit. He was connected with the 
Masonic Lodge of Buckfield ; was a member of 
Hebron Grange, Patrons of Husbandry; and a 
comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic 
post at Mechanic Falls. In religious belief he 
was a Baptist, and politically he acted with the 
Republican party. He took an earnest in- 
terest in the general welfare of the town and 
its institutions. His death, which occurred at 
the old Packard homestead, August ii, 1893, 
in his sixty-fifth year, was felt as a severe loss 
to the community. 

On February 10, i860, Mr. Packard was 
united in marriage to pollen A. Bearce, who 
was born in Hebron, March 2'], 1835, daugh- 
ter of Daniel Bearce, of this town. She died 
April 14, 1895, leaving four children, as fol- 
lows: Bertha Lenora Packard, who studied at 
the Hebron Academy, and has successfully 
taught school for several terms; Ida I{llen, 
the wife of Herbert T. Glover, of Hebron ; 
P'dith Lulu, who married Frederick W. Cush- 
man, and resides at the old homestead ; and 
Jennie Webster Packard, a successful teacher 
and an accomplished artist, who resides at 
Hebron \illage. 



/pTTT)] 



IDEON KING STAPLES, for many 
\ •) I years a prosperous farmer and large 
land-owner of Temple, now numbered 
with the silent majority, was born upon the 
farm near his late residence, July 13, 1813, 
and lived to pass the eighty-third anniversary 
of his birth. He was a son of Gideon and 
Sarah (Oakes) Staples, and grandson of Gid- 
eon, Sr., and Susannah (Staples) Staples, 
who removed from Dover, N.H., to North 
Berwick, Me., and later to Temple. Gideon 
Staples, Sr., bought two lots upon what is 
now known as the Baldwin Hill farm, where 
his grandson afterward lived. 

When he came here there were but six fam- 
ilies in the town, and the nearest trading-post 
and grist-mill was at Wilton, which was 
reached by the aid of a bridle path and marked 
trees. Leaving his familv with a settler 
named Samuel Briggs until he could provide 
an abode for them, the new-comer pitched a 



tent in the woods, which served as a shelter, 
while he cleared seven acres of land and built 
a cabin. Planting wheat and corn for his first 
crop, he continued to increase his clearing 
into a good farm, the site of his first abode 
being now occupied by a substantial residence, 
and surrounded by rich meadows and fruit- 
trees. He was a man of strong frame and 
robust con.stitution, capable of much hard 
work. He died at the age of seventy years. 
His wife, Susannah, lived to reach the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-eight years. Their chil- 
dren were: Susannah, Nathaniel, Gideon, 
Susannah (second), Susannah (third), Betsey, 
Gideon (second), Hannah, William, George, 
Daniel, and Joanna. 

Gideon Staples, son of Gideon and Su- 
sannah, was born in Dover, N.H., December 
I, 17S5. He was fourteen years old when his 
parents settled in Temple; and when a young 
man he bought one hundred and sixty acres of 
land adjoining his father's property, which he 
cleared and improved. There being a plenti- 
ful supply of heavy pine and spruce timber on 
his premises, he erected a small saw-mill on 
the creek, the outlet of what is now known as 
the Staples Pond, where he manufactured the 
material for building a frame house, which is 
-Still standing; and he cultivated a productive 
farm during the rest of his active period. In 
his younger days he worked at the carpenter's 
trade when not busy with his farm work, and 
for several winters he was employed as a ship- 
carpenter upon the coast. His last work at 
his trade was framing the house in which his 
son, Gideon K. Staples, lived; and he died 
at the home of his son in October, 1872. An 
able and industrious farmer and a good me- 
chanic, he also possessed a great deal of nat- 
ural ability in other directions; and in his 
eighty-sixth year he wrote a short sketch of 
his life, which furnishes the material for a 
portion of this article. His wife, Sarah 
Oakes, whom he married when he was twenty- 
three years old, she being ten days his senior, 
was a daughter of John Oakes. She became 
the mother of seven children; namely, Han- 
nah B., Mary M., Gideon K., Sarah P., 
Eleanor, Jonathan S., and John O. Mrs. 
Sarah O. Staples died January 19, 1877. The 
father was originally a Whig, later supporting 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVI F.W 



2-^3 



the Republican party in politics; antl both he 
and his wife were members of the Congrega- 
tional church. 

Gideon King Staples, who appears to have 
been the first-born of three sons, attended the 
common schools in his boyhood, and resided 
at home until reaching his majority. For the 
next four years he was employed in the neigh- 
borhood as a farm assistant; and he then 
bought fifty acres of his father's farm, which 
he ]Kud for by tilling the same and working 
for farmers in the vicinity. He subsequently 
l)Ought the Daniel .Staples farm of one hun- 
dred and twenty acres, and still later the rest 
of his father's property, making in all an es- 
tate of about three hundred acres. He cleared 
considerable wild land, improved what had 
already been cleared, set out an orchard of 
about two thousand apple-trees, mostly grafted 
fruit, kept cattle and sheep, and also engaged 
in lumbering to some extent. The new 
house, which he erected in 1855, being de- 
stroyed by fire in 1862, he immediately re- 
built both residence and barns, which are of a 
very substantial kind. 

On March 4, 1854, Mr. Staples was mar- 
ried to Fhilinda Norton, who was born Au- 
gust 6, 1828, daughter of George W. and 
Ruth (Rice) Norton. Mr. and Mrs. Staples 
became the parents of two sons, namely : 
Horace G., a prosperous farmer of Wilton, 
who was born October 27, 1855, married Ada 
Gleason, and has one son, l^ernard Gideon, 
aged four years; and George W., who was 
born July 2t„ 1857, married Effie A. Wilkins, 
and resides in Hartford, Conn. Mr. Gideon 
K. Staples died at his home in Temple, Octo- 
ber 7, 1896, of heart failure, after a brief 
illness. 

In local public affairs Mr. Staples was quite 
conspicuous. He served as a member of the 
Board of Selectmen three years and as Town 
Treasurer two years. He was a delegate and 
active member at the now famous convention 
at Strong, Me., at which the Republican party 
was organized, and he was ever after one of its 
stanch supporters. His progressive tendencies 
were further evidenced by the fact that he was 
a member of the Franklin Agricultural So- 
ciety and of the Maine State Pomological 
Society. His interest in religion was shown 



by his liberal contributions toward the sup- 
port of the Congregational chiuxh. 




EVi McAllister, a successful 

farmer and a prominent resident of 
Stonehum, Oxford County, was born 
in tliat town, November 20, 1832, 
a son of I':astman and I'hcebe (Parker) Mc- 
Allister. His father, who was the first one of 
the family to reside in Stoneham, at the age 
of twenty-one came here from Conway, N. H., 
his native town, and settled on a farm in the 
northern part of the township, where his son, 
the subject of this sketch, now lives. There 
Eastman reclaimed a tract of land, on which 
he was succes.sfu!ly engaged in general agri- 
culture during the remainder of his life. He 
married Miss Phcebe Parker, a native of 
Lovell, Me.; and they became the parents of 
three children — Levi, Hilton, and Mary liliz- 
abeth. Hilton, who was born October 1, 
1830, wedded Miss Ella McKeen, a daughter 
of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman McKeen, of Lovell; 
and they now reside with his mother on the 
old McAllister homestead. Mary, born Janu- 
ary 24, 1 84 1, who became the wife of Henry 
C. Cobb, of Boston, Mass.. died July 2c;, 
1872. The father was counted among the 
prominent men of Stoneham; and he served in 
several public capacities, including that of 
Selectman. He died in January, 1894. His 
wife, now eighty-four years old, makes her 
home with her son, Hilton, at the old man- 
sion. 

Levi McAllister passed his youth at tlie pa- 
rental home, and, together with his brother 
and sister, enjoyed the educational advantages 
offered by the district schools of their native 
town. He helped his father in the work of 
the farm until he was twenty-five years old, 
when going to Boston, Mass.. he began life 
for himself by engaging in teaming. This 
occupation he abandoned .August 12, 1862, to 
enlist for service in the Civil War in Com- 
pany A of the P^ortieth Regiment of Massa- 
chusetts Infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel 
Joseph A. Dalton, of Salem, Mass., and Cap- 
tain J. T. Lervey. He subsequently partici- 
pated in the battle of Cold Harbor, and also 
in that of Olustee, Fla. At the latter eno-age- 



224 



BIOGRAPHICAL RtVIEW 



ment Mr. McAllister's regiment covered tlie 
retreat. Subsequently he was appointed train 
master, and had charge of the wagons for the 
entire length of the route. The regiment was 
engaged in several other conflicts. While at 
l-'oHy Island, South Carolina, Mr. McAllis- 
ter's arm sustained an injur)- from a wagon 
wheel, on account of which he now receives a 
pension. lie was discharged from the service 
at Richmond, V'a., June i6, i<S6s,and returned 
to Stonehani. I'or some time after he was 
employed on farms, and was also engaged in 
lumbering. In 1872 he purchased his present 
estate, known as the old Smith farm. He 
afterward worked as an engineer and night 
watchman in a shoe factory at Norway village. 
Me., for four years. E.xclusive of that j^eriod 
he has resided on the farm since it became his 
]jroperty. He now owns seventy acres of 
land, on which he has made all the improve- 
ments. He carries on general agriculture, 
and raises some stock. 

Mr. McAllister has taken a prominent part 
in local affairs. A number of town offices 
were filled by him — that of Township Treas- 
urer, which he held for several years; that of 
Selectman, in which he served for five or six 
years; and that of Town Clerk, the duties of 
which he efficiently discharged for one year. 
He belongs to the Masonic Order, being a 
member of Delta Lodge, No. 63, of Lovell 
village, and to the Knights of Pythias, in 
Hiawatha Lodge, No. 49, of East Stoneham. 
Politically, he has always maintained fellow- 
ship with the Republican party. He is essen- 
tially a self-made man, and he has the warm 
esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances. 




\C\)fALD() T. BROWN, one of the town 
fathers of Waterford, Me., belongs 
to an old New England family, 
being the great-grandson of a Revolutionary 
soldier. He was born in Waterford, October 
24, 1834, the son of Thaddeus, Jr., and Ase- 
nath (Nourse) Brown. His great-grandfather, 
Jabez Brown, was a Lieutenant in the French 
and Indian War and an Adjutant in the Rev- 
olution. He was one of the original surveyors 
of the town of Waterford, and Mr. Waldo T. 
Brown now has in his possession the chain 



used by him in 1773 in making the survey. 
His son, Thaddeus Brown, Sr., who was born 
in Harvard, Mass., also served in the Revolu- 
tionary War. He located in Waterford in 
1786, settling near Waldo T. Brown's present 
farm, where he purchased quite an extent of 
timbered land, and was extensively engaged 
in farming and lumbering. He died in 
W'aterford at an advanced age. He and his 
wife, formerly Miss Mary Pollard, of Harvard, 
Mass., were the parents of nine children — 
Daniel, Malbory, Jabez, Susan, Levi, Thad- 
deus, Jr., Mary, Mercy, and Sarah. These 
have all passed to the world beyond. 

Thaddeus Brown, Jr., was born September 
8, 1798. He was engaged in farming during 
the years of his manhood, and spent his long 
life in Waterford and vicinity, passing away 
October 15, 18S5. He was then eighty-seven 
years of age. His wife died March 13, 
1874. The younger Thaddeus, like his father, 
had a family of nine children, as follows: 
Theodore, deceased; Daniel, a prominent 
farmer of Waterford Flat, ex-Representative 
to the legislature. Justice of the Peace, and 
Town Treasurer, who married Miss Mary B. 
Stone; Mercy, wife of Scribner Chadbourne, 
residing in Vandalia, III.; John, who lived 
but three years; Mary, widow of Charles H. 
Hale, at Otter Creek, Wis.; Waldo T., the 
leading subject of this sketch; Ellen M., wife 
of Elbridge Stone, a farmer and blacksmith of 
Waterford; Myra A., wife of William H. 
Bailey, a merchant of Harrison village, Me.; 
and Nettie, who resides with her sister in 
Otter Creek, Wis. 

Waldo T. Brown acquired a fair education 
in public and private schools. His father was 
crippled and unable to do all the farm work; 
and he remained on the homestead in order to 
• help him, eventually succeeding him as man- 
ager of the farm. He is now the owner of 
about one hundred and seventy acres of well- 
improved farm land, and is prosperously en- 
gaged in general farming, lumbering, stock 
raising to some extent, and tlairying, making 
a specialty of cream. 

He was married June 10, 1869, to Margaret 
G. Plummer, of Waterford, who was born Au- 
gust 26, 1834, the daughter of Samuel and 
Jane (Kimball) Plummer. Her father, whose 



BIOGRAi'HlCAL REVIEW 



occupation was farming, was a nati\e of 
Waterford. He died February 19, 1864. 
His wife, Mrs. Brown's motlier, was born in 
I'ortland, Me., but removed to Waterford with 
her parents when she was eleven years of age. 
Mrs. Plummer outliveti her husband many 
years, passing away Mas' 25, 1888. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brown have one child, Louise 'Monroe, 
born May 14, 1S71, now teaching in the vil- 
lage of Waterford. 

Mr. Brown, who is a stanch Democrat, has 
been a member of the Board of Selectmen of 
Waterford for nine years, and has held minor 
iitfices in the town. He belongs to Mount 
Tire'm Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Xo. iy2, of 
Waterford. As a fanner he is energetic and 
ambitious. As a jjrominent citizen of Water- 
ford he is well known and highlv resjiected. 




[PHRALM H. SMITH, a respected resi- 
dent of New Sharon, was born here, 
May 2, 1852, on the old homestead 
where three generations of his forefathers have 
lived and died. His paternal grandparents, 
Ephraim and I\Iercy M. (Mayhew) .Smith, came 
to New .Sharon from Martha's Vineyard, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1805. The grandfather bought a 
farm in the locality, of about one hundred and 
twenty-five acres, cleared it, and built the large 
frame house in vvhich his grandson now lives. 
Of his thirteen children, now all deceased, 
Nehemiah was the next to the )'oungest. 

Nehemiah Smith was born in his father's 
house at New Sharon in 1806, and was edu- 
cated in the common school of the old town. 
He spent his life on this farm, and was here 
married to Miss Mary B. Hawes. They had 
eight children, of whom six are still living. 
These are: Mercy M., born in 1836; Helena, 
born in 1839; Harriette W., born in 1841 : 
M. Augusta, born in 1844; Albert, born in 
1846; and Ephraim, born May 2, 1852. The 
deceased were: Abbie W., who was born in 
iiS47; and Jarid, who died in infancy. The 
father, at first a Whig in politics, upon the 
dissolution of that party became a Republi- 
can. He was always an active politician, and 
did what he could to advance the interests of 
his party and to help the country. His relig- 
ious belief was that of a steadfast liberal. 



liphraim H. Smith was also educated in the 
common school of his native town. At the 
age of sixteen, by the death of his father he 
and his brother became the projjrietors of the 
old farm, on the condition that he would carry 
it on, taking care of his mother until her 
death. This e\-ent occurred on October 2, 
1S95. He bought a shoemaker's establish- 
ment in 1877, and from the man he hired to 
work in it learned how to make shoes. When 
he was twenty-six years of age he sold out his 
interest in the old homestead to his brother, 
and moved to New Sharon village, where he 
purchased a home, and resided for ten years. 
In 1888 he purchased the homestead from his 
brother, and has resided there since, carrying- 
on general farming and working at his trade 
of shoemaker. He has recently bought a 
large house with an acre of land, situated on 
the south shore of the Sandy River. 

On the 2d of June, 1878, he was married to 
Miss Elmira K. Brown, a daughter of Cyrus 
G. Brown, a worthy farmer of New Sharon. 
They have now. two children — C. Arthur, 
born July 21, 1883: and Clarence B,, born 
February 29, 1891. Mr. -Smith is Republi- 
can in his political belief, and belongs to the 
Congregational church. He has been a -Se- 
lectman of New Sharon for the past four 
years, and is widely known and respected. 



Wi 



LLIAM C. TOWLE, M.D., of 

Fryeburg, one of the oldest practi- 
oners in Oxford County and a 
veteran of the Civil War, was born here, June 
12. 1830, son of Dr. Ira and Sarah (Clement) 
Towle. Dr. Towle's father, a native of New- 
field, Me., was a prominent physician in his 
day. After completing his medical studies he 
practised for a time in Standish, Me., after 
which he moved to Brownfield, this county. 
In 1825 he came to Fryeburg, where he fol- 
lowed his profession for nearly fifty years, and 
died in 1872. He is still remembered here 
as an able physician and a worthy, upright 
man. His wife, Sarah, who was a native of 
Fryeburg, became the mother of ten children, 
as follows: Mary A., who is now the widow 
of the Rev. -Samuel Souther, and resides in 
Plainfield, N.J.; Abby, the widow of Chauncy 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Warren, late of Fryeburg; William C, the 
subject of this sketch; Jason Whitman, who 
married Emma Shaub, and is a prosperous 
farmer of West Fryeburg; John, who fought 
in the late war as a soldier in the Sixth Regi- 
ment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and is now 
a proof-reader for the lioston /c/z/v/rt/; Harriet 
I,., the wife of Stewart Bradley, who is a 
prominent attorney of Chicago, 111.; James, 
who died at the age of thirteen years; and 
three others, who died in infancy. The 
mother died in 1875. 

William C. Towle acquired his early edu- 
cation at I'ryeburg Academy. In 1849 he 
went to California, where he was successfully 
engaged in mining for three years. Upon 
his return he entered the Maine Medical 
School, from which he graduated in 1855. 
He began the practice of his profession in 
Fryeburg, and was still here at the outbreak 
of 'the Rebellion. He entered the army as 
Assistant Surgeon of the Twenty-third Regi- 
ment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, for the 
period of nine months, and participated in the 
operations conducted by the Department of 
Potomac. His term of service having expired 
while at Harper's Ferry, he re-enlisted in 
the Twelfth Maine Regiment, with which he 
served in the Shenandoah Valley under Gen- 
eral Sheridan, and was present at the battles of 
Winchester and Cedar Creek. Having passed 
through the war without sustaining any injury, 
he was mustered out with his regiment at Au- 
gusta, Me., in March, 1866. He then re- 
sumed his practice in Fryeburg, where he has 
since continued. At the present time he is 
one of the oldest and most experienced physi- 
cians and surgeons in Oxford County, and his 
extensive practice keeps him constantly busy. 

In 1859 Dr. Towle was united in marriage 
to Ann E. Warren, of Fryeburg. She is a 
daughter of Isaiah Warren, now deceased, who 
was formerly a well-known merchant of this 
town. Dr. and Mrs. Towle have had three 
children, as follows: Annie Laurie, who died 
in 1879; Warren, born in 1861, who is now a 
successful lawyer of Boston and State Senator- 
elect for the Fifth Suffolk District of Massa- 
chusetts ; and Lucia, who is the wife of the 
Rev. S. T. Livingston, and resides in Will- 
iamstown, Mass. 



In politics Dr. Towle has been a Democrat 
since attaining his majority; but, owing to his 
inability to support the platform adopted by 
his party at Chicago in 1896, he voted the Re- 
publican ticket in the Presidential election of 
that year. He was County Coroner for eight 
years, has held other offices, and is an examin- 
ing surgeon in pension cases. He is con- 
nected with Pythagorean Lodge, Nt). 11, 
A. F. & A. M., and is a comrade of Grover 
Post, No. 126, Grand Army of the Republic, 
of Fryeburg. He occupies a handsome resi- 
dence on Portland Street, and his office is lo- 
cated near the post-office in the centre of the 
village. Both he and Mrs. Towle are mem- 
bers of the New Jerusalem church. 




town. 



AMUFL B. TWITCH FLL is one 
of the influential citizens of Bethel, 
Me., and a jirominent factor in the 
agricultural and financial life of the 
He was born on the farm which now 
constitutes his home, March 16, 1S29, the son 
of Thaddeus and Sukey B. (Barker) Twitchell. 
His grandfather, Ezra Twitchell, who was a 
pioneer of Bethel, was one of the leading men 
of the town, and was active in organizing the 
first Congregational church built here, of 
which he was Deacon a great many years. 

Thaddeus Twitchell, son of Ezra, was born 
in Dublin, N.H., and rcvred in Bethel, being 
an infant when his parents removed to this 
town. .A successful farmer, lie purchased the 
land on which his son is now living, and de- 
voted his life to its cultivation, dying at the 
age of seventy-two. He was a member of the 
old Whig party, and was one of the first aboli- 
tionists in this section. A man of pronounced 
ideas, with the courage of his convictions, he 
was also one of the first l""ree Soil voters in the 
town, onlv two others being associated with 
him. He was Colonel in the militia for a 
number of years. His wife, who was a native 
of Bethel, died here at the age of eighty-one. 
She was a member of the Congregational 
church. Five children were born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Thaddeus Twitchell, namely: Abigail, 
who died at the age of fifty, wife of Dr. R. G. 
Wiley, of Bethel; Roxanna, who passed away 
when about seventy-five years of age, wife of 




ANDREW J. LINSCOTT. 



BIOGRAPHICAL R E V I KAV 



229 



Alphin Twitchell; Mary E. , who was called 
to rest in her forty-first year, wife of the Rev. 
David Garland, of Bethel; Susanna R., wife 
of the Rev. J. K. .Mason, of Herndon, \'a. ; 
and Samuel H. , of J^ethel, whose personal his- 
tory brief!}- outlined is as follows. 

l'",qui])ped with a good education, having 
finished his schooling at Gould Academy, 
Bethel, Samuel B. Twitchell started on his life 
work betimes. Iking the onlv son he took 
charge of the home farm, and he was also in 
trade for a number of years in Bethel. In 
1867 he sold his store, and he has since de- 
voted his time chiefly to agriculture and the 
lumber business. Mis estate comprises about 
two hundred acres, and is charminglv located, 
part of it lying in what is called Mayville, a 
section of Bethel on the .Androscoggin River. 
Mr. Twitchell is Treasurer of the Bethel 
Dairy Company, President of the Bethel Sav- 
ings Bank, and Treasurer of Gould Academy. 
As a business man he is conservative and up- 
right, and has the confidence of the coniniunity. 

December 11, 1853, he was united in ma'r- 
liage with Malvina A., daughter of Timothy 
Chapman, one of the old citizens of Bethel 
Mrs. Twitchell was an active member of the 
Congregational church. She died February g, 
1888, leaving the following children: Marion 
B. , wife of Clarence W. Flobbs, of Worcester, 
Mass.; Susie 15., who keeps house for her 
father; and Florence E., also in the old home. 

Mr. Twitchell takes a lively interest in local 
politics, voting the Republican ticket. He 
has served as Selectman and as Town Agent, 
and was Ta.x Collector four years; and in 
1879-80 he had a seat in the State legislature. 
Though not a member of any church, he is 
always ready to contribute toward worthy 
enterprise.s, and believes in encouraging Chris- 
tian work. 




NDRKW J. LINSCOTT, a prominent 
farmer and fruit buyer of Jay, and a 
representative of a well-known fam- 
ily of Franklin County, was born 
here, November 18, 1845, son of Andrew and 
Tucy D. (Butterfield) Linscott. Andrew D. 
Linscott, his grandfather, who was a native of 
Chesterville, Me., born September 7, 1786, 



resided upon a farm in that town for some 
years, and then moved to ]^i\field, where he 
died September 4, 1838. He married Polly 
Chancy, who was born in Dunstable, Mass., 
February 18, 1781. and died in Jav, ]'"el)ruary 
16, 1861. She was the niothci- of nine chil- 
dren — ■ Newton, Andrew, Abigail, (ohn, 
Jacob, Josiah, Charles, Dorcas, and Daniel B. 
Newton died in July, 1895; Jacob and Josiah 
reside in Massachusetts, the latter in Boston; 
and Dorcas is the wife nf Da\icl Holt, ol 
I.yndeljoro, N.H. 

Andrew Linscott. Mr. Linscott's father, 
was born in Chesterville, August 10, 1810. 
In young manhood he went to Belfast, Me., 
where he worked at the ship carpenter's trade 
for a number, of years. Later he moved to 
Dixfield, and lived there se\-eral \'ears. He 
then settled upon a farm in Ja\', now owned 
by his son, Andrew J., and made it his home 
imtil his death, which happened A|iril 11, 
1863. Lie was a member of the Board of .Se- 
lectmen in Jay for a nmnber of years, served 
as County Commissioner for two years, and was 
a member of the legislature in 1857. His 
wife, Lucy, was liorn in Falmouth, Me., Sep- 
tember \2, 1810. Her father, Jonathan But- 
terfield, was born in Charlestown, Mas.s. , July 
-3' '773; 'Ticl her mother. Prudence (Free- 
man) Butterfield, was born in Boston, (nne 19, 
1 771. After their marriage they came to 
Maine, first settling in Lovell, where they re- 
sided until 1809; and then they moved to p'al- 
mouth.' Their last days were passed ujion the 
farm where their grandson, Andrew J. Lin- 
scott, now resides. The father died January 
21, 1863; and his wife, September 26, 1S55. 
Mrs. Andrew Linscott became the mother of 
si.\ children, namely: Lucy A., born Septem- 
ber 24, 1833, who married John N. P'oster, and 
died February 20, 1896; Mary C. , born July 
14, 1835, "'ho married Llarris Morse, and now 
resides upon a fruit farm in Tuttletowii, Cal. ; 
Phillii) F. , born February 12, 1838, who also 
resides in Tnttletown ; Daniel B. , born Se])- 
tember i, 1840, who died Ja]iuary 31, 1842; 
Andrew J., the subject of this .sketch; and 
Ellen A., born September 10, 1848, who died 
August 29, 1877. The mother is now eighty- 
six years old. 

Andrew J. Linscott attended the common 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



schools of his native town, and was reared to 
farm life. At the age of seventeen, owing to 
his father's death, he was obliged to take 
charge of the farm. With the exception of a 
year spent in Boston, employed as a street car 
conductor, he has constantly resided at the 
homestead. He now ciwns one hundred acres 
of excellent tillage land, which he devotes to 
general farming. He carries on a dairy, and 
raises hay and li\e stock; but his principal 
occupation is buying and shipping apples, in 
which he has served as the agent of a Boston 
house for the jjast twenty-five years. The 
extent of his business may be inferred from the 
fact that in one season he supplied the Boston 
market with twehe thousand barrels of apples. 
On April 13, 1870, Mv. Linscott was united 
in marriage to Hattie K. Miller, who was 
born in Wiltnn, Me., December 17, ICS4S, 
daughter of David and Abigail (Johnson) 
Miller, both now deceased. Mrs. Linscott's 
father was a prosperous farmer and a lifelong 
resident of Wilton. He served successively 
as Tax Collector and County Commissioner for 
some time, and was Selectman for nearly 
twenty years. His wife was a native of Harps- 
well, Me. Fannie A., the only child of Mr. 
and Mrs. Linscott, was born February 12, 
1S72, and is residing with her parents. Mr. 
Linscott takes an active interest in public 
affairs. lie has served with marked ability as 
a Selectman, and was Road Commissioner for 
three years. He always votes the Republican 
ticket. His jjortrait is presented witli this 
brief sketch of his life. 



'OB PRINCE, one of the early settlers of 
Buckfield, Me., where he located about 
1790, was born in Kingston, Mass., in 
1765, and died in 1831. He was a 
direct descendant of Fllder John Prince, of 
Hull, Mass., who had been a student at Ox- 
ford, but fled from the ])ersecution of Arch- 
bishop Laud in 1633. Job Prince was a Dea- 
con of the Baptist church, of which his wife, 
Hannah Bi'yant, was a member. He left nine 
children. 

Noah Prince, the fourth of these, was born 
in Buckfield, April 13, 1797, and lived on the 
old farm till 1865, when he removed to Buck- 



field village. He received only a common- 
school education, but was a man of unusual 
intelligence and force of character, and in re- 
ligion a Baptist. He was active in politics, 
and presided over the first convention held in 
Maine by the Republican party, of which he 
was always a stanch supporter. Besides hold- 
ing minor offices, he ser\cd as State Repre- 
sentati\'e and Senator, being President of the 
Senate in 1841. He died in Buckfield, Feb- 
ruary 14, 1872. By his wife, Sarah P'arrar, 
whom he married in 1826, he had six children 
— S. Louisa, Kimball N., Augusta M., Ar- 
delia H., Charles IL, and Mary R., <if whom 
all but the eldest are now- living. 

Kimball N. Prince was born in 1N2S. In 
1852 he went to New York City, where he was 
engaged in business for several years. In 
1 861 he entered the custom-house, filling im- 
portant jjositions, and while there undertook 
and perfected a system of accounts showing the 
liability of the collector of the port for duties 
on bonded merchandise. This had nex'er be- 
fore been thought practicable at so large a port 
as New York, where the balance of these 
accounts averages some tweiit\' million dollars 
every month. In 1889 he retired, and has 
since resided in Buckfield. Mr. Prince was 
married in 1854 to Miss Mary J. luiiery, who 
died in 1872, leaving one child, Leonard K., 
who is at the head of the Prince & Kinkel 
Iron Works of New York City. In 1874 he 
married Miss Sophie E. Dana, of New York. 
Both he and his wife are members of the I'res- 
byterian church. 

Charles H. Prince, who bears the title of 
Captain, having served with honor in the 
Twent)'-tlvird Maine Volunteers during the 
war, is engaged in manufacturing brushes in 
Buckfield, where he is Town Treasurer and 
superintendent of schools. While in the 
State of Georgia, where he lived for some 
time, he served as Congressman and Post- 
master of the city of Augusta, besides being 
a delegate to the Republican National Con\en- 
tions. Both he and his wife, FAUiice A. At- 
wood, are members of the Baptist church. 
They have had four children, of whom the 
surviving son, Henry C. Prince, is business 
manager of the Waterville Mail Publishing 
Company, of Waterville, Me. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



^i 



/^TkORGE BURNHAM, who is one of 
\ •) I the old and highly esteemed members 
of the farming community of Gilead, 
has been an active ])olitical worker for the in- 
terest of the town at the State capitol. He 
was born Febniar}- 2, 1S16, on the farm 
where he now lives, a son of P. P. and Mary 
(Adams) Hurnham. P. P. Burnham, who was 
born in Bridgton, Ale., was one of the first 
settlers in this town. lie reclaimed from the 
wilderness the farm now occupied by his son, 
and devoted the rest of his life to its cultiva- 
tion. His wife died in Gilead. Having suc- 
ceeded to the farm, George Burnham has spent 
his entire life on it. In his management of 
it he displayed good judgment and the right 
amount of energ\-, and in other directions 
he gave frequent evidence of much ability. 
Though he is too feeble now to take an active 
part in work of any kind, the memory of what 
he has done will live long after he is gone. 
Always a stanch Republican, he has served in 
nearly all the town offices, discharging his 
duties ably and honestly. In 1856 he repre- 
sented the district in the .State legislature. 
At Augusta, as well as in his native town, he 
won the respect of his associates, presiding 
as Chairman of important committees. It was 
mainly through his influence that the appropri- 
ation to build the suspension bridge across the 
Androscoggin at Gilead was granted. While 
not a member of any church, he has always 
contributed liberally to worthy enterprises. 

Mr. Burnham married Miss P'lora Burbank, 
daughter of James and Susan (Ingalls) Bur- 
bank. She was born in (iilead, October 23, 
1823, and is now seventy-three years of age. 
An intelligent and amiable lady, she is as 
charming now as in her youth, and is beloved 
by all who know her. Bearing the weight of 
her years lightly, she rules with graceful dig- 
nity over the kingdom of her household. She 
has borne her husband nine children, namelv: 
Mellen P., who served as a soldier in the late 
war, and died at the age of forty-eight; James 
v., who assists his mother in managing the 
farm; Perley P., a merchant in Bridgton, Me. ; 
Charles A., a newspaper man, residing in Ber- 
lin, N.H. ; Mary E., the wife of Charles Gil- 
bert, of Canton, Me. ; George I., a farmer, 
whose home adjoins that of his parents; Mar- 




tha M., a teacher at Hcikeley Temjjle, Boston; 
Stella F., who died at the age of twenty two; 
and Fannie R., who lived but four years. 
While -Mr. Burnham's home is a very pleasant 
one, it necessru'ily bears the distincti\e marks 
of old age, as the land was broken by his 
father over a century ago. 



IRAM A. CONANT, of Buckfield, 
Me., has more than one claim on ]nib- 

.9 I lie interest. He is a lineal de- 

scendant of Roger Conant, who in 
1624 was left in charge of the Colony at Cape 
Ann, Massachusetts, which afterwaril under his 
leadership moved to Naumkeag, now Salem. 
He is a veteran of the war, in which he re- 
ceived a painful wound ; and he is a member 
of the Conant Family Band, a most uni(.|ue 
musical organization. Mr. Conant was born 
in Turner, Androscoggin County, Me., I'"ebru- 
ary 21, 1S45, a son of Everett O. and Eurania 
(Turner) Conant. 

Everett O. Conant, who was born in Bridge- 
water, Mass., April 2, 1809, spent a great part 
of his active life in Turner, Me., where he was 
prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuit.s. 
He was a member of the Baptist church, and 
politically he favored the Republican party. 
His death occurred in Turner, December 27, 
1868. He was survived more than twenty 
years by his wife, Eurania, who was born in 
Eivermore, Me., January 25, 1813, and died 
in August, 1892. Eight children com])leted 
the household circle of Mr. and Mrs. l-;verett 
Conant, namely: Sanford I{. , now a farmer of 
Buckfield, Me. ; Howard T., a fanner of 
Turner; Hiram A., the subject of this sketch; 
Edwin \V. , a carriage manufacturer of Cin- 
cinnati; Martha J., wife of John A. WoUmer, 
of Cincinnati; .Sylvia A., who died in May, 
1870; Mar)', who died in October, 1879; and 
.Sarah L. , who died in January, 1S70. 

Hiram A. Conant was reared and educated 
in the town of Turner. He started to provide 
for himself at the age of eighteen; and just 
before his nineteenth birthday, February 16, 
1864, he enlisted, being mustered in as a 
member of Company D, Thirty-second Maine 
Regiment, under Captain William R: Ham, 
of Eewiston. In active service somewhat 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Dvcr a \ear, he took part in the engagements at 
Weldon Knilroad and at J'oplar Grove Farm, 
being wounded at the last named battle. He 
was hunoiably diseharged June 2, 1S65; and, 
returning to Turner, he engaged in farming, 
lumbering, aii<l retailing wood. His first land 
]3urchase was in Tui'ner, where he lived fifteen 
years and owned at one time one hundred 
acres, which he eventually sold, moving to his 
])resent farm in 1S80. He now owns two hun- 
dred acres in Buckfielil, and is one of the most 
extensive farmers in the locality, his principal 
products being fruit and hay. He also has a 
choice dairy, owning from twenty ti: twenty- 
five head of full-blooded and grade Jerseys. 

In 1S66 Mr. Conant was married to ]<"lora 
Adkins, of Turner, daughter of Martin and 
Abigail Adkins. This union has been blessed 
by fourteen chiklren, who are all living, 
namely: Albert A., born September 6, 1866; 
Everett I'-., born October 24, 1867; Ellen A., 
August 14, 1S69; Hiram \V. , May 5, 1871 ; 
Walter G., October 5, 1S72; John W., July 
21, 1874; George I., January 29, 1876; S_\-lvia 
L., December 6, 1878; Harry L., Tanuary 11, 
1880; Ida M., June 12, 1881; Charles' K, 
.September 9, 1883; Sarah L. , Januar\- 21, 
1886; Elorence G. , October 8, 1887; and 
Lena E., January 13, 1890. Mr. Conant and 
eight of his sons compose the Conant Family 
Band, which is well known in the State. The 
leader and cornet player, Charles, w-ho is now 
twelve years of age, took an active part when 
he was only nine years old. The entire family 
are musical. 

Mr. Conant votes with the. Republican jiarty. 
He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at 
Buckfield, and is Commander of Fessenden 
Post, No. 43, Grand Army of the Republic; 
and his entire family are members of Hebron 
Grange, No. 300, Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. 
and Mrs. Conant are communicants of the Bap- 
tist chuich at Turner. 




ENJAMIN ROSCOE KEYES, a 
carpenter and general farmer of 
Chesterville, was born in Grafton, 
O.xford County, January 8, 1848, 
son of Samson W. and Clarissa CButterfield) 
Kcycs. Wiien he was eight years old his 



father moved from Grafton to Woodstock, pur- 
chased seventy-five acres of land in the local- 
ity known as Hamlin Grant, and lived there 
for four years. The famil\- then went to 
Farmington, where the father had bought the 
Green farm, containing one hundred acres, 
situated on the line between Farmington and 
Wilton, in the northern section. F"our years 
later a third removal was made to Chester- 
ville, wdiere Samson W. Keyes had purchased 
the Lothrop farm of eighty acres, and where 
he still resides. 

Benjamin Roscoe Keyes obtained his educa- 
tion in the common schools of Grafton and at 
Wilton Academy. Upon reaching his majority 
he went to work in a tool factory at Fayette 
Mills, where he remained for three years. 
He then went to Brockton, Mass., and was en- 
gaged in carpentering with C. S. Johnson for 
the ne.xt two years. After spending another 
year in Cambridge and Somerville he returned 
to Chesterville, where, living at home, he con- 
tinued to follow his trade until 1880. He 
then bought his present farm of one hundred 
acres, formerly known as the Ricker place, 
where he has since resided, and successfully 
carried on general farming. 

On December 18, 1880, Mr. Keyes was 
united in marriage with Mary E. Hamilton, 
daughter of David M. and Matilda F. Hamil- 
ton. By this union there are two children, 
namely: Merle R., who was born July 12, 
1883: and Lester A., who was born April 26, 
1889. Mr. Keyes is active and energetic, both 
as a farmer and a carpenter. He is known 
throughout the county as a first-class mechanic. 




|ELLEN T. De SHON, a prosper- 
ous farmer and a well-known resi- 
dent of Peru, was born May i, 
1853, upon the farm he now owns 
and occupies, son of Charles V. and Janette 
L. (Mitchell) De Shon. The family is one of 
the oldest in Peru. Mr. De Shon's great- 
grandfather was one of its early settlers; and 
his grandfather, John De Shon, was a native 
and lifelong resident. John De Shon, who 
was an able farmer, did much toward develop- 
ing the agricultural resources of the locality, 
and lived to a ripe old age. 



RTOG RAPH T( ' AI. REV I E\V 



^5i 



Chark's F. Dc Shmi, also a native of Peru, 
became the owner of a good farm, containing 
one hundred and twenty-five acres, which he 
cultivated with energy and success. He was 
an influential man in the town, served with 
ability as a Selectman and in other offices, and 
dieil in 1892. Originally a Republican, he 
was itlentified with the ("ireenback party dur- 
ing its existence. His wife, Janette, who was 
a native of Ruckhekl, bore him nine children, 
six of whom are living; namely, Albert, Fiar- 
riet, Susan, Mellen T., Ida, Lillian, Matilda, 
Rosamond, and Mary. Ida married Albert B. 
Griffith, a prosperous farmer of this town. 
Mr. De Shon's mother still survives, and 
resides in Peru. 

Mellen T. De Shon was educatetl in the 
schools of Peru. He has always resided on 
the homestead. Succeeding to its possession 
after liis father's death, he has since con- 
ducted it with success. His buildings are 
well kept, and the fertility of his land enables 
him to raise large and superior crops. 

In 1876 Mr. De Shon first wedded Ada 
Marsh, who died in 1884, leaving two sons; 
namely, Wallace .S. and Ellis F. In 1890 he 
was united in marriage to his present wife, 
Mabel C. (Kidder) De Shon, a daughter of 
Philander Kidder, of Canton, Oxford County. 
Horn of this marriage were two daughters — 
Addie and Dot. Mr. De Shon is a Republi- 
can. He is highly respected by all who 
know him. Both he and Mrs. De Shon attend 
the Baptist church. The family residence 
occupies a delightful situation, overlooking 
the Androscoggin Ri\-er and surrounded by 
mountain scenery. 



WARREN BUTTERFIELD, who 
occupies a prominent place among the 
successful farmers of Wilton, Me., 
was born upon the farm which adjoins 
his present [jroperty, November 9, 1828, son 
of James and Dolly (Lyford) Butterfield. 

His grandfather, Isaac Butterfield, who 
served as a blacksmith and gunsmith in the 
Revolutionary War, removed from New Hamp- 
shire to Maine a few years after the declara- 
tion of peace, and bought a large tract of wild 
land in the town of Wilton. He cleared a 



portion of his purchase for tillage puiposes, 
and lived to reach a good old age. The 
maiden name of his wife was Ruth Fletcher. 

James Butterfield, son of Isaac, was born in 
Dunstable, now Nashua, N.H., March 17, 
1791, and serveti as a soldier in the War of 
1812. When a \outh he cleared a jiortion f)f 
the Gardner Chase farm, upon which lie 
erected a log house, and sowetl a crop of corn ; 
but his tlwelling and cnvw were bunu'(l, and he 
relinquished the further attempt to inii)rove 
that propert)-. lie then jiurchased of .Samson 
Keyes a farm of two hundred anil twenty acres 
which had been partially improved, and, hav- 
ing constructed a primitive dwelling, cleared 
more land for cultivation. He eventually be- 
came a well-to-do agriculturist, and erected a 
substantiaf set of buildings. His death look 
place here, October if), 1875. In p(ditics lie 
originally acted with the Whig party, but 
joined the Republican mo\ement at its forma- 
tion; and in his religious views he was a Uni- 
versalist. His wife, Dolly Lyford, who was 
born August 3, 1800, daughter of Nathaniel 
Lyford, became the mother of six children, 
namely: Samuel, born June 6, 1821, who died 
Octobers, 1842; Melinda, born PY'bruary 12, 
[824, who died August 12, 1825; Daniel, 
born January 7, 1825, who served as a private 
in Company C, Fifty-third Regiment, Massa- 
chusetts Volunteers, in the Civil War, and 
died at New Orleans, Januar\- 17. 1863; J. 
Warren, the subject of this sketch; I'"i-anklin, 
born August 25, 1829, and died (Jctober 25, 
1842; William Wallace Butterfield, a carpen- 
ter and millwright of Auburn, Me., who mar- 
ried April 4, 1S61, Melvina Wright, daughter 
of Reuben and Mary Wright, of North Jay, 
and has had three children, namely: Cora, 
born in October, 1862, who dietl in May, 
1863; Guy L., born October 18, 1863, now a 
millwright and saw-temperer of Auburn, Me., 
who married in August, 1894, ICthel Wagg; 
and Susan J., born in .September, 1865, who 
died in July, 1866. Mrs. Dolly Lyford 
Butterfield died December 2, 1884. She was 
a Baptist in her religious belief. 

J. Warren Butterfiekl was educated in the 
public schools of Wilton, and in young man- 
hood began to follow agricultural pursuits 
upon his own account. Settling upon a farm 



234 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ot one hundred and twenty acres, he made 
various improvements upon the land and 
buildings; but, after residing there for eight 
years, lie sold the property and bought the 
Carter farm of one hundred and twenty-five 
acres. Including a part of the farm formerly 
owned bv his grandfather, he now has two 
hundred and seventy-five acres. This prop- 
erty has steadily enhanced in value since 
coming into his possession, and its thrifty 
appearance shows the result of energetic and 
progressive management. He has transformed 
the roughly cleared land into cultivated fields, 
has erected a new barn, remodelled the house, 
has set out an orchard containing twenty-five 
hundred grafted trees, and with the assistance 
of his son has constructed a mile of smooth 
roadway in order to avoid driving over a long 
hill. He keeps a herd of twelve standard- 
bred cattle and a flock of sheep, and his crops 
of fruit and general farm products are always 
large and of the very best Cjuality. 

On June 2(S, 1855, Mr. Butterfield wedded 
Huldah B. Sears, who was born in Sackville, 
N.B., November 18, 1S35, daughter of Jere- 
miah and Mary (McFee) Sears. Mrs. Butter- 
field's father, who was a native of New York 
State, in early manhood settled in the Prov- 
ince of New Brunswick, where he became a 
prosperous farmer. He lived to be eighty- 
nine years old, and his wife died at the age of 
seventy-eight, having been the mother of eight 
children, namely: Huldah 1^., who is now 
Mrs. Butterfield; Cynthia J.: Abbie; Esther; 
Mary and Martha, twins; John; and Di.\on. 
^Ir. and Mrs. Butterfield have had si.x chil- 
dren, as follows: George Franklin, who was 
Ijorn March 24, 1857, and is now engaged in 
farming; I. Imogene, wlio was born June 14, 
1859, married Alonzo Huntington, of Canton 
Point, a blacksmith, and has four children — 
namely, Earl, James (who is no longer liv- 
ing), Blanche, and Fred \V. ; Siuirgeon \V., 
a carpenter and millwright, who was born 
June 10, 1 86 1, married Mary Goodwin, and 
has one son, Ralph W., born May 22, 1894: 
.M. R. Delia, who was born March 31, 1863, 
graduated from Farmington State Normal 
School, class of 1890, and died October 12, 
1S92; Carl R., who was born January 18, 
1S72, and is now a teacher and also engaged 



in agricultural pursuits; and James L. , who 
was born P\'iiruary 7, 1876, and died October 
23, 1876. 

Mr. Butterfield is Past Master of Franklin 
Grange, as is also his son, George F". ; and is 
connected with the Williamson Lodge, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, as are also his 
sons, George F., S. VV., and Carl R. He sup- 
ports the Republican party in politics, and his 
three sons are also Republicans. Both he and 
Mrs. Butterfield are members of the Baptist 
church. 



KREMONT S. VINING, a successful 
business man and an old resident of 
Phillips, is the senior member of the 
firm of Vining Brothers, retail dealers in 
meat, provision, and groceries in that place. 
He was born June i8, 1855, son of Seward P. 
and Martha C. (Thomas) Vining, natives re- 
spectively of Durham and Strong, Me. 

Benjamin Vining, his grandfather, who was 
an enterprising farmer of Durham, did the 
probate business of the town, and was often 
intrusted with the settlement of estates. In 
politics he was a Whig, and he lived to be 
about threescore years old. Of his fourteen 
children, Hiram Vining, of Weld, Me., is the 
onh' one living. Seward P. Vining was en- 
gaged in farming from his youth. His wife, 
Martha C, bore him twelve children, of whom 
ten are living. These are: Hattie K., the 
widow of Mark Harding, of Melrose, Mass. : 
Henry C, who resides in Haverhill, Mass.; 
Hannibal H., in Phillips; Albion M., in 
Manchester, N.H.; Ephraim B., in Strong, 
Me.; Martha J., the widow of K. K. Sawyer, 
of Phillips; Nelson E., also a resident of 
Phillips: Addie S., the wife of John Mc- 
Knight, of Boston, Mass.; 'Allie H., the wife 
of George O. Osgood, of Waltham, Mass. : 
and Fremont S., the subject of this sketch. 
The father died February 4, 1893, aged 
eighty-nine years. 

Fremont S. Vining obtained a good educa- 
tion in the common schools of Phillips and at 
Milton Academy. He taught school in the 
winter for five years after, while he spent the 
summers employed in the express business. 
Then entering the meat and provision trade, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



23s 



he has since conducted the store ul the I'liillips 
Meat and Grocery Company, which now eni- 
]iIoy three teams in delivery of their goods. 

On June 25, 1888, Mr. Vining married 
Ada F. Wilhird, a daughter of H. L. Wiliard, 
of Acton, .Mass. In politics Mr. Vining is a 
Republican. He served three years as Super- 
visor of Schools in Avon. 




ACA;/ILLIAM H. TRASK, a prosperous 
agriculturist of Peru, was l^orn June 
23, 1840, on the place where he 
now resides, son of Leonard and Eunice 
(Knight) Trask, natives respectively of LLirt- 
ford, Me., and Peru. Osmond Trask, his 
grandfather, was one of the first settlers in 
Hartford, where he died at an advanced age. 
About the year 1830 Leonard, a son of Os- 
mond, came to Peru, and settled on the farm 
now owned by William H. Trask. It was 
then principally wild land, but he cleared and 
improved a large part of it. His death oc- 



curred here on April 



1 86 1. His wife. 



Eunice, after surviving him over thirty years, 
died December 10, 1893. In religious faith 
he was a LTnivcrsalist, and in politics a Re- 
jjublican. Of his seven children, three are 
living, namely: William H., the subject of 
this sketch; Catherine li., the wife of Will- 
iam Ouimby, living in North Turner, Me. ; 
and Albion K. P. Trask, a resident of Peru. 
The others were: Susan H., Orville K., 
-Sarah 1-;., and Fanny H. 

During his early years William H. Trask 
attended the common schools of Peru. -Since 
that time he has given his attention to general 
farming. For some time he has owned the 
homestead farm, which contains about two 
hundred and forty acres of land, one of the 
largest estates in this district. Besides rais- 
ing the usual New England crops he rears 
some stock, and keeps a dairy of choice cows. 
In September, 1861, Mr. Trask enlisted in 
Company H, Tenth Regiment, Maine Volun- 
teer Infantry, under Captain C. -S. Emerson, 
of Auburn, Me., for service in the Civil War. 
He was in the battle of Cedar Mountain, 
August 9, 1862, in which the L^nion men 
were victorious. A wound received at Cedar 
Mountain disabled him for further service, 



and in 1863 he was lu)n()ral:)lv dischargeil. 
He is now an esteemed comrade of Hodge 
Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Canton, 
Me. In politics he is a Republican, and has 
served on the Republican Town Committee. 
On March 6, 1882, Mr. Trask married Miss 
Flora E. Philbrick, who was born Ajiril 28, 
1852, in Ro.\bury, O.xford County, daughter 
of Charles H. and Mary K. (Fo.x) Philbrick, 
both also natives of Roxbury. Mr. Philbrick 
is one of the leading farmers of that town. 
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Trask are: 
Charles P., born in Peru, December 11, 
1882; and Bert L., born here November 13, 
1884. In religious faith Mr. Trask is a 
Universal ist, and his wife is a member of 
the P'ree Will Baptist church. Their home 
is very pleasantly located in the midst of 
beautiful lake and mountain scenerv. 




ILTON H. MERRIAM, a prosper- 
ous and progressive agriculturist of 
Norway township, was born Jan- 
uai)- 25, 1840, on the Merriam 
homestead, which he now owns and occupies, 
son of -Silas Merriam, Ji-. , and Mar)' (Coburn) 
Merriam. His grandfather, Silas Merriam, 
came to Norwa\- from Massachusetts in 1793. 
Silas Merriam was born July 3, 1769, in the 
town of Middleton, Mass., where he lived until 
his departure for Norway. Here he purchased 
a tract of heavily timbered land, from which 
he cleared and improved the homestead farm, 
and was afterward ens,ased in mixed husbaiichv 
until his death, which occurred August 14, 
1 S44. His wife, in maidenhood Hannah 
LJjjton, was born in Massachusetts, Jul)- 15, 
1779, and died in Norway, March 18, 1835. 
They had four children, namely: .Silas, Jr., 
born January 10, 1800, the father of Milton 
H. ; Andrew, born September 30, 1802, who 
died February 17, 1824; Amos, born February 
13, 1807, who married Jane Wentworth, of 
Greenwood township, now deceased, and died 
in 1883; and Noah, born November 21, 1810, 
who went to California many years ago, and 
has not since been heard from. 

Silas Merriam, Jr., who was ushered into 
the world on the Merriam homestead, inherited 
the paternal acres, and was there engaged in 



'-3^> 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



gcncial farming throughout his life. He mar- 
ried Mary Coburn, who was jjorii in Green- 
wood townsliip, August 8, 1814. They had 
seven children, as follows: Andrew M., born 
May 14, 1S36, who died May 5, 1891 ; Olive 
S., liorn July 24, 1837, now the widow of the 
late John H. Hobbs, of Norway; Frederick 
R., born July 26, 1838, who now lives in the 
West; Milton H., the subject of this sketch; 
Alma E. , born January 22, 1842, who married 
Augustus Morton, of Freedom, N. H., and died 
June 30, 1873, leaving one child, Delia A., 
now residing in Norway village ; Granville R. , 
born March 21, 1843, who died I-'ebruary 11, 
1844; and Lawson L. R., born January 11, 
1849, now engaged in the produce and butcher- 
ing business in the village of Norway. 
Neither of the parents is now living, the father 
having died June 14, 1875, and the mother 
April 21, 1881. 

Milton M. ^^erriam was educated in his 
native town, attending the district schools and 
the village academy. After teaching school 
for several terms, he forsook that occujiation 
for farming. After the death of his parents he 
bought the interests in the homestead of the 
other heirs, and has since conducted it success- 
fully. The property contains two hundred 
acres of land. Me carries on general farming 
and dairying after the most approved methods. 
Mr. .Merriam affiliates with the Republican 
p. Illy ; and, while not ambitious of oflRcial dis- 
tinction, he has served the town in some of its 
minor ofificcs. He is a member of the grange 
at Norway village, and of the Golden Cross 
Lodge, Norwa\' Commander)'. Mrs. Merriam 
is a member of the Methodist E]iiscopal 
church. 

On January 16, 1894, Mr. Merriam was 
married to .Mrs. Lucelia A. (Andrews) Cum- 
mings, who was born in Woodstock, this 
county, January 21, 1848. Her jxarents, Jon- 
atlian and Lamelia (Durdiam) Andrew^s, re- 
s()cctively natives of Paris and Woodstock, are 
farming jieople, and reside on their homestead 
in I'aris. IVTrs. Merriam's first husband was 
iJaniel L. Cummings, who died March 23, 
1880, le.iving her with one cliild, Fthelyn 
A., who was born August 14, 1879. She 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
chinch. 




ILA.S IL NILE.S, a well-known 
merchant, farmer, and cattle dealer 
of Jay, and a member of the Maine 
legislature, was born here January 
15, 1845, "son of Varanes and Mehitable (Har- 
ris) Niles. Mr. Niles's grandfather, Jacob 
Niles, was a lifelong resident of Randolph, 
Mass. Grandmother Niles, after Jacob's 
death, married Nathaniel Jackson, of luiston, 
Mass., and came to reside in Jay in iSio. 

Varanes Niles was born in Randolph, De- 
cember 8, 1802. He accompanied his mother 
to Jay, and resided for the rest of his life upon 
the farm now owned by his children. 15esides 
carrying on the farm he dealt quite exten- 
sively in live stock and real estate. He died 
May' 18, 1878. His first wife, Mehitable, 
who was born in Greene, Me., September 10, 
1803, had nine children, as follows: Eunice 
A., who died October 31, 1895; Sullivan, who 
is a member of the firm of Niles Brothers, pork 
packers of ]^oston ; Harriet, who is now the 
widow of O. G. Kyes, and resides in North 
Jay; J. Harris, a member of the firm of Niles 
Brothers; Louville, who is with his brothers 
in Boston; ]{liza M., who resides at the home- 
stead; Silas H. (first), who died at the age of 
two years; Silas H. (second), the subject of this 
sketch; and luigene M., who is now a wliole- 
.sale and retail beef dealer at 27 l'"aneuil Hall 
Market, Boston. Mr. Niles's mother died July 
8, 1893, at the advanced age of ninety years. 

Silas H. Niles accpiired his education in the 
common schools of Jav, and the academies in 
Wilton antl Livcrmore, and the Edward Little 
Institute at Auburn. After leaving school he 
engaged in agriculture upon the homestead 
farm, where he has always resided. In 1868 
he entered a mercantile business at North Jay, 
as a member of the firm of Leiand & Niles. 
Five years later he bought his partner's inter- 
est in the store, which he has since conducted 
alone. He also does a large business as a 
buyer and shipper of fruit and cattle, which he 
markets in Boston. ( )n his farm of three hun- 
dred acres, which he has greatly improved, in 
addition to the usual crops he raises some ex- 
cellent stock. He is also a dealer in real 
estate, owning some valuable property in the 
neighboring towns. All his business interests 
are in a most fiourishing condition. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



In |)olitics he is an active .sn])pi)iter (it the 
Republican party. Although averse to public 
office for lack of time to attend to its duties, 
he was prevailed upon to accept nomination for 
Kepresentati\'e to the legislature in ICS94, and 
was elected. Mr. Niles is unmarried. He 
and his sister, Miss Kliza M. Niles, continue 
to occupy the homestead. Both attend the 
L'niversalist church, in the work of whicii he 
takes an active interest. 




IIJJAAI 11. WllITCOAIB, of Nor- 
way, former!}' a merchant and real 
estate dealer, now retired, is a 
native of Ik^thel, Me. He was born April 24, 
1840, son of William A. and Mary A. (Har- 
ris) VVhitcomb. His grandfather, Abraham 
Whitcomb, who was born in Massachusetts in 
the year 1765, came from Harvard, in that 
.State, to West VVaterford, Me., and there took 
up a tract of 'wild land, which he cleared and 
converted into a productive farm. Abraham 
Whitcomb married Miss Sally Atherton, by 
whom he had fi\'e sons and three daughters; 
namely, Abraham, Isaac, Calvin, Polly, Sarah, 
Joel, \Villiam A., and Betsey. 

William A. Whitcomb, the seventh child and 
youngest son of his parents, was born in 18 16. 
His wife, Mary, was the only daughter of Caji- 
tain John Harris, of Bethel, formerly of \Vest- 
brook. Me. After his marriage he settled in 
Bethel, inuxhasing Hotel Bethel, at Bethel 
Hill, which he conducted until his death, at 
the age of twenty-seven years, a victim of con- 
sumption. He was survixed bv his wife and 
an only son, William Henry Whitcondj. In 
1S58 Willow Whitcomb was married to William 
Krost, a merchant and enterjirising business 
man of Norway, and the father of two children. 
These children found in her a loving mother, 
and in their father a wise counsellor. Mr. 
Frost was one of the founders of the Norway 
National Bank and later the President. In his 
own business, being careful and conservative, 
he acquired a comfortable fortune. Two chil- 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Frost, but 
both died in childhood. She was si.xty-si.\ 
years old when she died, on March 14, 1882. 
William Henry Whitcomb, who was thir- 
teen vears old when he came with his mother 



to Norway, comjdeted in the schools of this 
town the education begun in Ikthel. On ar- 
riving at maidiood he, in com]xiny with Will- 
iam Frost, under the firm name of Whitcond) 
& Frost, started a small general store, which 
subsequently became one of the largest in the 
town. Upon Mr. h'rost's retirement fiom 
business Mr. Whitcondj took as a inntnei- 
I'". S. O.Miard. .Some years later he purchased 
Mr. (Jxnard's interest ami took in Thomas 
Smiley. Subsequently he disposed of his in- 
terest to his partner, and retired from mei- 
cantile life. His handsome residence, j. 
Main Street, was built Ijy Mr. Witherell, and 
with nearly all its contents was consumed in 
the destructive fire of i8c;3. On that occasion 
also he lost two stores and a tenement-house. 
He still, owns two single and two double 
houses. I'"ew, if an\-, have taken greater pride 
than he in the [jrogress of the town of Norway. 
He was active in the promotion and establish- 
ment of the Norway Water Works, in which he 
owns an interest; and he has held the office of 
President since the organization of the com- 
pany in 1887. He was also the largest stock- 
hcdder and the chief promoter in the enterprise 
of erecting the ( Jijera House Block. His in- 
vestments have not been confinetl to Norwa}', 
but i)rojects calculated to advance the town 
have always had the preference. 

In 1861 Mr. Whitcomb was married to Miss 
Ivah T. Hatch, a daughter of John and pjiima 
(Blowers) Hatch. Her father was born in 
New Gloucester, Me., whence in 1855 he came 
to Norway, and soon took his place among 
its most enterprising and [)rogressive fani)- 
ers. Mrs. Whitcomb, who was born ^August 
18, 1842, died September I, 18^5. She left 
one daughter, Lsabella, boiu July i~ , 1866, 
now residing with her father. Her son, Henry 
]•:., born June 24, 1S62, lived but a few 
months; and another daughter, Mary IC. , born 
October 5, 1864, died September 24, 1865. 
In politics Mr. Whitcomb has always been 
a stanch Democrat. A Republican district 
elected him in 1875 to the lower house of 
the State legislature. He has served the town 
as Selectman and Assessor for a number of 
years. He is a member of Oxford Lodge, 
No. 18, A. F. & A. M. ; of Mount Vernon 
Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Portland; of 



238 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



I'ortlaiiil ('(iminaiKlur)', Knights Templars; a 
charter member of Norway Lodge, No. 16; 
and belongs to VVildey Encampment, Inde- 
].)endcnt Ordei' of Odd l-"ello\vs. 



(s^YOSKTH E. CONANT, a prosperous and 
respected farmer of Peru, was born 
October 13, iS'47, on the farm that is 
still his home, son of Daniel L. and 
Mary A. (l-'rench) Conant. Joseph Conant, 
his paternal grandfather, came to Peru when 
the town had but few settlers, and here spent 
the remainder of his life, successfully engaged 
in general farming. He married Miss Lucinda 
Turf, by whom he became the father of nine 
children, six sons and three daughters, all of 
whom reached maturity. He died at the age 
of sixty-five years, and she at ninety-one. 

Daniel I,. Conant, who was a native of 
JSowdoinham, Me., born Se]5tember 25, 1807, 
spent his life on his farm. On coming of age 
he purchased it, paying the balance left due 
with his earnings from working out by the 
month on neighboring farms. A thorough 
farmer, he took jiride in his well-tilled fields. 
In religion he was a Universalist, and in ]ioli- 
tics a Republican. He died on July i, i8<S3, 
aged seventy-six years. On May 31, 1840, 
he married Mary A. P'rench, who was born 
A]iril 10, 181S, in Windham, Me. By her he 
became the father of four children, namely: 
Harriett A., born March 31, 1S41, who died 
April 17, 1869; Olive M., born January 25, 
1843, who is the wife of Hiram 1{. Stillman, 
of Peru; Josepli K. , the subject of this sketch; 
and William H., born June 6, 1849, who mar- 
ried (ieorgia Oldham, and is a tinsmith at 
Rumford l'"alls. The mother resides with her 
son, Joseph ¥.. 

After com|jleting his education, which was 
acquired in the schools of Peru, Joseph E. 
Conant followed the calling of teacher. He 
has since been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. To-day he is the- owner of the home- 
stead farm, which he has increased to two 
hundred and seventeen acres. He carries on 
general farming and dairying with profit, keep- 
ing eleven high-grade Jersey cows. In relig- 
ious belief he is a Universalist, in political 
affiliation a Republican. 



On June 18, 1871, Mr. Conant married Miss 
P^mma J. Shea, who was born in Rath, Me., 
-September 6, 1853. Her parent.s, Nathan and 
.Susan Shea, now deceased, both attained the 
age of seventy-four years. Her father was 
a seafarer in early life, but his last years 
were spent in farming. Of his ten children, 
three are living. Mr. and Mrs. Conant have 
three children, namely: George H., born Jan- 
uary 13, 1874; Daniel H., born January 26, 
1879; and Daisy M., born July 30, 1890. All 
are living at home. 



AMES W. BUTTERFIELD, of Phil- 
lips, a Trial Justice of P'ranklin 
County for the past twenty-one year.'i 
and the Treasurer for some time of the 
Phillips Savings Bank, was born here, Novem- 
ber 7, 1828, son of Otis and Lovicy (Whitney) 
Butterfield. 'Phe Butterfield family is of Eng- 
lish origin. Mr. Butterfield's grandfatlier, 
Jesse Butterfield, a native oi Tyngsboro, 
Mass., and a farmer, joined the Continental 
army at the beginning of the Revolution, and 
served until after the surrender of Cornwallis 
at Yorktown, participating in the battle of 
Bunker Hill and being present at the surrender 
of I^urgoyne. In religious belief Jesse Butter- 
field was a Universalist. He died at F"arming- 
ton. Me., at the advanced age of ninety-three. 
Otis Butterfield," who was born in Farming- 
ton and there grew to maturity, came to Phil- 
lips in early manhood, and engaged in farming 
and worked at brick masonry. A member of 
the Democratic part), he was elected to a num- 
ber of offices, including those of Selectn)an, 
Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor. He was 
a member of the Free Will Bajitist church ; and 
he died October 26, 1874, aged seventy-foiu" 
years. His wife, a native of F"reeport, Me., 
to whom he was married in the town of Free- 
man, bore him five children. Of these, three 
are living — Cordelia L., Plenry M., and 
James W., all residents of Phillijjs. Of the 
others, Hiram, born September 28, 1S26, a 
man of strong character and jjleasing manners, 
was a public school teacher in Bangor for a 
number of years. He was prominent in Ma- 
sonic circles, and was Master of Blue Moun- 
tain Lodge, No. 67, of Phillips. At the time 



BIOGRAI'llICAL REVIEW 



V) 



of his death, wliich occurred in his thirt)-iiiiith 
year, he was Chairman of the ]-!oard of Select- 
men of this town. 

James W. Hutterfield was educated in his 
native town, finishing his studies at the high 
school. l''or twentv years after he left school 
he was engaged in agriculture in this town. 
He then abandoned that occupation in order to 
give mure attention to his other interests and 
to his public duties. lie has been for tweh'e 
years a member of the Board of Trustees of the 
l'hilli|)s Savings Bank, was the President in 
iS,S6 and 1887, and has been Treasurer since 
Se]itember, 1895. He was also a Director of 
the Union National Bank of this place for 
three years, and for the [last three years he has 
been Treasurer of the Phillips Village Corpora- 
tion. An esteemed member of the Republican 
party, he has held the office of Town Treasurer 
for eleven years; and he served as a member of 
the Maine Board of Agricidture in 18S3, 1884, 
and 1S85. 

Mr. Butterfield was married May 19, 1862, to 
Miss Mary Wright, daughter of Josiah Wright, 
of Phillips. Of the children that came of 
the union, a daughter, Eva L. , is living. She 
is the wife of Piildreth S. Staples, of Di.xfield, 
Me. Mr. Butterfield and his family attend the 
Free Will Baptist church. 




RLANDO H^ISH, the proprietor of a 
general store in Hartford, where he 
has conducted a successful business 
for many years, was born in this town, 
June 22, 1836, son of Edmund and Nancy 
(Ricker) Irish. Grandfather Tobias Ricker 
was a soldier in the Revolution, serving in 
Washington's body-guard. Edmund Irish, 
Sr. , the paternal grandfather, and a native of 
Gorham, Me., was one of the very first settlers 
in this town. He spent the remainder of his 
days here, engaged in farming and clearing his 
land. During the War of 181 2 he was in ac- 
tive service. When he died he was eighty- 
seven years of age. Bertha (Keen) Irish, his 
wife, lived to be eighty-one years old. They 
were the parents of five children. 

Edmund Irish, who was a native of Hart- 
ford, spent his life chiefly occupied in farm- 
ing. Respected for the success with which 



he managed his own affairs, his o|)inion was 
often sought in matters pertaining to the wel- 
fare of his town, and his services were availed 
of in the capacities of Selectman and Treasurer. 
In the old State militia he was a drummer, and 
served in the Aroostook War. He was a Uni- 
versalist in religious belief, and in politics he 
affiliated with the Republicans. He died in 
Hartford, eighty-seven years of age. His 
wife, Nancy, a native of Buckfield, Me., died 
at fifty-five. Of their five children Mary 
Ann, who was the wife of A. P. Bonnev, of 
Buckfield, died in i860, leaving three chil- 
dren. The others are: Melissa B. , the wife 
of George Wells, of South Weymouth, Mass. ; 
James Irish, residing in Hartford: Decatur 
Irish, on the old homestead in Hartford: and 
Orlando, the subject of this sketch. 

Orlando Irish spent his boyhood in his na- 
tive town, receixing his education in the com- 
mon schools. At nineteen he went to South 
P'ramingham, Mass., where he learned the 
trade of a hattei", and was in the employ of 
George Richardson & Brother thirteen yeai's. 
He then returned to Plartford, and in 1888, 
with his brother James, opened a general 
store, which, excluding an interval of three 
years, has been profitably conducted since. 
The stock comprises an excellent assortment 
of goods, which are sold at very reasonable 
prices. 

On h'ebruary 4, 1865, Mr. Irish was joined 
in marriage with Lizzie H. I'orbes, wdio was 
born in Buckfield, daughter of Jonah P'orbes. 
Two st)ns have been born to them, namely: 
lulgar C. Irish, who marrieil Lena M. Rob- 
bins, and is now a lumberman in Hartford; 
and Leon O. Irish, li\'ing at home. Mr. 
Irish is an adherent of the Republican party. 
He and Mrs. Irish are Universalists; and he 
is a member of Whitney Lodge, No. 167, 
A. E. & A. M.; also of the order of Good 
Templars. 



■^ATHANIEL HARDING, a well-known 
and prosperous resident of New 
Is V Sharon, Me., was born here on the 

29th of November, 1828, the son of 
Nehemiah and Abigail (Ames) Harding. He 
bears the name of his earliest ancestor in this 



240 



I5IOGKAPH1CAL REVIEW 



country, Xathanicl Harding, first, who came 
from England at an uncertain date, and settled 
in Massachusetts. 

ICphraim Harding, son of Nathaniel, first, 
was the father of Nathaniel, second, who was 
in the transport service tluring the Revolu- 
tionary War, and who came to New Sharon 
from Cape Cod in 1788, at the age of thirty- 
two years. W'ith him he brought his wife, 
Hannah, daughter of Lemuel Newcomb, of 
Wellfleet, Mass., and three children. His 
princi])al reason for migrating was to keep his 
sons from desiring to go to sea. They trav- 
elled by schooner to Hallowell, and from that 
point journeyed on foot to New Sharon, carry- 
ing what they could bring on their backs. 
Upon arriving at New Sharon they made their 
temporary home with Deacon Howes for the 
period of one year, Mr. Harding acquiring 
one hundred acres of wild land, which he 
cleared and built iqion during this time. His 
first house was a log cabin : but later he built 
a better house a little farther up the road, 
where the family lived, and where Mr. Hard- 
ing carried on general farming and worked at 
the trade of a cooper. He was a man of prom- 
inence among his fellow-citizens, and held 
several minor town offices. The date of his 
death was October 6, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. 
Nathaniel Harding, second, were the parents of 
nine children — Jemima, Richard, and Eliza- 
beth, all born in Truro, Cape Cod; Hannah; 
I'luebe: luinice, deceased; Nathaniel, Jr.; 
Nehemiah; and Eunice, second. 

Nehemiah Harding, who appears to have 
been the youngest son of his parents, was edu- 
cated at the district schools of his native town 
and at the l-'armington Academy. He com- 
menced teaching school as soon as he had 
completed his educational course and while 
he was yet in his teens, teaching quite a num- 
ber of terms until he was twenty-one, when he 
succeeded to the homestead, and took care of 
his parents for the rest of their lives. He 
married Abigail, the daughter of Noyes Ames, 
of Mercer. She was liorn in 1803, and died 
.September 29, 1872, at the age of si.\ty-nine 
years. Her husband died one year before she 
did, on December 30, 1871, at the age of 
seventy-five, he having been born in 1796. 
They were the parents of seven children. 



namely: Nathaniel, of whose life and ancestry 
this is a slight sketch; Hannah: Mary R. ; 
Phoebe A.; John L. ; Benjamin A. A.: and 
Caroline E. 

Nathaniel Harding, the first-born of the 
seven, obtained his education in the common 
schools of his native town of New Sharon, and 
at the age of sixteen went to Hallowell to 
work in a carpet factory, where he remained 
for four years, his first wages being only ten 
dollars a month. Coming back to New Sharon 
after this experience, he learned the trade of 
shoemaking, at which he worked for two years 
in this town, three years in Stark, and two 
years in Norridgewock. On his return 'to 
New Sharon after these last five years of 
absence, he bought out the shoe factory of 
John Trask, where he has carried on the man- 
ufacturing business ever since. 

When he first started in this business .Mr. 
Harding employed twelve hands. He was 
burned out in 1858, and went into the general 
merchandise business with George I'erkins in 
a store owned by Mr. Perkins. Here he car- 
ried on business for two years, until he could 
make good the losses he sustained by the fire. 
In 1862, however, after divitling the business 
profits with Mr. Perkins, he rebuilt his factory 
on the same old foundations, and employed 
fifteen hands. In 1886 he again enlargeil his 
factory by one-half, and took in David J. 
Jordan as his partner. He now employs 
thirty-five workmen. Mr. Harding built in 
1890 a large three-story building, which he 
rented to George H. Brown, a prominent coat 
manufacturer of New .Sharon, who still does 
business here. 

Mr. Harding never did confine his efforts to 
his shoe manufacturing alone, but has always 
been active in one or more different branches 
of business. During the year 1862 he was 
associated with Mr. Morrill in the general 
merchandise trade; and later he was with 
W. W. Norcross in the same business for a 
period of five years. 

He is known as one of the most progressive 
and energetic men in this jjart of the State, as 
well in the interests of his town and his 
fellow-citizens as in his own. 

At one time, in order to have plenty of 
water-power to run his factory with, he bought 




y . 




GEORGE W. CARROLL. 



BIOGRAI'llKA]. REVIEW 



243 



the Heard & Dyer mill, whieli he now rents 
out as a shingle-mill, retaining all his rights 
over the use of the water-power for purposes 
of manufacturing. He owns the finest river 
farm in this section of the State, and has re- 
paired the old and built improved new build- 
ings upon it, making it a beautiful as well as 
.1 lucrative country place. His step-son, John 
C'hilds, now resides on the farm. Mr. Hard- 
ing also owns the old homestead of his father, 
where he has set out an orchard of one thou- 
sand fine young grafted fruit-trees. He is 
likewise a large owner of real estate in Port- 
land, Me., where lie made his first purchase in 
1885, buying the double tenement-house at 
155 Congress Street. Later he bought three 
houses on Howard Street, also three houses on 
Congress Street; and close to the last house. 
No. 81, he owns a fine lot, where he is now 
building a large three-story tenement-house. 
Besides this amount of real estate in Portland, 
he owns quite a little more in connection with 
his partner, Mr. Jordan. 

Mr. Harding was married on the i8th of 
November, 1856, to Mrs. Naomi S. Childs, 
the widow of J. H. Childs, of New Norridge- 
wock — who died at the age of twenty-seven 
— and the daughter of William and Abigail 
(VVaugh) Hilton, of Anson. Her father was 
engaged in the meat business; and he served 
as Sheriff and also as Selectman, being one of 
the best known and most liked residents of 
the place. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton were the 
l)arents of ten children — Jonas; Kethsheba; 
Alden; Anson: Samantha .S. ; Calvin; James 
W. ; Lucy A.; Naomi S., now Mrs. Harding; 
and Sarah. Mr. Hilton died in 1S41 at the 
age of sixty-four. His wife died in 1862, at 
the age of seventy-seven. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harding have had one child, 
Lila I\L, who was born on the 2rst of Febru- 
ary, 1862, and who died in 1875. Mi's- Hard- 
ing has a son, John Child.s, born of her first 
marriage, who is one of the most prominent 
young men in the town. Notwithstanding 
Mr. Harding's wealth and his high social po- 
sition, he is a very modest man. He does 
not go into politics, and belongs to only 
one fraternal organization, being a member 
of Somerset Lodge, Royal Arch Masons, at 
Skowhegan, Me. 



/3)K()R(;h; \V. CARROLL, M.])., nf 
V ST Hrownfield, Me., though one of the 
youngest physicians in the locality, 
has already attained prominence, and added to 
the lustre of his alma iiia/ir, the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons in Hoston, Mass. 
Hc-' was born on Prince hldward Island. April 
7, 1 866, and is a son of Jnim and Christie 
(Cousins) Carroll, both of that place. John 
Carroll is in active business as a builder and 
carriage-maker. He and his wife have been 
blessed with a family of seven children, five 
of whom are now living, all well educated. 
They are: William, a carpenter residing in 
Portland, who married a Miss Brundige; 
Zena, wife of Arthur McDonald, of I'rince 
Kdward Island; George W., the subject of 
this sketch ;' John, a brakeman on the railroad; 
Ida, who is with her parents; Peter, the sixth 
child, died at the age of sixteen; and Minnie, 
the seventh, died at the age of seventeen. 

George W. Carroll left home at the age of 
fifteen, and went to live with an aunt in I'orl- 
land. Me. While there he worked in a (hug 
store for some time, and also studied medicine 
for two years: and he subsequently spent two 
years in Boston engaged as clerk in a drug 
store, and also employed in a hospital. In 
this way he became familiar with the character 
and use of drugs and medicines and the aspects 
of disease; and when he entered the College 
of I'hysicians and .Surgeons he had n valuable 
store of practical knowledge, which materially 
aided him in pursuing the college curriculum. 
Receiving his diploma on December 31, 1895. 
he soon had a large and lucrative practice, his 
success being something unusual. Dr. Carroll 
first located at Bryant's I'ond, Oxford County, 
and in 1895 purchased the home in 1-irown- 
field which he now occupies. He has a ri'- 
markably large practice in Brownfield and 
vicinity, and also carries a line of drugs and 
medicines. 

Dr. Carroll was married January 16, 1S94, 
to Miss Dollie Frost, of Bryant's Pond, 
daughter of Samuel and Alvira (Gallison) 
P^rost. Mr. P'rost, who is a veteran of the 
late war, has been for years engaged in farm- 
ing, and is now retired. Dr. Carroll is a 
stanch Republican in politics. He has an at- 
tractive personality, and has made many 



;44 



BIOGRAI'HRAI, REVIKW 



fiicntls ill this section. Mrs. Carroll is a 
member of tlie L^niversalist Church at Bryant's 
Toncl. 



'^ClLB^RIOri]-: G. WHKELKR, the owner 
1^ of a fine farm in the town of Bethel, 
""^^ I I "^ was born here, July 8, 1825, son of 
Joseph and Olive (Gat^e) Wheeler. Joseph 
Wheeler, Sr., grandfather of Elbridge G., 
born in Temple, N.H., in 1766, came from 
there to Bethel in 1793. His brother, Sam- 
uel, who came with him to this county, set- 
tling in Gilead, was a Revolutionary patriot. 
Joseph Wheeler was a native of Langdon, 
Sullivan County, N. H. When but four )'ears 
old he was brought to Bethel by his parents, 
and the remainder of his life was passed in 
this town. He engaged in farming with a 
fair degree of success, and up to within three 
weeks of the close of his long life of eighty- 
three years was able to attend to his usual 
avocations. In early life he was a Democrat 
or Whig, and supported the Republican party 
after its formation. His wife, who was born 
in Bethel, and spent her life here, died at the 
age of si.\ty-si.\ years. Her father, Daniel 
Gage, a native of Concord, N. H., enlisted for 
the Revolutionary W'ar at the age of sixteen, 
and served five years and nine months. He 
was advanced to the rank of Sergeant. Some 
time after, General Washington called him 
from the ranks, and publicly thanked and com- 
plimented him for his bravery in picking up a 
flag, whose bearer had been killed on the 
field, and carrying it during the remainder of 
the engagement. Soon after the close of the 
war he came to Bethel, purchased a farm, and 
was successfully engageil in farming through- 
out the rest of his life, which lasted eighty-si.\ 
years. Joseph Wheeler and his wife had nine 
children, all of whom except one attained ma- 
turity. 

Until he was nineteen years of age El- 
bridge G. Wheeler lived with his parents on 
the home farm, attending the district school 
for the usual period. On leaving home, he 
went to Abington, Mass., where he learned 
the shoemaker's trade, and subsequently 
worked at it for about seven years. He 
then returned to Bethel, and inirchased the 



farm that he now owns, flere he built a 
shoe shop, and thereafter, for about thirty 
years, both worked at his trade and carried on 
his farm. He has added to the original farm 
by the purchase of adjoining land, so that he 
now has about one hundred and si.xty acres. 
The property is conveniently located, being 
but a mile from West Bethel. Some years 
ago he abandoned shoemaking, and has since 
devoted his attention exclusively to agri- 
culture. 

Mr. Wheeler has been twice married. The 
first time was in 1S51, when he was united to 
Miss Melissa Grover, of Bethel. She died in 
1852, leaving one child, Ella M., now the 
wife of Ralph W. Bean, a resident of Little- 
ton, Col. The second mariage was contracted 
in 1858 with Miss Mehitable J. Grover, of 
Mason, Me. liorn of this union were a son 
and two daughters, namely: Minnie E., a high- 
school teacher in Edgartown, Mass: PTora 
Jane, a high-school teacher in Jefferson, 
N.H.; and Edward E., who died at the age of 
twenty-two years, when a student of Bates 
College. Mr. Wheeler, who is a Republican 
partisan, takes quite an active part in local 
political matters. He has served as Select- 
man for five or si.x years, on the School Com- 
mittee for two years, and he has been Justice 
of the Peace for twenty-one years. He is a 
member of Bethel Lodge, No. 96, A. F. & 
A. M. ; and of Pleasant Valley Grange at 
West Bethel. 




ION H. PIKE, a prosperous farmer 
and lumberman of Waterford, and a 
native of. this town, was born March 
18, 1858, son of John C. and Eli'za 
A. (Willard) Pike, both also natives of 
Waterford. His paternal grandparents, John 
and Esther (Richardson) Pike, born in Oxford 
County, were farming people of high repute. 
His maternal grandparents, Lewis and Mary 
(Plaisted) Willard, were born respectively in 
Harvard, Mass., and Gorham, Me. 

John C. Pike spent the greater part of his 
life in Waterford, engaged in farming and 
lumbering. In 1841 he went to California, 
and worked for aljout a year at mining, in 
which he was very successful: but he was 



BIOGRAI'HKAl. RK\MKW 



^45 



obliged to return East on account ol liis 
health, ami never fully recovered his former 
vigor. lie died December 6, icSgi, aged 
sixty-three years. In politics lie was always 
a firm Republican, and took mucii interest in 
town affairs. He was a member ot tlie 
grange and an active worker in its interests. 
The three children born to him and his wife 
are all living. They are: Sarah M., Wiuw 
H., and Ernest L. Sarah M., born Jul\' 7, 
1855, is the wife of Henry Wentworth, a mill 
man living in Waterford, and has five children 
— John, Carrie, Ered, Ernest, and lunma. 
Ernest L., born November 24, 1859, an enter- 
l^rising young farmer, carries on the old Pike 
homestead, is engaged in Inmbering with his 
brother, and conducts a manufacturing busi- 
ness in Waterford. 

Bion \l. I'ike was educated in the common 
schools and at Bridgton Academy. On ac- 
count of his father's health he remained at 
home, helping on the farm until March, 1890. 
He then came to his present place, which is 
known as the Daniel Green farm. Besides 
attending to his farm work, for the past eight 
years, in company with his brother, he has 
carried on lumbering quite e.xtensively in the 
northern part of Oxford County. Being a 
hard worker, and having a good deal of prac- 
tical sense, his undertakings have usLially 
terminated successfully. 

On September 22, 1889, Wr. Pike was mar- 
ried to Miss Edith Nevers, who was born 
March 30, 1865, daughter of Marshall and 
Mary E. (Sanders) Nevers. Mr. Nevers was 
born in Sweden, Me., June 14, 1825. His 
wife, also a native of Sweden, died in Norway, 
in 1879. He was farming in Sweden until 
1885, when, with his son, William H., he re- 
moved to Brown County, Nebraska. He re- 
turned some time ago, and is now living with 
Mr. Pike. On September 18, 1861, he en- 
listed at Sweden in Company B, Twenty-third 
Maine Volunteers, for a term of nine months, 
at the end of which he returned home. His 
health has since been greatly impaired by 
rheumatism, brought on by exposure while in 
the army. His other children were: Mary 
and Clara, deceased; William H., who mar- 
ried Miss Nellie M. Frye, and is now engaged 
in farming in Brown County, Nebraska; and 



Aramiiita, also deceased. .Mr. and Mrs. Pike 
have six children, all living, namely: Clay- 
ton, born December 15, [890; .Marion, born 
in 1891 : ArdelJ, born June 3, 1892; Augusta, 
born August 30. 1893; Nellie, born October 
3, 1894; and John Marshall, horn December 
10, 1895. In politics Mr. Pike is a loyal Re- 
publican. He is an esteemed member of Ox- 
ford Lodge, No. fji. Independent Oriler of 
Odd I-"ellows, of North Waterford. 



(5 I HOMAS CROSWELL. a former mer- 

' I chant of P'armington l'"alls, now living 
in retirement, was born in his present 
home, November 23, 1825. He is a son of 
Thomas and Mary (Gower) Croswell and a 
grandson of Andrew and .Sarah Croswell. 
His great-grandfather, the Re\'. .Andrew Cros- 
well, who graduateti at Harvard College in 
the class of 1728, was a noted Congrega- 
tional minister. 

Thomas Croswell, Sr., was a native of 
Plymouth, Mass., born April 8, 1791. U]5on 
the death of his father, being then about fif- 
teen years of age, he went to live with his 
brother .Samuel in Paris, Oxford County. 
Afterward he lived in Mercer, Me., where his 
brother Andrew was practising as a physician ; 
and there, after the close of the War of 18 12, 
he opened a store. In 18 16 he sold his stock 
in trade; and, renting a building in P'arming- 
ton Ealls, he conducted a successful mercan- 
tile business for two years. At the end (jf 
that time he purchased the Squire Morrill 
stand, where he had commenced business, and 
erected a store. Without the facilities which 
make things so easy for the merchant of to- 
day, and obliged to bring his goods from Au- 
gusta and Hallowell by wagon, he yet estab- 
lished a very large trade. Leaving an un- 
blemished reputation for probit)', he died in 
1879, aged eighty-eight years. His wife, who 
was a daughter of James Gower, of Industry, 
was about the same age at her death. They 
were the parents of nine chiklren — Mary G., 
Sarah P., Thomas, Andrew C, Susan G., 
James H. G., Micah .S., Elizabeth B. , and 
Hannah F. 

Thomas Croswell received his book learning 
in the public schools near his home and at 



246 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



l-'armington Academy. At the same time he 
was acquiring a knowledge of business in his 
father's store, where he began to make himself 
useful when very young. He spent his vaca- 
tions in the store, and after he reached 
twenty-one he did most of the buying. In 
1866, with his brother Andrew C, he bought 
his father's interest. Under the new manage- 
ment the business went on increasing until it 
reached mammoth proportions. In 188S 
Thomas Croswell .sold his share to his brother, 
and retired from trade. His other interests, 
however, give him ample occupation for his 
time. He owns a valuable farm and a num- 
ber of tenement-houses, and lias dealt to some 
extent in lumber. 

On October 22, 1861, he was married to 
Harriet J. Taylor, who was born September 
10, 1830, in Danvers, Mass., daughter of John 
Taylor, of Farmington. Mr. Croswell has no 
children. He is active in politics as a Re- 
publican, and he occupied a seat in the legis- 
lature in 1872 and 1873. Roth Mr. and Mrs. 
Croswell are active in the Congregational 
church at I-"armington j-'alls, and contribute 
generously toward its su|5port. 



3^R.\ JUSTIN WARRINER, a young 
I and enterprising merchant of Fryeburg, 
J_ Me., was born in this town, March 
27, 1864, son of Chauncey and y\bbie 
Clement (Towle) Warriner. Justin Warriner, 
Mr. Warriner's grandfather, was a prosperous 
farmer of I'ryeburg in his day. 

Chauncey Warriner, Mr. Warriner's father, 
was born in Vershire, Yi. In young manhood 
he learned the trade of watchmaker and jew- 
eller. He carried on business in W'ashington, 
I). C, and in Philadelphia until, in 1862, he 
came to P'rveburg, where he resided for the 
rest of his life. He died February 6, 1S84. 
His wife, formerly Abbie C. Towle, who sui- 
vives him, was born in P^ryeburg, and is a 
daughter of Dr. Ira and .Sarah Clement Towle. 
P)r. Towle, a native of Newfield, Me. , was a 
well-known physician of P'ryeburg for nearly 
half a century. His wife was a native of this 
town. Mrs. Chauncey Warriner now resides 
with her son, Ira J. .She is the mother of 
three children, as follows: Mary, wife of 



Charles P". Lord, a jeweller in Windham, Me. ; 
lulson, who is a jeweller by trade, but is now 
teaching music in Seattle, Wash. ; and Ira J., 
the subject of this sketch. 

Ira J. Warriner was educated in the common 
schools and at the P'ryeburg Academy. With 
the exception of a year spent in Portland he 
has always made his home in P'ryeburg. In 
April, 1895, he formed a partnership with 
P'rank A. Hill for the purpose of carrying on 
the grocerv business and the manufacture of 
clothing. This firm continued in business 
until February, 1896, w^hen it was disscdved. 
Retaining possession of the store, Mr. Warri- 
ner has since conducted it alone. He occupies 
spacious and centrally located quarters, which 
are well stocked with a full line of staple 
goods, including groceries, provisions, and 
agricultural implements; and he has a large 
and constantly increasing patronage. 

In politics he is a Democrat, but has never 
aspired to public office. He is a member of 
Lodge No. 34, Knights of Pythias, and is con- 
nected with the Pilgrim Insurance Company. 
Mr. Warriner's mother is a member of the 
New Jerusalem church, whose cheerful system 
of religious faith is based on the teachings of 
iMiianuel Swedenborg. 



r^TON. DANIEL BROWN, wdio has 
l-^-l been Town Treasurer of Waterford, 
J_U I Me., for over twenty years, was 

— ' born in this town, January i, 1826, 
the son of Thaddeus, Jr., and Asenath 
(Nourse) Brown. 

His grandfather, who also was named Thad- 
deus Brown, was born in Harvard, Mass. He 
moved to Waterford, Me., in 1786, and, set- 
tling on a farm about a mile east of Waterford 
P'lat, engaged in farming and lumbering, be- 
coming in course of time one of the most ex- 
tensive dealers in land and lumber in that sec- 
tion. He married Mary Pollard, and a family 
of nine children grew up about him; namely, 
Daniel, Malbory, Jabez, Susan. Le\i, Thad- 
deus, Jr., Mary, Mercy, and Sarah. 

Thaddeus Brown, Jr.. the father abo\e 
named, was a native and lifelong resident of 
Waterford; and his wife also passed her days 
from birth to death in that town. They, too, 



lUOGRAPH ICAL R KV I K\V 



^47 



had nine children. Theodore, the eldest, who 
was born in 1824, and died in Watcrford in 
i<S6i, was a Captain in the State militia. He 
married Clara Bryant. Daniel, the second 
son, is the sid)ject of this article. Mercy, 
horn March 29, i82cS, is the wife of .Scribner 
Chadbonrne, a farmer, formerly of W'aterford, 
now of Vandal ia. 111. The third son, named 
John, died yonng. Mary is the widow of 
Charles H. Hale, late of Augusta, Wis., who 
died in February, i8g6, leaving one son, 
Charles. Waldo T. Brown is a prominent 
farmer of Waterford, a sketch of whom appears 
in this \olume. Ellen M. is the wife of EI- 
bridge Stone, a blacksmith and farmer of 
Waterford. Myra A. is the wife of W. H. 
Bailey, a clothing manufacturer now living in 
Harrison village, Me., and has two children. 
Angenette, who is unmarried, lives with her 
sister, Mrs. Mary Hale, in Augusta, Wis. 

Daniel Brown attended the common schools 
of his native town, laying up a store of knowl- 
edge which served as a foundation fur the 
superstructure of experience. He began to do 
farm chores when a boy, and as he grew older 
assumed heavier and more responsible duties. 
In 1851 he came to his present home in 
Waterford Flat, which was then owned by his 
Uncle Daniel, a retired trader. Mr. Brown 
has achieved marked success as a farmer. He 
now owns about two hundred acres of land in 
Waterford, which is available for tillage and 
pasturage; and his sleek anil well-kept cows 
produce a rich cream, for which he finds a 
ready market. 

Mr. Brown was married October 15, 1850, 
to Miss Mary Stone, who was born in Water- 
ford, December 31, 1830, the daughter of 
Alonzo and Sally (Watson) Stone. Her par- 
ents also were natives of Waterford. Her 
father, who was a farmer, died about 1869, 
and her mother in October, 1890. Six chil- 
dren were born to this couple, namely: Henry 
P., who died in 187 i ; Leander, a carpenter of 
Waterford Flat, who married Jane Warren; 
Mary, Mrs. Brown; Harriet, wife of James 
Sullivan, a machinist of Dorchester, Mass.; 
Charlotte M., living in Somerville, Ma.ss. ; 
and Lewis F., a baker in Somerville, who 
married Miss Sarah Chase. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two children. 



The elder, Florence Agnes, who was born 
January 31, 1852, is the widow of the Rev. 
Orlando A. Rounds, a clergyman of the Uni- 
versalist church, to whom she was married 
June 30, 1875. Mr. Rounds was iiorn in New 
York State, June 13, 1849. lie preached in 
Bridgton, Me., two years, in I'otsdam, N.Y., 
five years, and in Utica, N.Y., five years. 
He died at the age of thirty-eight, December 
27, 1887, leaving three children — Lawrence 
Rexford, born December 8, 1S76. a graduate 
of Bridgton (Me.) Academy: Mary I-'lorence, 
born October 25, 1S78, who is attending 
Douglas Seminary at Waterford Flat, Me.; 
and Marguerite, born June 15, 1S87, who died 
April 27, 1890. Mr. Bnnvn's second daugh- 
ter, Helen May, who was born January 6, 
1873, is a graduate of Douglas Seminary, 
Waterford, in the class of '892, and has 
taught school several terms in Norway and 
Waterford. 

Mr. Brown has \i)ted the Democratic ticket 
ever since attaining his majority. He is a 
Justice of the Peace, and has held many town 
offices, including that of Selectman, to which 
he was elected several times, and of Town 
Treasurer, in which capacity he has served for 
over twenty years. He was a member of the 
State legislature in 1886. His daughter, 
Mrs. Rounds, is Po.stmistress at Waterford. 
Mr. Brown is also prominent in local frater- 
nities, belonging to Lodge No. 132, A. F. & 
A. M., of Waterford; Keoka Chapter, No. 12, 
of the Eastern Star. He and his family at- 
tend the Universalist church. 




ENRY HERBERT RICE, .senior 
member of the firm Rice & Paine, 
Is I and a prominent dry-goods merchant 

of Farmington, was born in Strong, 
Me., Sei)tember 4, 185 1, son of Richard .S. 
and Susan (Lockhart) Rice. Richard Rice, 
the grandfather of Henry Herbert, was a na- 
tive of Scarboro, Me. He came to Farming- 
ton among the early settlers, bought two him- 
dred acres of new land, situated in the eastern 
part of the town, and besides clearing it 
brought it to a good state of cultivation. He 
died in his prime at the age of thirty-six 
years, and his farm is now owned by J. Par- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ham. lie married Hannah l-iates, a native of 
St. John, N.]->. , whose only child was Rich- 
ard S. 

Richard S. Rice was educated in the dis- 
trict schools and at the Farmington Academy, 
and after completing his studies he was for a 
time engaged in teaching school. He served 
an apprenticeshi[) to the tailor's trade; and, 
after carrying on business in Greene, New 
Portland, and Strong, he established him.sclf 
in Farmington, where he remained for four 
years. Removing then to Wilton, he was in 
business there for three years. At the end of 
that time he returned to this town, and, pur- 
chasing a residence on High Street, resided 
here until his death, which occurred when he 
was thirty-si.\ years old. He was a very ca- 
pable business man, and jjossessed a great 
amount of natural ability. For a time he 
served as Town Clerk, to which office he was 
elected by the Republican party. He was a 
Mason, being a member of Maine Lodge of 
Farmington. His wife, Susan, who survives 
him, residing with her son in this town, is a 
daughter of William Lockhart, a native of 
.Stuart town, County Tyrone, Ireland. She 
reared two children, namely: Abbie, who is 
the wife of j. H. Clifford, of Brooklyn, N.Y., 
and has two children — Charlotte S. and 
Hilda R. ; and Henry H., the subject of this 
sketch. 

Henry Herbert Rice acquiretl his education 
in the district schools, Kent's Hill Seminary, 
and in the Normal School at F^armington. 
After finishing his studies he entered mercan- 
tile pursuits as a clerk in H. Ramsdell's dry- 
goods store, where he remained until 1870. 
In that year he went to Florida, where he re- 
mained for some six months, occupied in 
school-teaching and the lumber business. Re- 
turning home in 1871, he bought a half-inter- 
est in the business carried on by Mr. Rams- 
dell, his former employer. This connection 
had lasted ten years when he sold his interest 
to his partner, and started on a visit to the 
Western States with a view of settling in 
one of them. He was not favorably impressed 
with the country, so he returned here, and 
opened a dry goods stock in the William Tar- 
box store. Main Street. Under his able direc- 
tion the business so increased that more space 



was soon needed. He now occupies the Dol- 
bier & Waugh Block, and the establishment is 
the largest of its kind in Franklin County. 
Besides dealing extensively in dry and fancy 
goods, he has a millinery and cloak department 
heavily stocked with seasonable articles and 
garments, which are exceedingly attractive to 
lady shop])crs. He also conducts a large 
branch store in .Madison, Me., where he em- 
]iloys four clerks, and does a flourishing busi- 
ness. In January, 1894, he admitted F"red G. 
Paine to partnership with him in the F'arming- 
ton store. The firm not only maintains its 
acquired prestige, but is constantly increasing 
its popularity and expanding its enterprise. 

On September 4, 1882, Mr. Rice wedded 
Ida M. Porter, daughter of William B. Porter, 
a mechanic of Elgin, Minn. Mrs. Rice is the 
mother of one daughter, Bertha M., who was 
born in 1884. Mr. Rice takes an active in- 
terest in the general progress of the town. 
He has been one of the principal [iromoters of 
the Farmington water works. In politics he 
is a Republican, and he served four years as a 
member of the School Board. He occupies a 
handsome residence on Main Street. Some 
time ago he bought the H. Stewart house on 
High Street, which he has since remodelled 
and enlarcred. 



)/lLLlAM B. LlBAROX, a prosper- 
J ous anil widely-known farmer of 
Lovell township, was born in 
Lovell, April 21, 1829. His parents were 
William and Joan (Jordan) I.rBaron. His 
father was a lineal descendant, in the fifth 
generation, of Dr. F'rancis LeBaron, a highly 
educated young F'renchman who was wrecked 
off the coast of Massachusetts in 1694, and 
who settled in Plymouth, where in the follow- 
ing year he married Mary, daughter of PaI- 
ward Wilder. Doctor LeBaron died in 1704, 
at the age of thirty-six years, having won a 
high reputation as a physician and surgeon of 
unusual skill. He left three sons — James, 
Lazarus, and F'rancis. 

William LeBaron was born in .South Paris, 
Me., and lived for a while in Albany, this 
.State. He moved to Lo\-ell when the jilace 
was a wilderness, and was the first settler on 



BIOGRAPHKWT, REVIEW 



■■•49 



tlic west side (if Kczar roiul. 1 ravel then was 
extremely difficult, for several years the set- 
tlers being obliged to swim their horses across 
the pond in order to reach the other side. Mr. 
William LeHaron was engaged- in farming in 
Lovell up to the time of his death, which oc- 
curred on August lO, 1863, when he was sixt)-- 
seven years of age. He was twice married. 
II is first w'ife, Joan, the mother of his son 
William B., was the daughter of a Revolution- 
ary soldier, who was in the Continental army 
seven years. She was born in dray. Me., 
and reared in Albany, whither her father 
moved when she was a child. Mrs. Joan J. 
LeBaron died September 15, 1856, aged fifty- 
five years. .She was the mother of twelve chil- 
dren, namely: Lvman, James, and William, 
deceased ; Temperance, widow of Levi Parker, 
living in .South Waterboro village, York 
County; William B., the subject of this 
sketch; James, James (second), Ruth, Orrin 
B. , and Henrietta, deceased; Harriet, wife of 
John M. Marr, of Lewiston, Me. ; and Wales, 
deceased. The father's second wife was Mrs. 
Phebe Jordan Rand, his first wife's sister, and 
widow of Nathaniel Rand. She, too, has 
passed awa\'. 

William B. LeBaron was educated in the 
common schools of his native town. He re- 
mained on the home farm with his father and 
mother until 1856, when he went to Pennsyl- 
vania; and for two years and a half he was en- 
gaged in lumbering in Cambria County. Re- 
•turning then to Lovell he resumed his old 
place, and when his parents died succeeded to 
ownership of the homestead, where he now 
lives. Lngaging in general husbandry he 
raised snme stock, and kept a dairy, selling- 
cream, and in the course of time made many 
imjjrovements on the farm. He has worked 
hard to attain his present prosperity, shirking 
no task, howe\-er difficult, and is now enjoying 
the fruit of his industry, having recenth' ilis- 
posed of his land to his son, Mandel A. 

Mr. LeBaron was marrictl Jidy 2 i , 1855, to 
Miss Melissa Fox, a native of Ptjrter, this 
county, daughter of John and Clarinda (Stan- 
ley) l-"ox. Mr. Fox was born in Gilmanton, 
N.H., December 7, 1795. He settled in 



Lovell in 1848, and was engaged here in farm- 
ing up to the time of his death, May 6, 1859. 



Ilis wife was horn in Shaiileigii. Me., I'"ebruary 
4, 1809, and died in Lovell, January 29, 1873. 
Nine children have blessed the union of Mr. 
and Mrs. LeBaron : Charles I-'remont, boiii 
December 15, 1856, died in infancy; Roscoe 



A., born September 



i8c8, manied Miss 



Lucy B. McAllister, and lives near his father; 
Herbert A., born May 23, i860, married Miss 
Mabel Foss, of Turner, Me., and now resides 
at Rumford l-'alls, this State; Lincoln, born 
July 29, 1863, met his death by diowning in 
the State of Oregon, July 9, 1886; Mandel A.-, 
born P^ebruary 19, 1865, is with his parents; 
John F., born March 26, 1870, married Miss 
Carrie B. Grogan, of Pennsylvania, and is now- 
living in Rumford P'alls; Roy, born .Septem- 
ber 12, 1875, is attending school in Kumfoid 
Falls, tlus .State. Two younger children ilietl 
in infancy. Mr. LeBaron has voted the Re- 
publican ticket since he was first qualified to 
exercise the right of suffrage. ?Ie and his 
wife are members of the Congregational church 
at Lovell Centre. 




IDNEY T. BROWN, M.D., a 

graduate of the Medical .School of 
Maine, class of 1874, is a well- 
known physician of ]Jenmark, Ox- 
ford Count)-, where he holds the office of Town 
Clerk. He was born in Sebago, Me., August 
19, 1 84 1, son of William S. and Ada (Storer) 
Brown. Dr. Brown's grandfather, John B. 
Brown, who was a nati\-e of Baldwin, Me., 
settled u])ou a farm in .Sebago, where he be- 
caiiie jjrosperous as an agriculturist; and he 
dietl there in i 847. 

Williani S. Brown, Dr. Brdwn's father, was 
born in .Sebago. When a young man he 
adopted the occu]iatioii of a miller; but after 
following that business in his native town for 
a number of years he n-ioved to Corham, Me., 
where he engaged in tilling the snil, and re- 
sided there until his death. His wife, Ada 
-Storei-, w-ho was a native of .Sebago, became 
the n-idther of seven children, as follows: .Sid- 
ne)- T., the subject of this sketch; Harley G., 
who is married and li\-es in Mount Holly, 
N.J. ; Silas, who married lillen Rand, of 
Brownfield, and is carrying on a butchering 
business in coni-iection with farming in West 



250 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Gorliam, Mf. ; Iixiiig ()., who died in iHiS-; 
John, who is no longer living; and Othello and 
Lewcllyn, who are carrying on the undertaking 
business in (iorham, Me. Mrs. Ada Storer 
Brown is now residing with her son in Gorham. 

Sidney T. Brown grew to manhood in Se- 
bago, acquiring his early education in the 
common schools. On September 29, 1862, he 
enlisted as a musician in Company K, Twenty- 
fifth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, under Colo- 
nel Franci.s Fessenden and Cajitain Asa C. 
Palmer, for service in the Civil War. Nine 
months later, on July i, 1863, he received his 
discharge; and on September 20, 1S64, he re- 
enlisted in the same capacity in Company C, 
Ninth Regiment, with which he served until 
the close of the war, being mustered out at 
Raleigh, N. C. , June 30, 1865. His jirofes- 
sional studies were begun at Denmark Corner, 
and continued at the medical school connected 
with Bowdoin College, where he was gradu- 
ated with the class of 1874. Since settling in 
Denmark in 1875, Dr. Brown has acquired a 
wide reputation as a skilful and reliable physi- 
cian, having built up an extensive and lucrative 
practice, which he still maintains in this and 
the adjoining towns. 

In 1877 Dr. Sidney T. ]?rown was united in 
marriage with Augusta Harriman, of Lovell, 
Me., daughter of Moses and Mar\- ((iile) Har- 
riman, late of that town. Politically, the 
Doctor is a Republican, and has abl\- filled the 
office of Town Clerk for the past eleven years. 
He is connected with the Masonic fraternity, 
being at the present time Master of Mount Mo- 
riah Lodge, No. 56, of Denmark ; and he is 
also a member of Denmark Lodge, No. 50, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both 
])rofessionaIly and socially he occupies a prom- 
inent position among the leading residents of 
Denmark, and is spoken of by his fellow- 
townsmen with the highest regard. Mrs. 
Brown is a member of the Comrregational 
church. 



ALEB W. CILMORE, a succe.s.sful 
farmer of Industry and formerh- a 
member of the Board of Selectmen, 
was born in this town, August 29, 
1831, son of James and Rachel (Wade) Gil- 




more. Mr. Gilmore's parents were natives of 
Woolwich ; and his father was born October i 7, 
1798. Mr. Gilmore's paternal grandparents, 
William F. and Mary (Trout) Gilmore, re- 
sided in Woolwich, his grandfather being a 
civil engineer and a farmer. 

James Gilmore, Mr. Gilmore's father, who 
was the first of the family to settle in Indus- 
try, arrived in March, 1830. He bought the 
l^lisha Drew farm, which is now owned by his 
son, Caleb W. , and he resided here for the rest 
of his life. He died August 14, 1868. In 
1840 he was elected a member of the Board of 
Selectmen, to which body he was twice re- 
elected; and he was a Deacon of the Baptist 
church in Starks. He was twice married ; and 
his first wife, whom he wedded November 6, 
1823, was before marriage Lucy Wade. She 
was born in Woolwich, ]\Iay 21, 1795; and she 
died January 21, 1S27. By this union there 
were two children: Mary H., who was born 
February i, 1S25, and is now the widow of 
Amasa Works, who died August i, 1866; and 
Luc\' \\'ade, who was born January 21, 1827, 
married William B. Tibbetts, and died No- 
vember 12, 1867. On September i, 1828, 
James Gilmore married for his second wife 
Rachel Wade, his first wife's sister, and she 
became the mother of eight children, namely: 
David, who was born in 1829, and died 
October 29, 1S92, survived by his widow, ^Irs. 
Emma Gardner Gilmore, who resides in 
Sangerville, Me. ; Caleb W. , the subject of 
this sketch ; Hannah Preble, who was born 
August 5, 1833, and died April 13, 1857; 
Betsey Jane, who was born March 25, 1836, 
married Titcomb Collins, and died November 
25, 1866; Johanna Payson, who was born F"eb- 
ruary 29, 1839, and died I\Iarch 8, 1863 ; Will- 
iam James, who was born Jul\' 12, 1841, 
married Margaret Broderic, and is now a 
prosperous farmer of Industr)- ; Ahner Wade, 
who was born January 30, 1843, and died June 

7, 1850; and Bradford, who was born Januar)- 

8, 1S45, and died in 1862, while serving in 
the Civil W'ar. Mrs. Rachel Wade Gilmore 
died July 27, 1853. 

Caleb W. Gilmore, the second son born to 
his parents, James and Rachel Gilmore, ac- 
quired his education in the schools of his 
native town. At the age of nineteen he went 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



to sea, but al'uer remaining away lioni lionic 
tlirec ^ears he returned and took charge of the 
farm. He has since resided here with tlie ex- 
ception of a year spent in Starks, and owns 
l)esides the home farm of one hunched and 
twenty-two acres some valuable outlying land. 
He carries on general farming, making a spe- 
cialty of ]iroducing corn, hay, and ])Otatoes ; 
and he also raises shee]). 

On November 6, 1856, Mr. Gilmore wedded 
Nancy N. Manter. .She was born in Industry, 
November 25, 1831, daughter of William \V. 
and Betsey W. (Norton) Manter. Her par- 
ents, who were natives of this town, afterward 
engaged in farming in New Sharon. They are 
no longer living. Mrs. Gilmore died June i, 
1895, leaving no children. 

Politically, Mr. Gilmore aflfiliates with the 
Republican party. He has served with abil- 
ity as a .Selectman and as a member of the 
School Board. He has been an active and in- 
dustrious man, but of late his health is some- 
what impaired as the result of overwork ; and 
he emjiloys Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo L. Pomeroy 
to' assist u]ion the farm and manage his 
houseiiold. In his religious lielief he is a 
Baptist. 




RANKLIN PORTER, a well-to-do 
farmer of Paris, O.xford County, Me., 
was born here, October 18, 1829, son of 
John and iuuiice (Hicks) Porter. His father 
was born in Yarmouth, Cumberland County, 
Me., ( )ctober 7, 179.5, and his mother in the 
same place, September 27, 1790. The first 
representative of this branch of the Porter fam- 
ily in New Plngland was Richard Porter, who 
settled in Weymouth, Mass., in 1635. (A 
full account of the family may be found in the 
Porter Genealogy by the Hon. Joseph W. Por- 
ter, of Bangor. ) 

Nehemiah Porter, father of John, was born 
in Scituate, Mass., December 14, 1758; and 
his wife, Joanna Barber Porter, was a native of 
Gray, Me. They had thirteen children, and 
a'll grew to maturity; namely, Sylvanus, Su- 
sanna, Lucy, Lydia, Stephen, John, Charles, 
Benjamin, Joainia, Mary, Leonard, William 
Barber, and Rufus. None of the family now 
survive. Their father, who was a hard worker 



and successful fanner, died in \'arniouth at a 
good age. 

John Porter grew to manliood in \'armouth, 
where he learned the trade of a shoemaker. 
He was in the War of 1X12, and that year or 
the year following he came to Paris and set- 
tled on the farm where his son I'ranklin now 
lives. It was then co\'ered with timber, which 
he cut and sold to [jay foi- the land; and game 
was plentiful. Although he came here a |joor 
man and was obliged to buy his land on creilit, 
he was industrious and ac<|uired consideralile 
means. He was prominent in town affairs, and 
the Baptist church edifice on Paris Hill was 
erected by him. He dieil October 12, 1855; 
and his wife, Lunice Hicks Porter, died April 
II, 1886, at the venerable age oi ninety-five 
years, si.x months, and fourteen days. Her 
parents, Joseph and Eunice Hicks, both lived 
to a good age, her father dying November 4, 
1844, at ninety-seven years and four months; 
and her mother Novembei' 1 8, 1834, aged 
eighty-two years and four months. Mr. anti 
Mrs. John Porter were consistent members of 
the Baptist church. In |iolitics he was a 
Democrat. They had six chihh'en, as follows; 
Sylvanus, born March 31, 1817; Ezekiel L., 
born October 3, 1819, who died January 14, 
1869; John B., born August 12, 1821, who is 
living in Norwa\' and engaged in farming; 
Harriet, born August 20, 1823, now the wife 
of Solomon I. Millett, a fainier of Norway; 
Joseph H., born March 4, 1826, who is en- 
gaged in the real estate business in Wiscon- 
sin; and l''ranklin, who is the special subject 
of this biographical notice. 

P'ranklin Porter, the youngest child, grew to 
manhood on the old homestead. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools, and at twenty- 
one started out for himself as a farm laborer, 
receiving but a small compensation for his ser- 
vices. P"or two or three years thereafter he 
was engaged in construction work on the Grand 
Trunk Railroad and for one summer in Wy- 
oming County, New York State, on the Alton 
& Erie Railroad. He was next employed for 
a year as a truckman in the city of Boston. 
About the time of his father's death he re- 
turned to Paris, settled up his father's affairs, 
and purchased the old homestead, the place 
where he now resides, and where he is success- 



252 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



fullv engaged in general farming. He owns 
ail together about three hundred acres. On 
the home place are good buildings and a fine 
orchard set with apple and pear trees. He 
enjoys well-merited jjrosperit}', having ac- 
quired his ]irn|)ert\' by hard work and honest 
dealings. 

On September 15, 1S5CS, Mr. Porter was 
united in marriage with Miss Martha M. Mil- 
lett, who was born in Norwa_v, Me., March 31, 
1839, daughter of Nathan and Mercy (Samp- 
son) Millett. Her father, who was an enter- 
prising farmer, was born in Norway in Sep- 
tember, 1800; and her mother was born in the 
same place in September, 1804. Mr. and 
Mrs. Porter have four sons, all living: Francis 
E. Porter, born October 5, 1861, is engaged 
in farming with his father, married Miss Olive 
Walker, and has one child — Helen M., the 
only grandchild; Junot N. Porter, born May 
5, 1865, is a farmer in Eureka, Wis. ; Joseph 
H. Porter, born June 23, 1869, is employed on 
the electric railroad in Boston; and John A. 
Porter, born July 3, 1876, lives at the parental 
home. Only the eldest son is married. 

Mr. Porter is independent in politics. He 
was Selectman for three years, and has held 
other offices. Since 1862 he has been a mem- 
ber of Paris Lodge, No. 94, A. V. & A. M., 
at South I'aris; is a member of West Paris 
Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows; and he and his wife are charter 
members of the Patrons of Husbandry at South 
Paris and charter members also of the Rebecca 
Lodge at West Paris. Mrs. I'orter is a com- 
municant of the Baptist chiu-ch at Paris Hill. 
He is liberal in his relifiious views. 




lCA;/rLLIAM U. BRETT, of South 
Paris, O.xford County, Me., who has 
in his day been one of the hard- 
working, progressive farmers of this countv, 
but is now living in comparative retirement 
from business cares and the toil of the har- 
vest fields, was born in the town of Paris, 
November 9, 1822, son of Martin and Ruth 
(Durell) Brett. 

The first ancestor of the family of whom 
there is any mention in Colonial history was 
William Brett, a native of Kent, 1-Ingland, who 



emigrated to America about 1640, and first 
settled in Du.xbury, Mass. He became one of 
the original proprietors of the town of Bridge- 
water, Mass., where he was prominent in both 
church and town affairs, often filling the pul- 
pit in the absence of the regular minister; and 
he was frequently chosen to represent the town 
in the General Court of the colony. He died 
in 1681 ; and the descent continues through 
Nathaniel and Sarah (Hayward) Brett, Seth 
and Sarah (Alden) Brett, to Mr. Brett's great- 
grandparents, Simeon and Mehitable (Packard) 
Brett, the former of whom was the first ances- 
tor of the family to visit Maine. He came to 
O.xford County probably upon a prospecting 
tour, accompanied by his son, Amzi ; and the 
latter bought a tract of wild land situated 
about one mile from the ]iresent village of 
South Paris. 

Amzi Brett, Mr. Brett's grandfather, was 
born in Bridgewater, May 3, 1762; and while 
still a mere youth he served as a private in the 
Continental arm)- in the Revolutionary War, 
for which in his old age he received a pension. 
Some years after his marriage to I'hebe Pack- 
ard, which occurred in 1788, he settled in 
Paris, as previously mentioned ; and with the 
aid of his son Martin he built a small frame 
house and cleared and improved the land into 
a good farm, where he resided for the rest of 
his life. He died at the age of eighty, ha\ing 
survived his wife many years. His children 
were: Sophia, Martin, Charlotte, Ira, and 
Phebe. Mr. Amzi Brett was a member of the 
Congregational church. 

IMartin Brett, son of Amzi and Phebe, was 
born in Bridgewater, March 26, 1794. He 
assisted in clearing the homestead farm in 
Paris, having accompanied his parents here 
when a young man ; and, inheriting the prop- 
erty, he continued to till the soil until his 
death, which took place when he was seventy- 
two years old. His wife, whom he wedded 
January 13, 1819, was Ruth, daughter of David 
Durell. She became the mother of five chil- 
dren, as follows: Apphia; William D., the 
subject of this sketch; Sophia P. ; Mary Ann; 
and Henrv M., who served as a soldier in the 
Civil War, and died at the hospital in Wash- 
ington, January 16, 1864. Mrs. Ruth Durell 
Brett died at the atre of thirt\-threc vears. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



William D. I^ictt. the ilatc of whdsc birtli 
has been made kimwii to the reader, passed his 
childhood and \onth in his native town, attend- 
ing the public schools, where he acquired a 
practical knowledge of the ordinary branches 
of study; and he resided at home, assisting his 
father in carrying on the farm, imtil reaching 
the age of twenty years. He then worked for 
some time in the mills, carefully saving his 
earnings; and when he had accumulated a suffi- 
cient sum with which to start in life for him- 
self he bought the homestead property, erected 
a new set of buildings, and improved the farm 
generally. For many years he industriously 
applied his energy and ability to agricultural 
jnirsuits, which he conducted with exceedingly 
prosperous financial results until 1888, when 
he sold his property to a Mr. Churchill, with 
the intention of retiring permanently from ex- 
tensive labors. He bought the H. Richardson 
place in .South Paris, where he has since re- 
sided, owning a small farm adjoining; and, 
to avoid irksome leisure, as an\'thing like idle- 
ness is far from being congenial to his nature 
while he has strength to work, he cultivates 
the land. 

On May 7, 1855, Mr. I^rett was united in 
marriage with Ruth B., daughter of Jonas and 
Abigail (Bradbury) Hamilton. Jonas Hamil- 
ton was a native of North Yarmouth, Me., who 
settled in Paris in 1821,. and for many year.s 
drove a four-horse team engaged in hauling 
freight between that town and I'ortland, the 
customar\' charge being fifty cents jier hundred- 
weight. After the opening of the raihva)' he 
retired, and resided in Paris until his death, 
which took place when he was eighty-five 
ye;irs (del. His wife, who lived to be eight\'- 
two, dietl in 1870. She was the mother of six 
children, all of whom grew to maturity, as fol- 
lows : Rachel L. ; William; Phebe Ann; 
Ruth B., who is now Mrs. Brett; Jonas and 
Nancy, the last named being twins. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brett have had three children, 
namely: Charles E., an express and freight 
teamster of this town, who was born April 3, 
1S56, married Jennie L. I5riggs, and has one 
child, Ava; Herman 1'., foreman in a shoe 
factory at Beverly, who was born November 
19, 1859, married Sarah Moody, and has one 
daughter, Georgia May; and Joseph W. , who 



was horn l'"ebruar\' 8, 1862, and dicti June 25, 
1865. 

In politics Mr. I^rett is a Republican, and 
has served the town well and faithfullv in some 
of the imi)ortant offices. in his religious f.iith 
he is a Congregationalist. 



T^APTAIN CKORGP: R. Pj-RXALD, 
I V-^ one of the most pron)inent business 
^^(s men and influential residents nf 

Wilton, an ex-.State Senator, a 
member of (jovernor Robie'.s Council in 1885 
and 1886, and a veteran of the Civil War, was 
born in South Levant, Penobscot Count)', Me., 
June 25, 1835, son of Robert and Roxanna 
(Buswell) P'ernald. Captain P^ernald is a de- 
scendant ol an old New Hampshire family, 
representatives of which resided in Loudon ; 
and his grandfathei', David P'einakl, who 
owned and cultivated a good farm in that town, 
died at about middle age. 

Robert P\'rnald, Captain i^'einald's father, 
was born in Loudon; and in \oung manhocnl 
he learned the tratle of a tanner. In earh' life 
he went to Penob.scot County, Maine, where 
for a time he owned and operated mills and a 
tannery at P'xeter ; and he later became propri- 
etor of a mill in South Levant. Besides carry- 
ing on these mills he bought large tracts of 
timber lanil, and was engaged in lumbering for 
several years, or until his death, which took 
place when he was fifty-five years old. In 
politics he su])portetl the Demociatic party, 
and in his religious views was a Methodist. 
His wife, Roxanna Buswell, survived him 
many years, attaining the age of eight}'-eight 
years, four months, and eight da}'s. His 
children were: Charles G. ; (jeorge R., the 
subject of this sketch ; Merritt C. ; and Mary. 

George R. P'ernald attended the common 
and high schools, and completed his .studies at 
the l-last Maine Conference .Seminary at Bucks- 
port. After finishing his education he re- 
turned home, and, taking charge of the home- 
stead farm, carried it on until August 21, 
1S62, when he enlisted for service in the Civil 
War, eointr to the front as .Second Lieutenant 
of Company V, Eighteenth Regiment, Heavy 
Artillery. (3n PY^bruary 28, 1863, he was 
promoted to the rank of P'irst Lieutenant, and 



!54 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



on November ", i8(l4, was commissioned a 
Captain, and scrveil as sucii until the close of 
the war. During his h)ng and honorable term 
of service with the Eighteenth Maine, whose 
record occupies a prominent place in the his- 
tory of the l\ei)elli<in, lie |)artici]xited in many 
important battles, including Spottsylvania, 
Petersburg, North Anna Ki\-er, Cold Harbor, 
Sailor's Creek, and others, and tooi< an active 
part in the campaign whicli resulted in the 
surrender of (ieneral Lee at A|)pomattox Com t- 
house. At tiie battle of Petersburg he re- 
ceived a serious wound in tlie foot, from which 
he has never fully recovered. He was mus- 
tered out with iiis regiment in September, 
1865. 

Taking iiis father's mills after reaching 
home, and adding grist-mill facilities, he op- 
erated them for three years, when he sold the 
entire plant and removed to Wilton, where he 
has since found ample opportunities to display 
his energy and business ability to profitable ad- 
vantage. In 1886 he bought of Seth Bass the 
Wilton grist-mill, which he has improved by 
developing the water-power and putting in new 
machinery; and his full equipment is kejit 
constantly busy. Pie handles all kinds of 
grain and feed by the carload, whicli he grinds, 
and su]iplies to farmers and tlealers in Wilton 
and the adjacent towns; and he also does a 
great deal of custom grinding. In 1881 he 
bought and built upon the A. Mosman place, 
but later sold it, and, in compaii)' with 1\. C. 
Fuller, purchased a saw-mill, which they im- 
proved and operated for some time; and he 
then sold his interest to Mr. Holt. 

As a progressive citizen Captain P'ernald is 
always to be depended upon for his aid and 
inflLience in securing any desired public im- 
provement; and the Wilton P'ire Company, of 
which he is President, owes its existence and 
success largely to his energy and instrumental- 
ity. This movement was organized for the 
]uirpose of protecting the business centre of 
the town against fire; and a large sixty-horse- 
power pump has been placed at the Wilton 
grist-mill, where sufificient force is always 
available to supjily the water for extinguishing 
fires. 'Pile wisdom and success of the scheme 
was fully demonstrated in July, 1896, when 
the rijiparatus pmved its usefulness by putting 



out a fire which originated in the Masonic 
Building and threatened to destroy the entire 
central portion of the village. 

Captain I'ernald has been twice married. 
His first wife, Jane Blake, daughter of Zebu- 
Ion Blake, of Carmel, Me., died at the age of 
thirty-three years, leaving one son — Gardner, 
who married I'anny P'enderson. The son is 
now engaged in business with his father. 

Caiitain P"ernald's second wife, P^liza Wood- 
bury, daughter of James Woodbury, of Dover, 
Me., died in 1896, aged si.xty-three. 

Politicall}', Captain F"ernald is a Republi- 
can; and wliile residing in South Levant he 
was three times elected a member of the Board 
of Selectmen. He represented this district in 
the lower branch of the legislature during the 
years 1875 '"'''^l 18/6, was a member of the 
State Senate for the years 1S80 and 1881, and 
was appointed to serve in Governor Robie's 
Council in 1885 and 1886. In Masonry Cap- 
tain Fernald has advanced to the Royal Arch 
degree, being a member of the Blue Lodge of 
Wilton, and of the chapter in P'armington; 
and he is a comrade of the Grand Array of the 
Republic Post here in Wilton. As an enter- 
prising, [niblic-sjiirited citizen he ranks foie- 
most among the leading residents of this town ; 
and his zeal for the general welfare of the com- 
munity is heartily appreciated. Pie is an active 
member of the Methodist Plpiscopal church. 



OHN FON, Third Selectman of Lovell, 
Me., a veteran of the war of the Re- 
bellion, is one of the most extensive 
land-owners in Oxford Count}', and has 
achieved his present prosperity by persevering 
application to useful labor. He was born in 
Porter, Me., October 29, 1838, a son of John 
and Clarinda (Stanley) P^ox. 

John Fox, the father, was born in Gilman- 
ton, N.H., December 7, 1795, and lived there 
for a number of years. He subsequently re- 
moved to Porter, where he managed a grist- 
mill, and was engaged in general farming 
until 1848. In that year he settled in "the 
P'ox neighborhood'" in Lovell, where he fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits. Pie died May 6, 
1859: and his wife, who was horn in Shap- 
leigh. Me., I'"ebruary 4, I S09, died January 




MR. AND MRS. JOHN FOX. 



UOOR \PHICAL RF.VIEW 



257 



-9-' ^'^73- I'It-'V were the parents nl' ten chil- 
dren, namely: Sarah S., born Ma\- J,, 1S30, 
who (lieil September J4, 184S: Nathaniel, 
born I'ebruary 12, 1832, who died January 3, 
1S49; Melissa, who was born iMoveniber 28, 
1833, is now the wife of William Le Baron, 
and lives in Lovell near her brother John; 
Serena H., born October 18, 1836, who be- 
came the wife of Edward Wells, and died in 
September, i860; John, the subject of this 
sketch; Lewis, born November 22, 1841, now 
residing in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, 
and who married for his first wife Maria 
Stanley, and for his second iCllen Dale; 
Jane, born in Porter, I'ebruary 28, 1844, 
now the w^ife of Josiah D. Hatch, and resitl- 
ing on a farm near North Lovell; Ahiry, born 
I'ebruary 19, 1846, now the wife of Moses 
Harriman, of Berlin, N.H.; William S., 
born July 30, 1848, in Lovell, who married 
Miss Harriet McAllister, and resides in Nor- 
way, Me. : Nathaniel, the youngest, born May 
11, 1851, who married Miss Caroline An- 
drews, and resides o4i a farm in Lovell, near 
the old homestead. 

John Fox, who was the second son born to 
iiis parents, John and Clarinda Fox, acquired 
a good practical common-school education. 
His first journey from home was a long one, 
taken in the eventful year 1861, when so many 
stalwart sons of Maine bade farewell to home 
and kindred, a farewell that for some was 
final. Enlisting November 15 in Company 
E, Twelfth Maine Regiment, under Colonel 
George F. Shepley and Captain Enoch 
Knight, he was soon in active service, and 
before his term W'as finished had taken part 
in twent\-seven engagements, including the 
battle of Irish Bend, La., the siege of Port 
Hudson, the battle of Malvern Hill, \'a., and 
the battles of Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, 
and Winchester, and saw many of his com- 
rades fall around him. He received his dis- 
charge at Portland, Me., December 7, 1864, 
and, returning to Lovell, settled on the farm 
where he is now living. Since that time he 
has been prosperously engaged in general 
farming, and has managed a saw-mill, also 
working at .times at carpentry. He owns 
about five hundred and thirty acres, wild and 
im]3roved land. 



lie was married in iSfii to Marietta Horr, 
a native of Lovell, born June 30, 1842, daugh- 
ter of Josiah and Hannah C. (Heald) Horr. 
Mr. Horr was born in Waterford, Me., January 
29, 1804. He settled in Lovell at an. early 
date on the farm now occupied b\' Mr. J'"o\, 
which he cleared and developed; and he 
tlied here, December 29, 1877. His wife was 
born in Lovell, I^'ebruary 23, r8io, and died 
here April 22, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Hurr 
were the parents often children, nameK : John 
1'., who was killetl October 19, 1864, in the 
battle of Cedar Creek; Josiah II., Iiorn ])e- 
cember 26, 1831, who dieil in .Septendjer, 
i860; Isaac P., born A[)ril 13, 1834, a resi- 
dent of Hudson, Mass., who married first Miss 
Phiebe Hill, of Denmark, Me., and seconil 
Miss Samantha Moore; Moses H., born April 
12, 1836, who died December 27, 1842; l{liza 
Ann, born July 20, 1839, who died March 23, 
1856; Lucy IL, born July 18, 1840, who died 
April 20, 1845; Marietta (Mrs. ['"ox); y\u- 
gusta Maria, born A])ril 4, 1844, who dieil 
July 17, 1846; Steward B., born P'ebniary 
28, 1846, a resident of Waterford, Vt., who 
married Miss Celia Church; and .Sarah .S., 
born May 30, 1848, now wife of Albra K. 
Lord, a farmer of Lovell. 

Mr. and Mrs. F"ox are the parents of seven 
children — Hannah C, born February i, 
1S62, who dieil April 22 of the same year; 
Josiah H., born December 19, 1867, now re- 
siding in Lovell, who married .Miss Martha 
A. Dyer; Charles II., born Ajiril 17, 1870, 
who died August 25, 1892; William .S., born 
July 19, 1872, a farmer living near Lovell 
Centre, wIjo marrietl Miss Corinna Lord: 
John Walter, born Januai\' 2, 1874, who 
married Miss Mabel (iray, of Lovell, and re- 
sides with his father; and Lewis Edwin, born 
February 10, 1S78, and Guy R., born June 3, 
1880, both at home with their [xirents. Mr. 
Fox's three sons, Josiah, William .S., and 
Walter, now attend to the business at the saw- 
mill. 

Mr. P"ox is a stanch Republican. Though 
he has never sought office he has served on 
the Town Board of Selectmen several years, 
and was elected Third Selectman in March, 
1896. He is a member of Parker Post, No. 
151, Grand y\rni)- of the Republic, at Lovell 



2S8 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



Centre, also of the grange of Patrons of Hus- 
bandry at Fryeburg; and he and his wife are 
members of the Christian church at the 
Centre. 




JDWAKD !•:. WITT, one of the leading 
voung men of the town of Norway, Ox- 
ford County, was born (Jctober i, 
KS64, on the farm where he now resides with 
his widowed motlier and sisters. He is of 
Massachusetts ancestiy, iiis paternal grand- 
father, Benjamin Witt, having been born and 
bred in Lynn, Ksse.K County, that State, where 
he learned the blacksmith's trade. On coming 
to Oxford County, Maine, he settled in Nor- 
way, near Rustville, which was named for his 
uncle, Henry Rust, Esq. 

The grandfather was among the early set- 
tlers of this section of the comity, and the 
first to set up a smithy in Norway, where he 
subsequently worked at his trade and carried 
on general liushaiuh}- until his death, October 
28, 1842. He was four times married. His 
first wife, IV-tsey Parsons, bore him four chil- 
dren — John, Henry, Daniel, and Benjamin. 
To him and his second wife, Lucy Cobb, two 
children were born — Lucy and Betsey. His 
third wife, Hannah Parsons, died leaving him 
three children: Thomas, father of Edward E. ; 
William; and Abigail, all of whom have de- 
liarted this life. Of his union with Patty 
House, daughter of L. Hathaway, of Paris, 
this county, there were no chiUlren. 

Thomas Witt, son of Benjamin and Ilamiaii 
(Parsons) Witt, was born in Xorway, June .3, 
1808, and was here educated, attending the 
district school near his home and the village 
high school. At the age of fifteen years he 
entered the office of the Oxford Obsciver in the 
village, in order to learn the printer's trade, 
working there and in the Paris Hill printing- 
office se\-eral years. In 1830 he went to Bos- 
ton, where he was engaged on a daily paper for 
eight years. (ioing thence to Richmond, Va., 
he was on the staff of the Soiitlicni Cliiirclmiaii 
two years, when he returned to J-toston to take 
charge of the printing-office of the Cliristian 
h'rccDiau, a weekly jjaper jniblished in the 
interests of the Universalist denomination by 
the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, father of .Syjyanus 



Cobb, Jr., the noted writer, and of the tal- 
ented artists, Cyrus and Darius Cobb. In 
1845 he returned to Norway, and, buying a 
farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits two 
years. Desiring to resume his earlier occupa- 
tion, he sold his land, and, moving into the 
village, bought the Norway Adi'ertiscr, which 
he published for two years. He then bought 
the farm now occupied by his widow and her 
children, and here, with the assistance of his 
son, lulward E. , carried on general farming 
until his death, October 20, 1884. He was a 
man of extensive acquaintance, winning and 
retaining friends wherever he went, few men 
of this locality having been better known or 
more popular. 

Thomas Witt and Rachel Porter were mar- 
ried on December g, 1845. Mrs. Witt was 
born P"ebruary 11, 1824, in the town of Paris, 
Oxford County, a daughter of Charles and Ra- 
chel (Hamilton) Porter, both natives of North 
Yarmouth, Me. Mr. Porter was a farmer by 
occupation; and after his marriage he settled 
in Paris, where both he and his wife spent 
their remaining days, his death occurring in 
his sixty-ninth year, and hers in her eighty- 
fourth year. Mr. and Mrs.. Thomas Witt had 
the following children: Mary Ellen, who died 
at the age of fortv-two years, being the wife of 
Hezekiah Brown; Charles Thomas, who mar- 
ried P^lla Hathaway, and is engaged in the 
milk business in Boston; p^lizabeth, living at 
Leominster, Mass., the widow of George W. 
P'oster; Sarah H., living with her mother and 
brother on the homestead; (ieorge H., a gro- 
cer in Dorchester, Mass., who married Mary 
T. Baker, of I'.ast Boston; Abbie L., also liv- 
ing on the home farm; Willie B., who died at 
the age of nine months; and lulward Iv, the 
special subject of this sketch. 

Edward I{. Witt, in common with his 
brothers and sisters, enjoyed in his early years 
excellent educational advantages. Being the 
youngest son he stayed at home after attaining 
his majority, to assist his father, who was in 
feeble health for some time; antl for the jnist 
twelve years he has had entire charge of the 
farm. He has one hundred acres of land, well 
improved, and much of it through his energetic 
efforts in an excellent state of cultivation. 
Here he and his mother ;nid sisters have an 



BIOGRA PI 1 IC AL REV I K\V 



-59 



attractive home, which is a hos]iital:)lu centre 
of social activity, its rooms ever heing o])en to 
receive their many friends. Mr. Witt is a 
standi l\epubiican in |)o]itics, in which lie 
takes an intelligent interest, and since i <S'94 
has been a meniher of the Hoard of Selectmen 
of Norway. He belongs to the grange of 
the I'ati'ons of Ihisbandry of Norway village. 
Mrs. Witt and her daughters are members of 
the Congregational church, whose house of 
worshij) is located near their home. 




(ctrfji.AS rowhiR.s ii.xRTi.irr'r, 

iM.L)., a venerable jjliysician of ICast 
Di.xfield, Me., now living in retire- 
ment at his home in this town, is 
widely known as one of the leading mathenia* 
ticians of the State. He was born in ]^etliel, 
O.xford County, Me., Februar\- 3, 1S17, son c)f 
Ebenezer and Lois (Powers) Rartlett. Dr. 
Bartlett's great-grandfather, an elder Ebenezer 
Bartlett, was a native of Newton, Mass., where 
the active period of his life was passed in till- 
ing the soil. He reared a family of six chil- 
dren, as follows: Enoch, Jonathan, Moses, 
Thaddeus, .Stephen, and Peregrine. 

Stephen Partlett, the fifth son, as the names 
are here recorded, was born in Newton, Mass. 
In young manhood he took up a tract of wild 
land located within the Androscoggin valley 
in the town of l^ethel. Me., and there cleared 
and improved a farm, upon which he erected a 
large two-story residence. He lived to reach 
the age of seventy years. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Dorcas Barbour, lived to be 
eighty years old. Their children were : Eben- 
ezer, F^lhanan, William, Heulah, James, Dor- 
cas, Sarah, and Sophia. 

Ebenezer ]5artlett, eldest son of .Stephen 
and Dorcas, was reared to agricultural pursuits 
in his native town. When a young man he 
bought a piece of unimproved land located 
near his father's property, and cleared a farm 
of one hundred and forty acres. In connection 
with carrying on his farm he ditl quite a jirofit- 
able business in getting out and finishing pump 
logs, a large number of which he disposed of 
to the inhabitants of Bethel and the adjacent 
towns. After a considerable period of toil- 
some acti\-ity, selling his property in Bethel 



he removeil to Hanover, Me., where he re- 
sided a few years, and then leturning to 
I^ethel bought another farm, which he culti- 
vated until his retirement. His last days were 
passed with his children; and he died in 1S51, 
aged si-\ty-nine \cais. His wife, who was 
before marriage Lois I'owei's, became the 
mother oi seven childicn, namclv : Joanna; 
Silas Powers, the subject of this sketch; 
Ste|iheii ; l'",henezci' N. ; Lusylvia; Artemas; 
and Warren. Mrs. Lois P. I'^artlctt lived to 
reach the age of se\ent}'. 

Silas Powers liartlett acipiired his early ed- 
ucation in the public schools and at the Bethel 
Academy. After completing his elementary 
studies he taught school for a time; and, hav- 
ing read a course of medicine with Dr. Thdmas 
Roberts, of" Rumford, he subset|ucntly entered 
the Maine Metlical School at ]?runswick, where 
he was graduated with the class of i H4 i . Lo- 
cating for practice in (iorham, N.H., he re- 
mained there two years; and in 1X45 he mmcd 
to East Di.xfield, where he succeedeil to the 
jiractice of Dr. Z. W. Bartlett. .S(Jon after his 
arrival he bought the .Samuel yXllcn property 
consisting of a residence and thirty-five acres 
of land, which he impro\e(l and beautified; and 
there he established his home and office. Dr. 
Bartlett is regarded as one of the best qualifieil 
and most experienced ]jhysicians and surgeons 
in this county, having enjoyed a large and suc- 
cessful practice until the feeble condition of 
his health prevented him from taking long 
rides. 

On March 17, 1X47, Di. Baitlett was united 
in marriage with Martha M. Morse, who was 
born February 15. 1S25, daughter of John and 
Sally Morse,' of 'jay, Me. Mrs. l^ar'tlett has 
had five children, as follows: I'lorus, who w'as 
horn I'^ebruary 7, i84(S, married Lydia E. 
Brown, who is no longer living, and he is now- 
engaged in mercantile pursuits; Julia M., who 
was born May 12, 1854, and died August 2<S, 
1886; Silas, an ice dealer of Lewiston, who 
was born January 29, 1S57, married Lucy 
Page, and has one daughter, Beulah ; Addie 
M., who was born Sejitemher 10, i S60, and 
died May 10, 1866; and Addie, who was born 
January 28, 1866, married J. K. Iliscock, of 
Wilton, and died August 24, 1895. 

Dr. Bartlett is a Democrat in politics. He 



ibo 



LIOGRATHICAL KEVIKW 



has al\va}'s displayed a deep interest in educa- 
tional matters, and for a number of years he 
served as superintendent of schools. His 
wide reputation as a mathematician has been 
accpiircd by his success in soh'ing numerous 
difficult ]iroblems sent to him for solution, 
antl for the past fifty years he has furnished 
original jiroblems to the Maine Mathematical 
Almanac. Both he and Mrs. Bartlett are 
.sincerely esteemed and respected by a large 
circle of friends and acquaintances, as well as 
by the community in general. 



AIKFII-:i.D FARRAR, who is engaged 
in tilling the soil of a good farm in the 
town of Sumner, in the eastern part of 
Oxford County, and is one of the prosperous 
residents here, was born in Paris, the shire 
town of the county, October ig, 1S39, son of 
Hela and Lydia Farrar. An account of his 
parents will be found in a sketch of Harri- 
son F\arrar. which appears elsewhere in this 
work. 

]''airfiehl l'"arrar was educateil in the district 
schools of his native town, and w'as reared to 
farm life. Since becoming of age he has 
given his uiiiliv'idetl attention to agricidtural 
pursuits, in which by his industry and close 
application to every detail- he has attained 
marked success. He now owns seventy acres 
of as fertile land as can be found in this local- 
ity. On I'^ebruary iS, 1888, Mr. F'arrar mar- 
ried Dclma L. l?uck, who was born in l^uck- 
field, near b}', daughter of Henry M. and Ro^ 
setta J. (Doble) liuck, and a representative of 
the family for w'hom the town was named. 
Mr. and Mrs. F'arrar have no children. Mr. 
F'arrar is a Democrat in politics, and liberal in 
his religious views; and Mrs. F^arrar is a 
member of the Bajitist church. 

Henry Mellen Buck, Mrs. F'arrar's father, 
was born in Buckfield, September 10, \^y), 
sou of James and Lydia (Austin) l^uck, the 
former of whom was born in Buckfield ; and his 
wife was a native of Canton, Me. Mr. Buck's 
great-grandfather, Jonathan ]-iuck, is said to 
have been the first settler and founder of the 
town of Buckfield, which was originally called 
15ucktown. iM'om the then almost unbroken 
wilderness he cleared a farm, upon which he 



resided for the rest of his life. The jjroperty 
is now owned by Elmer Austin. 

Jonathan Buck, Jr., Mr. Buck's grandfather, 
who was classed as one of the leading agricult- 
urists of his day, was born upon his father's 
farm in ]?uckfield, and passed his whole life 
there, dying at the age of si.xty-seven years. 
He was a Democrat in politics and a Uni\'er- 
salist in his religious views. He was twice 
married, and reared a family of seven cliildren, 
most of whom fell victims to consumption 
before reaching middle age. 

James Buck, one of the seven, having a more 
vigorous constitution, lived to be eighty-four 
years old. He began life as a. farmer, but 
later engaged in trade at North Buckfield. 
The greater part of his life was spent in his 
native town ; but his latter days were passed in 
Paris, Me., this county. He was a well-known 
citizen, a man whose honorable character won 
for him the esteem and good-will of all with 
whom he came in contact; and his entire life 
was one' of useful acti\'ity. In his later years 
he acted with the Republican jjartv in politics. 
His wife, Lydia Austin, who lived to be fifty- 
eight years old, became the mother of seven 
children, as follows: Lorenzo J., Roscoe C, 
Mrs. Mary J. Stetson, and Austin, who are no 
longer living; Augustus \V. , who resides in 
Minnesota, -where he is engaged in carpenter- 
ing and farming; Henry Mellen ; and Hannah 
C, who is now the wife of Julius A. Record, 
and lives in .South l^aris, Me. Mr. Buck's par- 
ents were Universalists in their religious belief. 

Henry Mellen Buck, the date of whose birth 
is mentioned above, was educated in the town 
schools of Buckfield. When a young man he 
learned the tailor's trade; and he also became 
skilled in mechanical pursuits, first entering 
the employ of Morton & Bates at West Sum- 
ner, later engaging with the South Paris Man- 
ufacturing Company. F"or ten years he carried 
on his tailoring business more or less, in con- 
nection with his other industrial occujwtion. 
In 1879 he bought the home farm of seventy 
acres, which he continued to cultivate with un- 
usual activity and success till 1895, when he 
sold out to his son. In 1861 Mr. Buck mar- 
ried Rosetta J. Doble, who was born in Buck- 
field, and is a daughter of Solomon Doble, of 
that town. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have had ten 



BIOGKAl'lUCAL RKVIKW 



261 



children, live of wlioiii arc living, namely: 
Delma L. , whn is nciw Mrs. I'airticltl Farrar, 
of Sumner; LulicA., Mrs. Dammon ; Charles 
A. ; Myrtle H. ; and I'jiiogene. The ulhers 
were: Lorenzo, first; Lorenzo, second; (lai- 
field ; Percy A.; and Mary lunma. In addi- 
tion to the home farm Charles A. Muck has 
bought other real estate in this localit)', own- 
ing at the present time about one hundred and 
fifty acres in nil; and he de\'otes coiisitlerable 
attention to dairying. 

In ]iolitic.s Mr. Buck is a Kepublican, and, 
though not caring to hold office, is deeplv 
interested in the general welfare and imi^rove- 
ment of the comnumit}-. The family is a dis- 
tinguished one in this locality, and its repre- 
sentatives of the jiresent day are all filling 
useful positions in life. 




Al'TAIN WHJTAM K. BlCKl-ORD, 

pro]3rietor of the Beal's House, Nor- 
way, Me., and a veteran of the Ci\-il 
War, was born in Dresden, Me., 
November 8, 1S36, son of William, Jr., and 
Mehitabel (Hathorn) Bickford. 

William Bickford, Jr., like his son a na- 
tive of Dresden, Me., was born January 29, 
1794. Upon assuming the responsibilities of 
life he purchased a farm adjoining that owned 
by his father, William Bickford, Sr. : and 
there he spent the remainder of his days. He 
became a stirring, ]5rogressive citizen and 
successful farmer. During the War of iSu 
he served as a private. In ])olitics he was a 
Democrat, in religion a Methodist. He died 
December i, 1889. His wife, Mehitabel 
Hathorn liickford, born I'ebruary 9, 1800, 
died in August, 1S64. They were the ])arents 
of seven children, four sons and three daugh- 
ters, namely: Mary C, born March 4, 1825; 
Joseph T., born January 29, 1827; Maria 
I.. T., born November 5, 1829; Nathaniel 
H., born April 4. 1832; ]{liza A., born No- 
vember 7, 1S34: William Kendall, the date 
of whose birth is mentioned above, and whose 
personal sketch is to follow; and Frank W. , 
born April 16, 1841. 

When his school days were over, William 
Kendall Bickford, at sixteen years of age, 
went to Gardiner, Mc, as a clerk for Charles 



Stone, with whom he remaine'd a \ear. .After 
that he worked a short time in a ihy-goods 
store, and then learned the tailor's trade; but, 
not liking this occujiation, he went to Boston, 
where for two years he had a [losition as clerk 
in a shoe store. During the next two years he 
was clerk m the Maini' Hotel at Damariscotta, 
Me., which he subsecpu'iitly conducted for the 
owners for a time. \\c was next employed 
till 1862 as clerk at Knox Hotel, Thomaston, 
Me. l'2nlisting in l'om[)any I, Twentieth 
Maine Regiment, he served seven months as a 
private, was then commissioned as Second 
Lieutenant in Company H, and still later was 
made First Lieutenant. In 1864 he received 
a commission as Captain of Company ]•".. being 
Lieutenant in command of Comjiaii)- II: and 
he took part in the following battles: Antie- 
tam, Chancel lorsvi lie, Gettysburg, W^ilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Weldon Rail- 
road, Peeble's Farm, Appomattox, \'a., I''ive 
l-'orks, and l-'redericksburg, besides numerous 
other engagements. He was wounded in the 
left breast by a piece of shell at Spottsyl- 
vania, and has never entirely recovered from 
his injury. His war record is a most credit- 
able and honorable one. and he h.as in his pos- 
session medals bestoweil in recognition of his 
bravery. 

On his return to Maine he purchased in 
company with ]■;. R. l-Tlis, who was afterward 
succeeded by Seth O. Henderson, the Barnum 
Eating-house at Portland, and conducted a 
very successful business up to July 4, 1866, 
when they were burned out in the big P(n-tland 
fire. Mr. Bickford then went to Hudson, 
Me., and bought tiie Hudson House. Two 
years later he sold out, and went into the h'al- 
mouth House, Portland, as clerk; and he sub- 
sequently held the position of head clerk at 
leading hotels in Rockland, Bangor, and 
Thomaston, Me. 

IMr. Bickford returned to Thomaston in Oc- 
tober, 1 87 1, and openetl the Georges Hotel, 
which he leased until the spring of 1877, 
when he moved down town and leasi-d the 
Knox House, where he remained until 1893, 
when he leased the Beal's Hotel in Norway, 
the largest and best equipped in Oxford 
County. This house has fifty finely furnished 
rooms, heated by steam and lighted by elec- 



BlOGRAl'lllCAL RKVIKW 



tricity. Its patronage has been large from 
the start, and its present proprietor is one of 
the ablest to be found in many miles" travel. 
He not only gives excellent satisfaction to his 
guests, but has won manv warm friends among 
the citizens of Norway. 

On November i, 1-S65, Captain Bickford 
was united in marriage with Miss luiima J. 
Henderson, daughter ui Seth O. and Octavia 
(Lovejoy) Henderson. She was born in 
Calais, Me., December 2, 1845. Her father, 
who was born at .St. George, September 14, 
1 8 19, son of Captain Robert and Eliza 
(O'Brian) Henderson, was a direct descend- 
ant of Captain Thomas Henderson, one of the 
first settlers of Upper St. Georges, and the 
commander of a garrison and block-house in 
the war of 1744. Captain and Mrs. Bickford 
have had four sons and five daughters, namely: 
William .S.. born in Portland, March 26, 
1866; l^lla L., who was born in East Bangor, 
June 27, 1868, and died May 19, 1869; Inez 
M., born in Thomaston, December 13, 1871, 
who died December 21, 1S72; Robert K., 
born in Thomaston, June 14, 1873, who is 
preparing for a dental course; Ross L., born 
in Thomaston, August 21, 1875, now a clerk 
at the Beal's House; Octavia H., born in 
Thomaston, August 12, 1877; Mary M., born 
in Thomaston, September 30, 1879; Grace, 
born in Thomaston, Eebruary 25, 1883; and 
Henry Kno.x, born in Thomaston, April 27, 

1889. William S. Bickford married I^uella 
May Jones, of Reading, Mass., in August, 

1890, engaged in the drug business until fail- 
ing health led him to seek other employment, 
and he is at the present time an express agent 
on the Boston & Maine Railroad, Eavvrence 
branch. 

In political affiliation Captain Bickford is a 
Democrat. He is a member of Orient Eodge, 
No. 15, A. F. & A. M., at Thomaston. Both 
he and his wife are communicants of the Epis- 
copal church. 



|11AREES E. GREEN, a prosperous 
farmer and an extensive fruit grower 
of Wilton, was born in the house 
he now occupies, June 20, 1859, 
son of Leonard F. and Mary A. (Earnum) 




Green. He is a descendant of Jonas Green, a 
resident of Dunstable, Mass.; and the family 
is, no doubt, of early Colonial origin, though 
but little authentic information can be ob- 
tained in regard to its original antecedents. 

The place and date of Jonas Green's brrth 
cannot with certainty be ascertained, but he is 
known to have lived in Dunstable; and the 
principal fact concerning him of which there 
is any record is that he was the father of 
nineteen children, among whom there were 
triplets. Their names and dates of birth are 
as follows: Betsey, February i, 1760; Na- 
thaniel, March 3, 1762; Jennison, March 31, 
1764; Eydia, October ig, 1765; Jonas, Jo- 
siah, and another child, who were born Octo- 
ber 5, 1767; Abigail, .September 5,. 1769; 
Rachel, July 12, 1771; Joshua, August 23, 
1776; Guy, August 23, 1778; Hannah, March 
I, 1780: Asa, January 31, 1782; Joshua, 
March 7, 1784; Hannah, second, F^ebruar)- 
19, 1786; Folly, September 2, 1788; David, 
May 6, 1791 ; Rebecca, April 26, 1793; and 
Nathaniel, second, July 10, 1795. 

Josiah Green, the sixth child above named, 
was born in Dunstable, Mass. Penetrating 
the wilderness of Maine when a young man, 
he became the first settler of Wilton. Erect- 
ing a log cabin upon the westerly side of Wil- 
ton Lake, he began the work of clearing the 
land; but before he had gained much headway 
his hut was burned, and he gave up the idea 
of locating there. Taking up a smaller tract 
near where his wife's parents had settled, he 
constructed another cabin, the foundation of 
which is still visible; and after clearing a 
good farm he erected a set of substantial frame 
buildings. He is said to have been the first 
settler here who attained success in agricult- 
ural pursuits beyond the ordinary pioneer; and 
he was the first to raise apples in this locality, 
his fruit becoming a great luxury in the neigh- 
borhood. He later set out cpiite a large 
orchard, and was an exceedingly energetic and 
thrifty farmer, considering the limited opjjor- 
tunities for advancement in his day. He dietl 
in 1814, survived by his wife, formerly Lydia 
Butterfield, who was born February 22, 1769, 
and died in 18 19. They were the parents of 
nine children, as follows: Polly, who was born 
January 22, 1795; Hannah, who was born Oc- 



HIOGRAI'HICAL REVIEW 



26: 



tobcr 6, 1796; Lydia, who was born July 15. 
1799; Josiah, who was born (3ctober 2-j , 
iSoi ; Asa, who was born I'cbruary 14, 1803; 
Jonas and Samuel, twins, who were born June 
6, 1805: Luther, who was born May 16, 1807; 
and Harrison, who was born July i, 18 13. 

Jonas Green, son of Josiah and Lydia 
(Buttertield) Green, was reared to farm life in 
Wilton, and became one of the stirring and 
progressive farmers of his day. His first wife, 
who was before marriage Hannah J. Farmer, 
was killed by lightning. She left two chil- 
dren, namely: Leonard I-"., who was born 
April 8, 1S28; and Martha K., who was born 
March 17, iSji. l"or his second wife he 
married Harriet Farmer, a sister of his first 
wife; and by this union there was one daugh- 
ter, Lydia IL, who was born March 12, 1850, 
and died in infancy. Jonas (ireen wedded for 
his. third wife Sarah Morrison, and his fourth 
wife was Margaret Orr. 

Leonard F. Green was an only son, and as 
such remained at home to assist his father in 
carrying on the farm. He eventually bought 
the homestead, upon which he erected new 
buildings; and he later purchased the property 
cleared and improved by his grandfather. He 
tille:l the soil with more than usual energy, 
possessing one of the most desirable pieces of 
agricultural property in town; and his activity 
continued until his death, which took place in 
October, 1884. His wife, Mary A. F'arnum, 
who was born May 5, 1833, became the 
mother of three children, as follows: George 
K., a successful agriculturist of Farmington, 
who was born December 8, 1855, married Cora 
H. Allen, daughter of William N. Allen, and 
has two children — Elsie M. and Edith; 
Charles L., the subject of this sketch; and 
Willie, who died at the age of nearly nine 
years. Mrs. Mary A. F'arnum Green li\'ed to 
reach the age of fifty-three years. 

Charles L. Green, the younger of the two 
sons who reached maturity, was educated in 
the public schools and at the Wilton Acad- 
emy. At the age of nineteen he commenced 
teaching school, and continued engaged in 
that profession for eight terms. Succeeding 
to the possession of the homestead after his 
father's death, he has since devoted his atten- 
tion to stock farming and fruit growing. He 



owns two hundred and sixty -five acres of land, 
including his father's farm and the property 
formerly owned by his great-grandfather, Jo- 
siah Green ; and he has the largest number of 
acres uniler cultivation of any farmer in town. 
He keeps ;i her<l of excellent cows and a large 
flock of sheep; and besides attending to his 
stock and the cultixation of his crops he has 
an orchard of three thousand grafted apple- 
trees, one thousand of which he set out him- 
self, the yield of 1896 being eight hundred 
barrels. 

On April 16, 1890, Mr. (ireen wedded Julia 
M. Adams, daughter of Charles N. and b'lora 
A. (Walker) Adams. Mrs. Green's father 
was born August 3, 1840, and is now engaged 
in the butchering business in Wilton. His 
wife, F'lora A., is a daughter of Jeremiah and 
Sally (Gould) Walker. They have had a fam- 
ily of five children, namely: Harry, who died 
young; llalcyone G. ; Herman C. ; Julia M., 
who is now Mrs. Charles G. Green; and 
Guy W. 

In jjolitics Mr. Green sujjports the Republi- 
can party; and, though not an aspirant for po- 
litical honor, he takes a keen interest in local 
public affairs, and has served with ability 
upon the .School Board. He is deservedly 
popular as one of the rising young men of this 
locality, and is rapidly attaining the position 
of prominence to which his energy and pro- 
gressive tendencies are sure to lead him. It 
is worthy of note that the Green homestead, 
which he now occupies, has never been out of 
the Green family from the time it was first 
settled by Josiah Green. It is now about one 
hundred vears since. 



(5 I I MOTH Y H. CHAPMAN, a farmer and 

' I dairyman of Bethel, resides on the farm 
-*- staked out by his grandfather in 1795. 
He was born April 29, 1S18, on this farm, 
son of Timothy and Betsey (Barker) Chap- 
man. His grandfather, Eliphaz Chapman, a 
native of Massachusetts, was a Congregational 
minister. Settling on this farm in 1795, 
Eliphaz soon took a leading part in town 
affairs. It was he who proposed that the 
place should be named Bethel when the town 
was organized. 



264 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Timothy Chapman, who was also born in 
Massachusetts, had reached his ninth year when 
his parents came to Bethel. His life from 
that early period was spent on the homestead, 
and he died there at the age of eighty-eight. 
He was a member of the Congregational 
church. In politics he was a Republican, but 
took no active part in public affairs. Mrs. 
Betsey (Barker) Chapman was born in Bethel, 
and died here when about thirty-five years 
old. She, too, was a member of the Congre- 
gational church. Of her seven children the 
subject of this sketch is the only one living. 
After her death her husband entered a second 
marriage, contracted with Miss Abigail Blan- 
chard, of Bethel. By this union he had one 
daughter, Hannah, who is now the wife of 
Charles A. Chapman, of Mankato, Minn. 

Timothy H. Chapman was bereft of his 
mother when but one year old. He obtained 
his education in the district school, and grew 
to a robust manhood among the scenes of farm 
life. When he was twenty-five years of age 
his father gave him forty acres of land for his 
own use. After living on this little planta- 
tion for a number of years he returned to the 
old homestead, which he inherited; and there 
he has since made his home. 

Mr. Chapman was married in Se]5tember, 
1S43, to Miss -Sarah Newell, of Bethel, who 
died in 1862, leaving five children. These 
were: Jianister N. , now a farmer, residing on 
the old homestead; Fannie, who died at the 
age of thirty-six; Hervey W. , a Presbyterian 
clergyman in Lakeport, Cal. ; Florence E., 
the wife of P. L. Watts, of Portland, Me. ; 
and Alice C, the wife of William Doring, of 
North Dakota. Mr. Chapman contracted a 
second marriage in 1863 with Mrs. Martha B. 
(Newell) Upton, widow of Tilden Upton. 
She had two children by her first marriage. 
By Mr. Chapman she has a daughter, Bessie 
K. . who is teaching in a college in North 
Dakota. A Republican in politics, Mr. 
Chapman is esteemed by both parties. He 
was on the Board of Selectmen two years; and 
he had been Ta.x Collector for fourteen years, 
when he resigned that office. The Bethel 
Grange counts him among its most prominent 
Patrons of Husbandry. He has been a mem- 
ber of the Con2;reg;ational church since he was 



a young man. He served the society in the 
capacity of Deacon for more than twenty years, 
and was superintendent of the .Second Congre- 
gational Church Sunday-school, on the north 
side of the river, for a while. 



f^TuN. HiLTcjN McAllister, of 

t^-l .Stoneham, Oxford County, is a 
II 9 I worthy representative of two of the 

^~"^ oldest and most respected families 
of the vicinity. The son of Eastman and 
Phoebe (Parker) McAllister, he was born in 
Stoneham, October i, 1834. His grandfather, 
Samuel McAllister, moved from Conway, 
N.H., to Lovell, this county, when Eastman 
was quite young, and settled on a farm, which 
he tilled for a number of years. .Subsequently 
Samuel moved to Stoneham, where he spent 
the remainder of his life. His wife, also a 
native of Conway, whose maiden name was 
Mary Ordway, after rearing with him twelve 
children, likewise died in Stoneham. 

Eastman McAllister was born in Conway, 
N.H. He became a resident of Stoneham 
when twenty -one years of age, and two or 
three years later settled on the farm now occu- 
pied by his son. An enterprising and indus- 
trious man, he was engaged in farming and 
lumbering almost up to the time of his death, 
which happened January 16, 1895. He was 
then fourscore and four years of age. His 
wife, to whom he was married when twenty- 
three years of age, was born in Lovell town- 
ship. May 15, 181 I, daughter of Joseph and 
Hannah M. (Ames) Parker. Her grandfather, 
the great-grandfather of Hilton McAllister, 
was James Parker, of Hanover, Mass., one of 
the early settlers of Fryeburg, this county, 
and a member of the intrepid band who fol- 
lowed the Indians from Fryeburg to Bethel on 
a memorable occasion. After spending the 
most of his life in Fryeburg he died in 
Lovell. Joseph Parker, the maternal grand- 
father, who was born in Fryeburg, after his 
marriage moved to Lovell, where he was en- 
gaged in farming for some time. In 1816 he 
came to Stoneham, Me , taking up his resi- 
dence on a farm in the northern part of the 
town. Some years later he went to East 
Stoneham village, where he spent his declin- 



HIOCRAlMliCAL RKVIKW 



3''>.S 



in<; years with his chikh'cii, and tiicci in 1S64. 
His wife, Mannah M. (Ames) Parker, was a 
native of Tam worth, N.H. Their daughter, 
Mrs. Eastman McAllister, is now living with 
her son Hilton. She is a remarkably intelli- 
gent lady, and, though eighty-five years of 
age, is well preserved and appears much 
younger. She is the mother of three children, 
namely: Levi, a farmer in East Stoneham: 
Hilton, the subject of this sketch; and Mary 
IC, deceased, who was the wife of Henry C. 
Cobb, now of Boston. 

Hilton McAllister acquired his earl\- eiluca- 
tion in the district school near his home in 
Stoneham. He remained on the homestead, 
helping his parents until about thirty years of 
age. Then he worked for seven months in a 
cotton-mill in Lowell, Mass., and for four 
months in a cotton-mill in Lawrence, Mass. 
He then returned home, and spent the follow- 
ing year in lumbering near Richardson Lake, 
Me. Eventually he took charge of the home- 
stead, wdiich, with the many imijrovements he 
has made, is now reckoned one of the most 
beautiful farms in the local it)-. His real es- 
tate contains about three hundred acres of 
land, much of it arable. He carries on farm- 
ing and dair)ing with success, and profitably 
employs his winters in lumbering. 

On January i, 1874, Mr. McAllister was 
married to Ella M., daughter of Lyman and 
Mary (Fellows) McKeen. She was born in 
Lovell, March 17, 1858. Her father, who was 
a farmer of Lovell, was one of the Maine vol- 
unteers who died in the late war. Her mother 
lives in North Lovell, and is now the wife of 
Stephen Coffin. Mr. and Mrs. McAllister 
have had two children. Their daughter, 
Abbie \\'., who was born November 6. 1874, 
died April 7, 1896. .Sidney H., their son, 
who was born August 23, 1876, is still shel- 
tered by the parental roof-tree. Mr. Mc- 
Allister is a Republican, and takes an active 
interest in politics. He has been Selectman 
of the town for a number of years, has served 
as Town Clerk and Town Treasurer, and he 
represented the district in the State legis- 
lature in 1S72. He is a Knight of Pythias, 
belonging to Hiawatha Lodge, No. 49. Both 
he and Mrs. McAllister are members of the 
Christian church at Lovell Centre. 



fERDEIL U. WIlllE, M.D., a rising 
young physician and surgeon with a 
large practice in East Di.xfield and 
the adjacent towns, was born in Wilton, Me., 
October 13, 1866, son of lames O. and Zerua 
E. (Walker) White. Dr. "White is a descend- 
ant of Rand White, who resided in Spencer, 
Mass., and was a millwright by tratle. 

Rand White's four sons, Deacon James, 
Darius, I-'rancis, and John, penetrated the 
wilderness of Maine, settling upon the tracts 
of wild land in Penobscot County, twenty-five 
miles north of Bangoi'; but Deacon James 
White, who w;is Dr. White's great-grandfather, 
later lemoved to Di.xfield, O.xford County, 
where he cleared and improved a large farm. 
He was one of the early settlers and progres- 
sive farmers of this localit)', whose efforts 
served to open the wa\' for its development as 
an agricultural region ; and he resided here 
until his death, which took place when he was 
fiftv-six \'ears old. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Nancy Kenney, lived to reach the 
age of seventy-six. Their children were: 
Drewry C, Rand, Tamar, Julia, Nelson, 
James, Nancy, Mary, Jane, and Ruby. 

James White, Dr. White's grandfather, son 
of Deacon James, was born near Blakesburg, 
Penobscot County, Me., October 31, 1806. 
He came to Oxford Count\' with his father; 
and at the age of twenty-one he bought a farm 
in Dixfield, upon which he made his start in 
life. Later in life he owned other farms, the 
largest being tlie Daniel Tucker farm of two 
hundred and fifty acres, ujion which he erected 
a large house and barn. Selling that propcrtv 
he purchased a smaller farm, still known as 
the White place, where he resided until retir- 
ing from active labor in 1 S89. Since that 
time he has made his home with his grandson, 
Dr. White: and, although fast approaching 
his ninetieth birthday, he is active, both phys- 
ically and mentally, and enjoys good health. 
In politics he has alwavs sup])orted the Demo- 
cratic party, and in his religious views is 
liberal. His wife, formerly Hannah Rich- 
mond, who was a daughter of Israel Richmond, 
died July 6, i88g, aged eighty-four years. 
Their children were: Drewry Cummings, .S. 
Lorenza, and James Oberon. 

James O. White, son of James anil Hannah 



266 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



White, was born in Dixfield, July 8, 1837. 
He completed his education at the high 
school in Canton, and before he was twenty 
years old he began to deal in live stock. Fol- 
lowing that business steadily, he became well 
known ajid exceedingly prosperous, and at a 
later day handled both native and Western 
cattle, which he shipped by the carload to the 
markets of Portland and other places. He 
was noted as an extensive buyer of native 
cattle, and he owned a great deal of pasturage 
land in different parts of the county. For 
three years he was engaged in general mer- 
cantile business in East Dixfield, having built 
the store which is now carried on by Mr. Ire- 
land ; and he owned the William Gould place 
on Wilton Street. He was a strictly honor- 
able and upright man, whose progressive ten- 
dencies and enterprising spirit were of great 
benefit to the community; and probably no 
business man in this section ever enjoyed 
greater popularity, or was more deserving of 
the sincere esteem in which he was held. 
Politically, he acted with the Democratic 
party, by which he was elected a member of 
the Board of Selectmen in 1879; and he repre- 
sented his district in the legislature. He was 
a member of W'illiamson Lodge, No. 20, In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows; and in his 
religious belief he was a Universalist. 

James O. White died of appendicitis, July 
25, 1891. His wife, Zerua E. Walker, whom 
he wedded January 8, 1863, was born in Wil- 
ton, daughter of Moody and Zerua (Stone) 
Walker. Her grandparents, Osgood and Polly 
(Reed) Walker, who were natives of Massa- 
chusetts, settled in Wilton among the early 
pioneers, and resided there for the rest of their 
lives. They reared a family of eight chil- 
dren. Moody Walker was born in Wilton, 
May 24, 1 81 5. He owns a large and produc- 
tive farm located near East Dixfield, and is 
one of Wilton's most prominent farmers and 
highly esteemed citizens. He married first 
Zerua, daughter of Ephraim Stone, and she 
died at the age of thirty-three years, leaving 
two children, namely: Harrison; and Zerua, 
who became the wife of the late James O. 
White. By his second marriage, with Mrs. 
Mary H. Whiting Adams, Mr. Walker had 
one son, Samuel W. Mr. and Mrs. James O. 



White had four children, three of whom died 
in infancy; and the only one who lived to 
reach maturity is Verdeil O., the subject of 
this sketch. 

\'erdeil O. White began his education in 
the public schools, and, after completing the 
regular course of study at the Wilton Acad- 
emy in 1884, he entered Bowdoin College, 
where he was graduated in 1889. His profes- 
sional studies were pursued at Harvard Uni- 
versity Medical School, where he was gradu- 
ated in 1892. He immediately located for 
practice in East Dixfield, and has already es- 
tablished a high reputation as a skilful physi- 
cian and surgeon. In 1893 he was apijointed 
a member of the United States Board of Ex- 
aminers in pension cases for Franklin County. 
Politically, he is a Democrat. Aside from 
his professional attainments Dr. White is 
highly respected and esteemed for his many 
estimable personal qualities and for his abil- 
ity in other directions; and he has already 
laid the foundation of a useful and successful 
career. 




ILLIS W. WAITE, an enterprising 
merchant of Dixfield, Oxford 
County, Chairman of the Board of 
Selectmen, was born in this town, July 19, 
1859, son of Lorenzo and Sarah Waitc. His 
paternal grandfather was Isaac Waite; and the 
progenitors of the family, who were natives of 
Massachusetts, settled in Dixfield at an early 
date in the town's history. Lorenzo Waite 
was born in Dixfield, and was reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits. He was an able, energetic 
farmer and one of the stirring men of his 
locality, who availed himself of every oppor- 
tunity for advancement; and, as a result, he 
became prosperous and well-to-do. He scrx'ed 
in the Civil War as a private in Company C, 
Thirtieth Maine Regiment, Maine Volunteers; 
and after his return from the army he resumed 
farming in this tmvn. He died January 2, 
1876. In politics he was a Republican, and 
his religious views were liberal. His wife, 
who was before marriage .Sarah Newman, be- 
came the mother of three children : Harris N. , 
who died at the age of seventeen years; Willis 
W. ; and Leroy L., who resides in Livermore 



BIOGRAPHTCAI. REVIEW 



^6^ 



Falls, Ale. She died at the age of forty-two 
years. 

Willis W. Waite pas.sed his boyhood and 
youth in attending the common schools and 
assisting his father upon the farm. In early 
manhood he gave his attention to agricultural 
pursuits, and also to the live-stock business, 
which he followed successfully for several 
years. In 1894 he embarked in trade, and he 
has since met with an encouraging degree of 
success. He deals in meats, provisions, and 
groceries, of which he carries a full line; and 
his store is well patronized. In iS8g he was 
united in marriage to lulith Parlin, daughter 
of William Parlin; and she is the mother of 
one daughter, Sadie May. Politically, Mr. 
Waite is a Republican. He is now serving 
his third term as a member of the Board of 
Selectmen and his second term as Chairman 
of that body, and his valuable services to the 
town in this capacity are fully appreciated by 
the community. 




HALL for more than two- 
score N'cars was intimately associated 
with the agricultural interests of 
Norway. He was born May 4, 
181S, in Poland, Androscoggin County, son 
of Samuel and Betsey (Hall) Hall. Samuel 
Hall, born April 27, 1787, in Falmouth, 
Cumberland County, there married Miss Hall, 
who was born in the same town, October 22, 
1791. After their marriage they bought land 
in Poland, wdiere they lived until well ad 
vanced in years. Then they came to Norway, 
taking u\) their residence on the homestead 
now occupied by Mrs. Robert Hall. Here the 
father died on January 22, 1859, and the 
mother on August 30, 1873. They had seven 
children, as follows: Mar)', born January i, 
1 811; F:iizabeth W., born May 28, 1815; 
Sarah, born January 28, 181 7; Robert, the 
subject of this sketch ; Jeremiah, burn July 28, 
1821; Albion, born October 27, 1S25; and 
Cordelia, born July 26, 1827. Of these 
Robert is the only survivoi". Albion was a 
farmer in Norway. 

Robert Hall remained beneath the parental 
roof-tree until his marriage, by which time he 
had acquired a complete knowledge of farming. 



Soon after his marriage he bought a farm in 
Norway, and thereafter lived on it for fifteen 
years, successfully engaged in tilling the soil. 
He then came to the present homestead, which 
his father had jireviously bought, and here 
spent the rest of his life engaged in general 
farming anil tlairying. At his death, which 
occurred P'ebruary 9, 1S82, he owned about 
four hundred acres of kuul. Mr. Hall was a 
strong and earnest supporter of the jirinciples 
of the Democratic part)'. He was a member 
of the Norway Grange. He was held in high 
respect by his townsmen, whom he served as 
Highway Surveyor and in other iiffices. 

On December 3, 1843, .Mi', llall married 
Mary Marston, who was liurn in Norway, 
March 10, 1826, daughter of Brackett anil 
Sarah (ILall) Marston. Her parents, who 
removed to this town from i''almouth, their 
native place, were here engaged in farming. 
Having no offspring, Mr. and Mrs. Hall 
adopted Mrs. Hall's niece, Edith W. Marston, 
a daughter of Winslow B. Marston. She was 
born April 2, 1864, and is now the \\\ic of 
Virgil K. Dunn. Both live with Mrs. Hall, 
the husband having charge of the home farm. 
Mr. Dunn was born August 10, 1S64, in 
Greenwood, this county, a son of Charles Ed- 
ward and Rosanna (Pingree) Dunn, natives 
respectively of Poland and Norway. Mr. 
Dunn's parents now live on a farm in the 
northern part of Norway, whither they came 
from Poland. Mr. Dunn is enterjirising and 
industrious, and successfully carries on mixed 
husbandry, raises poultry, for which he has a 
large hennery, and pays sonie attention to 
dairying and stock raising. In politics he is 
a strong Prohibitionist, and he is a member of 
the Norway Grange. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Dunn are valued members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 




F. CONANT, of Temple, e.\-Sheriff of 
I. Franklin County and one of the largest 
and most successful agriculturists in 
this part of the State, was born in Temple, 
.September 25, 1836, son of Ephraim and V.W/.ix 
(Doble) Conant. 

Mr. Conant's grandfather, Ii!phraini Conant, 
Sr. , was in his \ouns:er davs a trader in the 



268 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



town of Templt; when it was first settled; and 
he later cleared and improved a farm from the 
wilderness. The forest abounded in game, 
which, with the trout antl other hsh that filled 
the streams, furnished food for the early 
settlers. In spite of the numerous difficulties 
and hardships oi the situation, the sturdy pio- 
neer cleared awa\' the forest, burned the 
stumps, and saw productive fields of wheat 
and hay take the place of the wilderness, as 
the result of his labor. He continued to in- 
crease his acreage by clearing more land, 
erected frame buildings, and after a long and 
successful period of activity retired. His 
last days were jwssed with his daughter in 
Strong, where he died at the age of ninety 
years; and his wife, whose maiden name was 
Joanna Staples, lived to be nearlv as old. 
Their children were: Ephraim, John G., 
James, Rebecca, I'amelia, Susan, Eliza, 
Sarah, Nancy, and Abigail. 

Ephraim Conant, eldest son of I']phraini, 
Sr. , was born in Temple in 1809; and in early 
manhood he set out for himself. Taking the 
advice of Scott Ellis, an extensive farmer and 
large land-owner of Temple, who lived to reach 
the advanced age of one hundred and three 
years, he bought of him one hundred and sixty 
acres of timbered land, situated just back of 
where his son now resides; and, after making 
a clearing and sowing a crop of wheat, he was 
able by hard w^irk and frugal living to pay 
for his purchase the first year, as Mr. Ellis 
had predicted. Continuing to advance in pros- 
]jerity, he cleared more land until he had 
eighty acres under culti\'ation ; and he in- 
creased his acreage by purchasing adjoining 
property, including the farm now owaied by his 
son, the buildings of which were erected by 
him, so that his real estate here amounted to 
four hundred acres. Selling this jiroperty to 
his son he bought a large farm in the town of 
Strong, where he resided for the rest of his 
life. He was one of the stirring men of his | 
day, who realized a comfortable fortune solely 
through his own energy and perseverance; and, 
being one of the most able citizens of the 
town, he held many of the important offices. 
He was an active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church until the stand taken by that 
denomination ujion the anti slavery question 



forced him to withdraw; and then uniting with 
the Wesleyan Society he furnished liberal 
assistance in building a church edifice. His 
wife, who was before marriage Eliza Doble, 
became the mother of nine children, namely: 
Ephraim Erank, the subject of this sketch; 
Clinton, who died young; Israel H. ; John 
W. ; James H. ; Charles; Ella E. ; Sylvester 
G. ; and Willie, who did not live to reach 
maturity. Mrs. Eliza D. Conant died at the 
age of sixty-one years. 

Ephraim Erank Conant acquired a common- 
school education in his early years, and re- 
mained at home assisting his father in farming 
operations until his circumstances enabled him 
to purchase the property where he now resides. 
Starting with the firm determination to make 
his mark in life, he began by improving and 
still further extending the clearing made by 
his father, erecting new buildings, remodel- 
ling others; and he also engaged in lumbering. 
Having invested his surplus capital in real 
estate, he now owns eleven hundred and fifty 
acres, including a farm of one hundred and 
fifty acres in the adjoining town of Avon, 
which he carries on in connection with his 
homestead property. He has a large orchard 
of choice grafted fruit set out by himself, 
keeps twenty head of cattle, six horses, and 
two hundred sheep. His farms are carrieil on 
according to the best modern methods, with 
the view of obtaining the most profitable 
results; and by steadfastly adhering to his 
original purpose he has through perseverance 
and good judgment fully realized his ambition. 

On October 14, i860, Mr. E. E. Conant 
married Eliza A. Mitchell, daughter of 
Luther and Sarah (Staples) Mitchell, of 
Temple. Mrs. Conant's paternal grandpar- 
ents, Andrew and Susan (Weatherby) Mitch- 
ell, who were both natives of Lunenburg, 
Mass., became early settlers of Temple Mead- 
ows, and were very prosperous farming people. 
Luther Mitchell bought a farm of eighty acres 
near his father's property, and followed agri- 
cultural pursuits succes.sfully until his death, 
which took place when he was seventy-three 
years old. His wife, Sarah Staples, who was 
a daughter of Samuel Staples, lived to be 
seventy-six years old, and her children were: 
Eliza A., who became Mrs. Conant; Augustus; 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



269 



and Melvin. Mr. and Mrs. Conant have one 
daughter — Maud C, who was born June 13, 
1864, and is now a book-keeper in Boston. 

Mr. Conant in politics is a Republican. 
For twelve years he served as Deputy Sheriff 
of Franklin County and for four years as High 
Sheriff. Though not a professor of any re- 
ligious belief, he attends both the Methodist 
and Baptist churches, and contributes liberally 
toward their support. He is the largest real 
estate owner in this section, and his bruad 
tracts of wild land are plentifully supplied with 
deer and other game. 



TT^HARLKS \V. RVKRSON, Chairman 
I ^yJ ,if the Board of Selectmen of Norway, 
\^Hs^ was born April 7, 1830, in Paris, 
this county, son of Cushman and 
Lavinia (Dunn) Ryerson. Among the earliest 
settlers of Maine was the Ryerson family, 
which located in the south-west part of the 
State. Luke Ryerson, grandfather of Charles 
\V. , was one of the twenty-four children borne 
to his father by his two wives. Grandfather 
Ryerson was born and reared in Portland, 
whence he removed tn Paris in pioneer days. 
He converted a tract of wild land -into a good 
homestead, and was there engaged both in 
tilling the soil and teaming during the rest of 
his life. His wife, Keziah (Cu.shman) Ryer- 
son, was born January 16, 1772, and died 
March 25, 1857. She bore him ten children, 
five boys and five girls, all of whom have 
passed away. 

Cushman Ryerson, father of Charles W., 
was a farmer. He spent his life on the Paris 
homestead where he was born. After succeed- 
ing to the paternal acres he cleared a large 
part of the land, lived to a good old age, and 
died May 25, 1862. He successively n)arried 
Lavinia and Eliza Dunn, both natives of Po- 
land, Me., and cousins. By his first union he 
became the father of four children, as follows: 
Julia A., born June 13, 1828, who died Sep- 
tember 7, 1847; Charles \V. , the subject of 
this sketch; Fessenden, born December 25, 
1831, who died August 12, 1847; and Alvin 
M., born June 23, 1834, who married Miss 
Carrie Barker, and is now engaged in the car- 
penter's trade at Auburn, this State. His 



second wife, whom he wedded IJecember 20, 
1S35, bore him two children, namely: Eliza 
L., born October 7, 1837, who died at the age 
of thirty years; and Gei}rge C, born May 26, 
1839. 

The education of Charles W. Ryerson was 
comjjleted at a high school. l'"or some years 
thereafter he worked on the home farm in 
Paris during the summer season, and taught 
school in the winter. After his marriage he 
devoted his entire time to agriculture, living 
for six or more years on a farm in his native 
town. At the end of that jieriod he disposed 
of this estate and removed with his family to 
Norway, where on November 2, 1865, he 
entered upon his present farm. In the man- 
agement of this property, which contains one 
hundred and .seventy- five acres of land, he has 
shown good judgment and has been very suc- 
cessful. He carries on general farnnng, and 
keeps a small dairy. Mr. Ryerson also owns 
a tract of land in Waterford township. As an 
adherent of the Reiuiblican party, he takes an 
active interest in politics. He has been one 
of the Selectmen of the town for si.x years, 
being now Chairman of the Board; and he has 
served on the School Board for three years. _ 
Also for three years he was I'resident of the 
Oxford County Agricultural Society, and he 
was Vice-President for one year. He was the 
first Master of both the Norway and Pomona 
Granges, serving four years in the latter posi- 
tion. He belongs to the Norway Lodge, No. 
16, Independent Order of Odd F'ellows, and to 
the Wildey Encampment. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Universalist church 
at Paris Hill. 

Mr. Ryerson was married May i, 1859, to 
Miss Susan R. Marston, who was born June 7, 
1835, in Norway, daughter of the late Brack- 
ett and Sarah (Hall) Marston. Mr. Marston, 
together with his wife, came here from Fal- 
mouth, their native town, bought the farm now- 
owned by Mr. Ryerson, and lived for a few 
years in a log house. This he subsequently 
"replaced by the dwelling the Ryersons now 
occupy, and spent his last years in it. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ryerson have two children, namely: 
Lizzie J., born May 22, 1862, who died Feb- 
ruary 27, 1865; and Lizzie C, born May 20, 
1866, the wife of John P. Howe, and living on 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA^EW 



tlie farm with her husband, whci assists in its 
management. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have had 
I'oLir children — Helen, Charles C, Ora, and 
Charles. Charles C. died when verv voimg-. 




|HARLI>:.S M. COOLIDGE, M.D., a 

popular jihysician of Waterfnrd, Me., 
was burn in Cantnii, this .State, 
September 25, 1S64. He is the 
son of Dr. Charles A. and Sarah Nancy (Fos- 
ter) Coolidge, and a grandson of John Cool- 
idge, originally from Livermore, Me., who 
settled in Canton at an early date and s|ient 
his life there, engaged in agriculture. 

Charles A. Coolidge was born in Canton, 
Me. I'or some time during his student days 
he taught school in the vicinity of his home; 
and after he received his medical degree he 
began to practice in Weld, Me. He was sub- 
sequently engaged in professional work in 
North Livermore, but later returned to his 
native town, where .he is now in active prac- 
tice. Mrs. Coolidge is a native of Weld, Me. 
She is the mother of three children : Martina 
Eliza, who died in infancy; Henry E., who 
.was at one time principal of the North Berwick 
High School, now a practising attorney at Lis- 
bon Falls, Me. ; and Charles M., who, as 
already noted, has adopted his father's calling. 
Henry E. Coolidge married Miss Josephine O. 
Dearborn, of Canton, Me. 

Charles M. Coolidge was graduated from the 
Nichols Latin School of Lewiston in the class 
of 1884 and from the medical department of 
Dartmouth College in the class of 1887. 
When ready to enter on his life work he 
iipened an office in North Waterford village, 
where he now resides, and in the short space 
of a decade has established an extensive prac- 
tice, his circuit embracing Waterford, Stone- 
liam, Albany, and Lovell. Dr. C. M. Cool- 
idge is widely known and highly esteemed, and 
though younger than many of his confreres has 
the confidence of all who know him. 

He was married February 21, 1886, to Miss 
Ida H. Manning, who was born in Eaton, 
X.H., September 24, i860, the daughter of 
Dr. William A. and Nancy (Atkinson) Man- 
ning. Dr. Manning, now deceased, was one 
ol the best known phvsicians of his day, 




practising in Eaton, N. H., and in Stone- 
ham, Me. His wife is now living in Eaton, 
N.H. Mr.s. Coolidge died March 14, 1895, 
leaving one child — Marion Allegra, born 
April 20, I 89 1. 

Dr. Coolidge is prominent among the Re- 
publicans of Waterford, and has held several 
offices of trust. He has served on the School 
Board three years, and is now^ Supeivisor of 
Schools. As a Mason he belongs to Mount 
Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of 
Waterford Flat; and as a Knight of Pythias 
he is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 49, 
of Stoneham, I\Ie. 



APTAIN EDWARD M. ROBIN- 
SON, who is successfully engaged in 
the furniture and undertaking busi- 
ness in Phillips, his store being 3 
Beal Block, was born in South Sebec, Piscata- 
quis County, Me., October 21, 1S33, a son of 
Benjamin Franklin and Betsey C. (Russell) 
Robinson. Benjamin F. Robinson, who was 
a descendant of one of Scotland's sturdy sons, 
was born in Ellsworth, Me. ; and his wife, who 
was of Flnglish- origin, was born in Norridge- 
wock. Me. The family name was formerly 
Robinston, which has been changed to the 
more euphonious spelling of to-day. 

Jonathan Robinson, the father of Benjamin 
F., was a native of Vermont, whence he re- 
moved to Maine. During his years of active 
labor he followed the business of a mill- 
wright, besides carrying on the farm which he 
owned in Sebec. He was the father of seven 
children: but of that number only one re- 
mains, Paulina K., the widow of J. G. Jo_\', 
of Sebec, Me. Jonathan Robinson lived to 
the venerable age of ninety-six years. 

During the greater part of his years of toil 
Benjamin F. Robinson worked with his father 
as a millwright, but finally purchased a farm 
in Sebec, where he spent the remainder of his 
life. Of the eleven children born to him and 
his wife, Betsey, si.v are living, namely: 
Leonard R., in Bath; Edward M. : Ira, in 
Bath; Albert A., in California; Mary, the 
widow of W. Troy, in Willimantic; and 
Carrie, the wife of F. Wittum, of Gardiner, 
Me. Their father dieil in 1882, aged eighty- 




EDWARD M. ROBINSON and grand-daughter. FAYE R. HAINES. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



two years, and their mother in I1S62, aged 
fifty-six years. 

lulward M. Robinson not only acquired a 
practical district-school education during his 
home life, but formed habits of industry, 
being required to perform such tasks as 
usually fall to the lot of the farmer's boy. 
When he reached the age of seventeen he went 
to Machias as an apprentice to his uncle, Dean 
S. Robinson, a millwright, with w'hom he re- 
mained four years. From about 1S54 to the 
beginning of the Civil War he was employed 
at his trade in different places in the Prov- 
inces and in Cherryfield and Levviston, being 
engaged on the Androscoggin mill in the last- 
named place when the first call was issued for 
volunteers to put down the Rebellion. He 
responded promptly by enlisting in Company 
E of the Fifth Maine Volunteers, of which 
Mark H. Duunell was Colonel, E^dwin Sawyer, 
of Lisbon Falls, being Captain of the com- 
pany. We are indebted to the May, 1.S96, 
issue of the Rtii/j^r/cy Lakes for the follow- 
ing account of his war service. April 2'j, 
1 861, less than two weeks after the fall of 
Sumter, saw him signing the enlistment 
papers as a member of Company E, Fifth 
Maine \'olunteers. The regiment was mus- 
tered in at Portland, Robinson being ap- 
pointed Third Sergeant in Company E. (The 
Captain says that no honor which has been 
conferred upon him since has ever given him 
the supreme satisfaction he felt at that time, 
and adds that he couldn't have felt prouder if 
he'd been made Brigadier-general.) August 
15, I ST) I, he was promoted to Second Lieuten- 
ant of Company E, for "meritorious conduct 
at the battle of Bull Run." In ALay, i<S62, 
he was promoted to First Lieutenant of Com- 
pany C; and in March, 1863, his unflagging 
bravery won him the Captainc}' of Company C. 

Now Company C was made up of dare-devil 
fellows, known as the " Saco roughs.'' The 
men had been unmanageable from the first, 
and weren't growing any better as time wore 
on. Several captains of this particular com- 
pany had one after another given up the task 
and gone home. The bluff old colonel of the 
regiment grew tired of appointing captains 
for Company C after a while, and finally said, 
'"Well, I'll appoint some one this time that 



I'll be d d if they'll drive home": anti he 

appointed Lieutenant Robinson. 

The first day he took conunand, there was a 
little episode which settled matters once and 
for all. Company C was doing picket duty in 
front of Richmond. As the column marched 
along the line the three last men dropped off 
at each post. The Captain toUl the men that, 
after the line was covered, they could shift 
around, so that comrades who messed together 
might be with each other, adding that he 
couldn't stop to sort them out then, with the 
rebel line popping at 'em from the other side 

of the river. It happened that Private , 

one of the ringleaders, was told off with two 
fellows from a different mess; and he flared up 
in an instant. He gave his rifle a fling toward 
the river,, declaring with an oath that he 
wouldn't submit to any such thir.g. Scarcely 
had the rifle struck the ground when he him- 
self was stretched senseless by a blow with 
the back of the Captain's sword. l-'or a time 
it looked as if he would die; but eventually he 
pulled through, and begged not to be court- 
martialled. "I won't court-martial you," said 
the Captain, "if you'll settle down and behave 
yourself. But remember this: I'm going to be 
Captain from now on. \'ou've been Captain 
long enough. " And, when he discovered that 
he'd found his master, he developed into a 
model soldier. 

May 3, 1863, at the battle of Fredericks- 
burg, Captain Robinson received three flesli 
wounds, but diil not leave the company. May 
10, 1864, at the Iwttle of Spottsylvania Court- 
house, he was shot through both legs, and w;is 
forced to go home. After remaining home 
eight months he raised a new company, which 
was mustered in at Augusta, and sent to the 
front to join the Nineteenth Corps. This 
corps was broken up, and his division sent 
South, entering Savannah just as Sherman 
was marching out. He was in Augusta, Ga., 
at the time Jeff Davis was hurried through the 
city in the night; "and it was well for Davis 
that our boys didn't know he was in the city," 
says the Captain. 

After the declaration of peace Captain 
Robinson was appointed Provost Marshal, 
administering the oath of amnesty to those 
who desired to iro into business attain, and 



274 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



aiding in many ways the war-stricken State. 
He was detailed, soon after liis appointment, 
to search out tlie hiding-place of a vast amount 
of Confederate specie, which had been spirited 
away from Richmond. The specie was found 
in tobacco boxes sealed with the letters 
■'C. S. A.," and amounted to fifteen million 
dollars. 

Fortunes were made in those after-the-war 
times in ways more rapid than honest, and 
the Captain had an opportunity which in the 
hands of a less honest person would have 
yielded mighty good returns. There was 
reason to believe that a • certain ex-rebel 
Major and paymaster had, locked up in his 
safe, certain Confederate property; and Cap- 
tain Robinson and one of his Lieutenants went 
down with a detail of men to see about it. 
The old Major told them that there was noth- 
ing contraband in the safe, and he would 
gladly open it for them but that the key was 
not there. "All right," said the Captain; 
"we'll have a team come up and carry the 
safe down to headquarters, where 1 guess 
they'll find a way to get into it."' The old 
rebel saw they meant business, so he called 
the Captain and the Lieutenant aside, and 
said, "There is fifteen thousand dollars in Con- 
federate gold and silver in that safe: and, if 
you fellows will say nothing about it, you can 
divide one-half of that pile between you." 
"Do it, Cap'n, do it!" exclaimed the Lieu- 
tenant. Hut the Captain wasn't the man to 
tarnish his record and break his oath to the 
government. .So the end of it was that the fif- 
teen thousand dollars went to headquarters. 
Following is a list of the battles in which he 
took part, which form a fitting close for this 
account of his military career: first Bull Run, 
Va., July 21, iSCu ; West f'oint, Va., May 6, 
1862; Gaines's Mill, Va., Jime 27, I1S62; 
Charles City Cross-roads, Va., June 29, 
1862; second Bull Run, Va., August 30, 
1862; South Mountain, Md., September 14, 
1862; Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862; 
first P'redericksburg, V'a., December 12, 1862; 
second Fredericksburg, Va. , May 2, 1863; 
Salem Heights, Va., May 4, 1863; Gettys- 
burg, Pa., July 3, 1863: Funkstown, Md., 
July 12, 1863: Rappahannock .Station, \'a., 



November 



I 86 : 



T,ocust Grove. Va., No- 



vember 2j, 1863, Mine Run, Va., November 
29, 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1863; 
Spottsylvania Court-house, Va., May 10, 
1864. 

His grandfather was one of six brothers who 
served in the Revolutionary War, and he him- 
self is one of six brothers who went to the 
front in 1861. Singularly enough, three of 
tlie earlier generation were killed in service, 
and but three of the later generation lived to 
come home at the close of the Rebellion. 

Captain Robinson was mustered out Febru- 
ary 16, 1866, and soon after the close of the 
war Vk'as granted a pension of ten dollars a 
month, which was subsequently increased to 
twenty and still later to twenty-four. The 
year following his return from the war he 
worked at his trade; but the wounds he had 
received caused him considerable trouble, and 
he gave up work as a millwright, and opened 
a furniture store in Anson village. He came 
to Phillips in 1872, and in company with his 
father-in-law, James M. Adams, purchased 
the Barden House, which they conducted for a 
year or so, and then soUl it to .Sam Farmer. 
He then secured work on the Beal I^lock, 
which was begun about that time. After that 
was completed he again took up the furniture 
business, to which he added undertaking, hir- 
ing a portion of the post-office building for the 
purpose, but six months later removing to his 
present quarters in the Beal IMock. On De- 
cember 8, 1859, Mr. Robinson married Miss 
Loreda M. Adams. They have one child, 
Ilda M., born September i, 1S60. 

Mr Robinson, like his father, has always 
been a stanch Republican. He cast his first 
Presidential vote for John C. I'remont. The 
only town office of importance in which he has 
served is that of Town Treasurer. He is one 
of the Directors of the Union National Bank, 
and has been for sixteen years a Trustee of 
the Phillips Savings Bank. In 1862 he be- 
came a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, 
A. F. & A. M., of Skowhegan, Me., but later 
took a dimit, and is now a member of the 
Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 67: Franklin 
Chapter, No. 19, of F"armington, Me.; Pil- 
grim Commandery, Knights Templars, No. 
19, of Farmington; Korah Temple, Noble 
Order of the Mystic Shrine, of Lewiston. He 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



275 



is also a member of Mount Saddleback Lodge, 
No. 92, Iiulependent Order of Odd Fellows, 
of Phillips, and Chairman of its Board of Trus- 
tees; a member of the Loyal Legion, State of 
Maine; and of the Union Veteran League of 
Levviston; likewise of Cushman Post, No. 87, 
Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is 
the present Commander. He is an attendant 
of the Universalist church. 




jHARLES li. HOLT, a prominent 
member of the legal profession in 
Norway and a native of Fryeburg, 
Me., was born March 11, 1S35, son 
of Joseph and Mehitabel (Miller) Holt, and 
grandson of William and Esther (Frye) Holt. 
William Holt, a native of Massachusetts, 
served as a musician in the War of 18 12. He 
went to Fryeburg, and purchased a farm when 
that town was practically new, and continued 
to live there until his death, at the age of 
sixty years. His wife, P^sther (Frye) Holt, 
was a daughter of Simon I'rye, and a descend- 
ant of one of the pioneer families of P"ryeburg. 
She taught school in her younger days. Her 
children were: William H., John, Joseph, 
Thomas K., Mary, Esther, and Sophia. She 
lived to be seventy-seven years old. 

Joseph Holt was born November 25, 1808. 
He learned the trade of a tinsmith, and started 
in business for himself at P"ryeburg. Subse- 
quently, owing to the failing health of his 
parents, he sold out, assumed their debts, and 
cared for them until their death. In recom- 
pense for these sacrifices he received the 
homestead, which he afterward sold, and 
bought a saw-mill, grist-mill, and a farm at 
West Denmark. He also built a store there, 
and all together did a large business. After- 
ward he became the owner of three other 
farms. In politics he was a Democrat, and 
served the town as Selectman. His religion 
was Universalism, and he was a member of 
the Masonic fraternity. His wife, Mehitabel, 
whose birth occurred February 17, 1812, bore 
him seven sons and two daughters, of whom 
Frank B. , the youngest, died when two years 
old. The others, who are living, are: Charles 
E. , Joseph A., Jones B., Alvah M., L. Cor- 
delia, William H., Esther A., and John W. 



After attending the P'rycburg ami I^ridgton 
Academies, Charles I^. Holt read law with 
Major D. R. Hastings, of P'rycburg, and was 
admitted to the bar in March, 1861. He at 
once opened an office in Denmark, where he 
remained until 1873. Then he removed to 
Bethel, and four years later came to Norway. 
Here he entered into partnershij) with Alvah 
Black, one of the leading lawyers of O.xford 
County, with whom he was connected until 
Mr. Black's death in 1882. Beginning in Oc- 
tober of that year, he and A. .S. Kimball did 
business together for three years. Since then 
Mr. Holt has practised his profession alone. 
During his residence in Norway he has taken 
a very active i)art in the legal and financial 
affairs of the town: and his counsel is sought 
by a large clientage, who place implicit faith 
in his legal acumen. A man of studious 
habits, he has one of the largest and best se- 
lected law libraries in O.xford County. Dur- 
ing the Civil War Mr. Holt served as enlist- 
ing ofificer. In 1864 he was appointed, b)- 
General Rufus Ingalls, clerk of the Quarter- 
master Department at City Point, Va. He 
was among the first to favor the removal of the 
County Building from Paris Hill to South 
Paris. He is now one of the Board of Di- 
rectors in the Norway National Bank. Since 
coming to Norway he has purchased and fitteil 
up a fine house on Pleasant .Street, in which 
he now resides. 

On May 26, 1877, Mr. Plolt was united in 
marriage with Miss Lavina B. Ames, daugh- 
ter of Colonel Nathaniel and Roxanna L. 
Ames. Colonel Ames was born in Brown- 
field, Me. On starting in life for himself he 
purchased a new and practically uncultivated 
farm, on which he erected a log house. Latei', 
after clearing u|i a poi'tion of the land and get- 
ting a start, he erected a frame house and other 
necessary buildings. He was a Colonel in the 
State militia. At the time of his death he 
was sevent)'-four years old. His wife, who 
made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Holt, 
died June 19, i8g6, eighty-nine years of age. 
Colonel and Mrs. Ames had a son and three 
daughters; namely, Amanda M., Maria L. , 
Lavinia B., and Charles H. Mr. Holt is a 
member of the Democratic County Committee. 
While in Denmark he held the office of .Select- 



.76 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



linn, and he has served Norway in the same 
capacity since his arrival. He is an esteemed 
Mason, having membership in Mount Moriah 
Lodge, of Denmark; in L'nion Chapter, No. 
36, Royal Arch Masons; in Oxford Council, 
Royal and Select Masters, of Norway; and in 
Portland Commandery, Knights Templars. 




"IRAM P. KLLIOTT, of the firm of 
Elliott & Bartlett, spool manufact- 
urers of Lynchville, in the town of 
Albany, Oxford County, Me., was 
born in Salmon Falls, N.H., December 24, 
1833. His parents were Russell F. and Mary 
Jane (Whitehouse) Elliott. 

Russell 1'. fllliott was born in Salisbury, 
Mass., in March, 1812. For a number of 
years he was intimately connected with manu- 
facturing industries, at first as superintendent 
of a large woollen-mill at Salmon Falls, 
N.H., and later as superintendent of the 
Hosea Crane manufacturing plant at Ports- 
mouth, N.H., which had a large annual output 
of underwear and hosiery; and he was subse- 
quently for a long time conductor on what is 
now the Eastern Division of the Boston & 
Maine Railroad. The latter part of his life 
was spent in retirement at F'all River, Mass., 
where he died at the advanced age of eighty- 
two. His wife, a native of Salmon Falls, 
N.IL, died in May, 1 8go, at the age of 
eighty-one. 

Mr. and Mrs. Russell V. Elliott had seven 
children, six of whom grew to maturity; 
namely, Anna A., Hiram P., luiiily Jane, 
George, Mary K. , and Celia. The sixth 
child, Celia, first, died in infancy. Anna A. 
IClliott, born in March, 1S31, married Colonel 
John I'. Emerson, a dry-goods merchant, who 
died in 1871. She is now living in Paw- 
tncket, R.L lunily Jane, born in October, 
1835, married P'erdinand Reed, and had three 
children. Mr. Reed and his family have all 
passed to the world beyonil, the mother and 
three children having died within thirteen 
months. George F^lliott is in the mill with 
his brother, and lives in North Waterford, 
Me. He married Ella C. York, and has one 
child, Wallace H. Mary K., born in June, 
1S37, is the wife of George W. Wnodcnck, a 



cook in Pawtucket, R. 1. Celia, born in 1842, 
is the wife of I'erdinantl Tisdale, a painter of 
Pawtucket, R. I. 

Hiram P. I^lliott, the elder of the two sons, 
was educated in the common schools of Ports- 
mouth, N.H. At the age of nineteen he 
began to learn the business of spool-making at 
Fall River, Mass., where he worked some five 
years; and the six years following he was em- 
ployed in the same way in Central Falls, R.I. 
He then took charge of the factory of J. K. 
Malley, of which he was foreman ten \ears; 
and he next started a small spool-mill of his 
own at East Stoneham, Me. A year later he 
removed to Lynchville, in the town of Albany, 
Me., and started the mill in which he is now 
interested, with Jonathan Bartlett as partner. 
This venture proved very successful; and the 
firm now has a large business, keeping a num- 
ber of men constantly employed. They man- 
ufacture spools for the noted Rhode Island 
thread firm of J. & P. Coats, and have a ca- 
pacity of four thousand gross or more a week. 
Mr. Elliott's business career has been marked 
by energy, application, and upright dealing. 
Starting without capital, he has built up a 
successful business, and is now enjoying the 
fruits of his labor, with the esteem of all 
with whom he is brought in c.^mtact. 

He was married November 5, 1861, to Pris- 
cilla Brownell, daughter of Edward and Re- 
becca (McCumber) Brownell. She was born 
September 5, 1844. ^-^'i^ child has blessed 
the union of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, Mildred 
T. , born May 29, 1871, miw the wife of \V. H. 
Kilgore, who is. a merchant of North Water- 
ford, Me, and the Postmaster of that place. 

Mr. Elliott is prominent in local politics, 
favoring the Democratic side. He is an Odd 
Fellow in high standing, belonging to Oxford 
Lodge, No. iCii, of North Waterford, Me. 
Mrs. lilliott attends the Congregational 
Church of North Waterford. 



^m»m¥ 



HARLES G. SAWYER, one of Wil- 
ton's most highly respectetl citizens, 
whose empty sleeve attests more 
eloquently than words his service 
in defence of the L^nion, and recalls to memory 
the dark da\'s of the Rebellion, was burn at 




BIOGRAl'lllLAL REVIEW 



the foot of Moosehead Lake in the town of 
Greenville, Me., April 13, 1832, son of Isaac 
and Sarah (Hayford) Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer".s 
grandfather, Joel Sawyer, who was for many 
years a resident of .Saco, Me., died in that 
town at the age of eighty years. II is eliil- 
dren were: ffenry, Ephraitn, I'dlison, !''iMnk, 
Isaac, Mercy, and Ruth. 

Isaac Sawyer, Mr. Sawyer's father, was i)orn 
in Saco in February, 1798. In young man- 
hood he worked upon the river, and, saving 
his earnings, bought a homestead. Finding 
that he needed more land, ami not being able 
to purchase it near his native town on account 
of the sharp advance in prices, he decided to 
become a pioneer in the region about Moose- 
head Lake, where land was cheap and of good 
quality. Purchasing one-half of. a township 
near the foot of the lake at twenty-five cents 
per acre, he moved his family to Monson, 
fourteen miles distant, where they remained 
until he had provided a shelter for them in the 
wilderness. 

He subdivided his tract, selling a portion of 
it to other settlers, and, retaining the rest for 
himself, cleared and improved one hundred 
and sixty acres into a good farm. .The land 
proving exceedingly fertile, he till_ed the soil 
successfully, also engaging quite extensively in 
lumbering; and he later erected a good set of 
frame buildings. He was a man of powerful 
physique, and is known to have once carried 
upon his back and in his hands a half-barrel of 
flour, a small pig, and some [lackages of groce- 
ries several miles over a narrow path from 
the store to his home. In politics he was in 
his latter years a Republican, and he was a 
Methodist in his religious views. He lived 
to reach the advanced age of nearly ninety 
years. In his youth he enlisted for service in 
the War of 18 12; and while destroying the 
bridge at Plattsburg, N.Y., he sustained a 
severe injury which caused him more or less 
trouble in after life. His wife, who was be- 
fore marriage Sarah Hayford, became the 
mother of six children; namely, Sarah A., 
Mary J., Lewis, Maria, Charles G. , and 
Susan A., all of whom grew to maturity. 
Mrs. Sarah H. Sawyer lived to be seventy- 
nine years old. .She was a Congregationalist 
in her religious belief. 



Charles (i. .Sawyer, the filth child and the 
special subject of the present writing, ac- 
quired a i)ractical education, although the 
school facilities in the vicinit\' of his boy- 
hood's home were not of the best. When a 
young man he bought his father's homesteail 
[)roperty, which contained one hundred and 
sixty acres; and he carried it on for ten years, 
during which time he cleared forty acres more 
for tillage purposes, and erected a new dwell- 
ing in place of the old one which had been 
destroyed by fire. Selling his farm he moved 
to the city of Bangor, where for a short time 
he kept a restaurant, later engaging in the 
meat and provision business with j. P. 'ra)'lor 
until going into the army. In .September, 
1864, he enlisted as a ])rivate in Company L, 
Thirty-fir.st Maine Infantry, under CajJtain 
D. I). Brock: and he served until the close of 
the war. In the last charge in front of 
Petersburg, Ajjril 2, 1865, he received a gun- 
shot wound in the left ;irm, which completely 
shattered the bone, making anqnitation neces- 
sary; and after his discharge he returned to 
Bangor. 

When sufficiently recovereil to again engage 
in business pursuits, he ojiened a grocery 
store, which he carried on for two years; and 
on selling out he bought a farm of ninety 
acres, which he conductetl for five years. He 
then sold his farming property, and, removing 
to Wilton, engaged in the canning business, 
packing in a su[)erior manner green corn, 
apples, berries, beans, and lamb, employing 
in the busy season as many as one hundred 
hands. These goods ac([uired a wide reputa- 
tion in the metropolitan markets for the high 
standard of excellence which was maintained 
in their production, and for ten years he car- 
ried on a large and profitable business. In 
connection with that he established a general 
store, which he conducted upon the site of the 
present town hall: and he continued in trade 
until 18S3, when he sold out and retired from 
business. In 1880 he bought a tract of land 
situated upon an elevation near the foot of 
Wilton Lake, and erecting a large two-story 
house with mansard roof, together with a com- 
modious stable, graded and beautified the 
grounds, thus making a handsome and attrac- 
tive homestead. The location is healthful. 



• 78 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



tlir surnuiiulings pleasant; and this estate, 
which is called "The Birches," taking its 
name from a beautiful grove of white birch- 
trees, affords an agreeable retreat for many 
city people, who avail themselves of its genial 
hospitality during the heated term. 

Mr. .Sawyer's first wife, formerly Huldah J. 
Delano, a daughter of John Delano, of Abbot, 
Me., died at the age of thirty-four years, leav- 
ing four children, as follows: Lelia K. , who 
was born January 6, 1857, was graduated at 
the Maine Wesleyan .Seminary at Kent's Hill, 
and is a teacher of French and German; 
Willanl E., who was born August 23, 1859; 
Ida M., who was born November 25, 1861, 
and is now the wife of R. W. Poor, Cashier 
of the Garfield National Bank of New York 
City; and Charles E. , who was born January 
7, 1864, and is now railroad station agent at 
Chisholme Mills, Me. By his present wife, 
Mrs. Pollen Blake Sawyer, daughter of Zebulon 
Blake, of Carmel, Me., Mr. .Sawyer has no 
children. In jiolitics Mr. .Sawyer supports 
the Republican party, and while residing in 
Bangor he served in the City Council and as 
Assistant Assessor. He is a comrade of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, and he and 
Mrs. Sawyer are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 

Willard E. Sawyer, eldest son of Charles 
G. .Sawyer, and a prominent young business 
man of Wilton, was educated in the public 
schools of Bangor and at the Wilton Academy. 
In 1885 he opened a large store devoted to dry 
goods, groceries, crockery ware, agricultural 
implements, and other merchandise; but in 
Februar.y, 1886, his place of business was de- 
stroyed by fire. He erected another store, 
and in 1893 sold it to the town for a public 
building. In 1887 he bought the canning 
factory carried on by his father; and, after 
conducting it successfully until 1892, he with- 
drew from the business. He wedded Eillian 
Whittier, daughter of Daniel E. Whittier, of 
Chesterville, Me., and they have had five chil- 
dren, namely: Ralph E. , who was born May 
28, 1885; Earl W., who was born December 
17, 1886; Willard H., who was born in Sep- 
tember, 1889; Gladys, who died in infancy; 
and I'hilip D., who was born May 17, 1895. 

Willard V.. Sawyer ami his family occupy a 



handsome residence on Prospect .Street, which 
he erected in 1890. 




ARLTON H. WALKER, a promi- 
nent farmer of Fryeburg, Oxford 
County, Me., who carries on busi- 
ness to some e.vtent as a lumber 
manufacturer, was born in this town, April 
12, 1836, son of Colonel James and Susan 
(Colby) Walker. He is of substantial Eng- 
lish stock, and comes of long lines of worthy 
Colonial ancestry, the blood of Puritan and 
Pilgrim mingling in his veins. 

This branch of the Walker family is de- 
scended from Samuel Walker, born in Eng- 
land in 1595, who in early manhood crossed 
the Atlantic, and settled in the vicinity of 
Boston, Mass., his elder brother Richard, 
who accompanied him to these shores, locat- 
ing in York, Me. Samuel Walker, second, 
son of Samuel, first, was born in Reading, 
Mass., in 1643, ^"d became a resident of 
Woburn, Mass., where he was a Deacon of the 
church. His son Samuel, the third in direct 
line, born in Woburn in 1668, who also was a 
Deacon, .was the father of Captain Samuel 
Walker, who was born in 1694, and settled in 
Wilmington, Mass. Deacon Timothy Walker, 
son of Captain Walker, was born in Wilming- 
ton in 1732. He married, in 1758, P'unice 
Brewster, then twenty-eight years of age, 
daughter of Joseph Brewster, of Du.xbury, 
Mass., near Plymouth, her father being a 
grandson of Elder William Brewster, of the 
"Mayflower" company, who has been called 
the chief of the Pilgrims. 

James Walker, son of Timothy and liunice 
(Brewster) Walker, was born in Wilmington, 
Mass., January 3, 1772. He was married No- 
vember 20, 1794, to Anna Harnden, of Wil- 
mington, born August i, 1775. It is now 
nearly one hundred years since James WalkL-r 
came to Fryeburg, Me., accompanied by his 
wife and two children, and settled on the farm 
where his grandson, Carlton H., now resides. 
Grandfather Walker cleared and improved the 
property; and, although meeting with the 
usual disadvantages and drawbacks of a pio- 
neer, among which was the total destruction 
by fire of his first residence, he persevered, 



BIOdRAl'IirCAL RF.VIKW 



279 



and became a prosperous farmer. He was a 
man of more than ordinary intelligence, and 
possessing a considerable literary ability he 
wrote a history of the family. He died Octo- 
ber 1 8, 1<S52, survived by his wife, Mrs. 
Anna Harnden Walker, who attained the ad- 
vanced age of nearly ninety-one years, her 
fleath occurring March ,0, \^6G. They were 
the parents of eleven children, as follows: 
Anna, who was born November 3, 1795; I'^liz- 
abeth, who was born December I3, 1796; 
Sarah, who was born February 14, 1799, and 
dietl October 3, 1885; Colonel James, who 
was born March 3, 1801, and died July 16, 
1 891; Rebecca, who was born February 24, 
1804, and died April 15, 1826; Brewster, 
who was born January 26, 1806, and died No- 
vember I, 1807; Miranda, who was born De- 
cember 3, 1808, and died November 4, 1881; 
Samuel, who was born August 10, 181 i, and 
died August 29, 1863; Clarissa, who was born 
January 9, 1813; Henry, who was born July 
30, 1 8 16, and with his wife, Caroline F'rye, 
daughter of John Hancock Frye, is residing 
in this town: and Timothy, who was born 
March 3, 18 19, married Hannah Harnden, of 
Denmark, Me., and, now a widower, resides 
in Ouincv, Mass. 

James Walker, the younger, born in Frye- 
burg in the first year of the century, as already 
noted, later known as Colonel James Walker, 
at the age of twenty-one succeeded his father 
in the management of the farm. He was mar- 
ried on November 25, 1833, to Susan Colby, 
a native of Brownfield, Me., born November 
ig, 1803. .She was a daughter of Asa Colby, 
a pioneer farmer of Brownfield, who later re- 
moved to the adjoining town of Denmark, 
where he passed the rest of his life. Colonel 
Walker and his wife reared four children, 
namely: Rebecca, who was born August 21, 
1834, married John Seavey, of l^rownfield, and 
died January 16, 1862: Carlton H., the sul)- 
ject of this sketch; Granville, who was born 
December 16, 1837, and died December 31, 
1861 ; and Ann, who was born February 20, 
1840, and is now the wife of William H. Tar- 
box, an architect of Fryeburg. Mrs. Susan 
C. Walker died November 16, 1883. 

Carlton H. Walker, whose personal history 
we are now to trace from his boyhood, ac- 



quired his education in the common schools 
and at the Fryeburg Academy, lie remained 
at home assisting his father in carrying on the 
farm until he reached manhood; and he then 
went to l'"ryeburg village, where he was em- 
ployed as clerk in a general store for two 
years. Returning to the homestead he took 
charge of the farm, and eventually inheriting 
the jjroperty has since resided here. He owns 
one thousand acres of land, ;in(l his farm is 
exceedingly fertile and well im|)roved. In 
connection with agricultural ])ursuits he car- 
ries on a large saw and grist mill located near 
his residence, doing some business in manu- 
facturing lumber of all kinds. 

On May 2, 1863, Mr. Walker was united in 
marriage with Sarah F. Tarbo.v, who was born 
in Denmark, Me., January 28, 1841. She is 
a daughter of Dominicus G. and Sally (Paine) 
Tarbo.x, the former of whom was a native of 
Kennebunkport, and the latter of Standish, 
Me. Mrs. Walker's father was a clothier by 
trade, also a surveyor of lumber; and, settling 
in Denmark, he operated a clothing-mill in 
that town many years. He died January 22, 
1886. Mr. and Mrs. Walker "have three 
daughters, as follows: Flva D. , who was born 
June 2, 1867, and is now supervisor of draw- 
ing and teacher of manual training in schools 
in Bristol, Conn.; Susan M., who was born 
December 6, 1871, and is now a teacher of 
oratory at the North Bridgton Academy; and 
Sarah T. , who was born March 30, 1879, and is 
now attending the academy here in Fryeburg. 
The Misses Eva D. and Susan M. Walker are 
ladies of marked ability, and have acquired a 
notable reputation in educational work. 

In public affairs Mr. Walker has rendered 
efficient service to the town, having been 
Chairman of the Board of .Selectmen several 
years, and at various times the incumbent of 
other town offices. In politics he acts with 
the Republican party. He is acti\ely inter- 
ested in the Fryeburg Agricultural .Society, of 
which he has served as President and Secre- 
tary; and he is a leading spirit in all measures 
introduced for the general improvement of the 
town. He is a Master Mason and a member 
of Pythagorean Lodge, No. ii, of P'ryeburg. 
Mr. and Mrs. Walker and family attend the 
Congregational church. 



2So 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 




'RANK A. HILI., clothing manufact- 
urer, one of the leading young men of 
Fryeburg, Oxford County, IVIe. , his 
nati\-c town, was born on August 14, 1866, son 
of Dr. Charles K. and Susan (Osgood) Hill. 
I [is grandfather, Captain Jonah Mill, who was 
born in Biddeford, Rlc. , June 3, 17S4, became 
a resident of Chatham, N.H., and was promi- 
nent in the early State militia. He married 
on April 27, 1807, Sall\' Stimson, \vho died 
March 4, 1840. 

Dr. Charles 1{. Hill was a native of Chat- 
ham and a graduate of Jkiwdoin Ctjllege. He 
first settled in North Fr_\eburg, from which 
[ilace he moved to ]5ridgton, Me., where he 
remained for some time; and he finally re- 
moved to Fryeburg, where he resided until his 
death, which took place April 16, 1884. An 
able i^hysician, he enjoyed a large practice in 
this vicinity; and he occupied a prominent 
position in the community. His first wife, 
whose maiden name was Marinda P. Wiggin, 
died in May, 1863. She left one son, Charles 
E., who was adopted by his aunt, and is now 
a successful practising physician of Newton 
Centre, Mass. He is known as Dr. Charles 
E. Fessenden. Dr. Charles E. Hill wedded 
for his second wife Susan O.sgood, of Fryeburg. 
She was a daughter of Caleb and Dolly 
(Wiley) Osgood, the former of whom was a 
native of Fryeburg, and the latter of North 
Fryeburg. Caleb Osgood was a blacksmith 
by trade. His last days were spent in Con- 
way, N. H. By this union there are two chil- 
dren: Frank A., the subject of this sketch; 
and Edwin Rav, who is now engaged in the 
meat and fish business at Fryeburg village. 

Frank A. Hill acquired his education in the 
common schools and at the Fryeburg Academy. 
At the age of eighteen he started in life as a 
clerk in the store of Charles T. Ladd, with 
whom he remained for three years; and he 
then engaged for some time in the corn-pack- 
ing business. He first entered the clothing 
business as an employee of J. I. Greenlaw, 
later filling a position with A. E. & F. 
Thompson, large manufacturers of this town, 
with whom he remained until 1895, when, in 
company with Ira Warriner, he bought out the 
above named firm. He continued the business 
in connection with a general stfire for a year, 



and at the expiration of that time he purchased 
his partner's interest in the manufacturing 
business, which he is now carrying on alone. 
He manufactures coats for the Rhodes Riplc)- 
Company of 72 Lincoln Street, Boston, and 
employs an average of eighteen hands. 

On A]iril 20, 1892, Mr. Hill was married 
to Dora A. ]5rickett, who was born in Stow, 
Me., May i, 1874, daughter of Gardner and 
Angeline (Emery) Brickett. Mrs. Hill's 
father was a native of Stow, where he was 
prosperously engaged in farming until his 
death, which took place in Fryeburg in Octo- 
ber, 1888. Her mother, who was born in 
Jackson, is still living, and resides with her. 

In politics Mr. Hill supports the Republi- 
can party. He is connected with Pythagorean 
Lodge, No. 1 1 , A. V. & A. M. ; l-'ryeburg 
Lodge, No. 49, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows; and Pequaket Lodge, No. 34, 
Knights of Pythias. He takes an active in- 
terest in these organizations, and may be said 
to be a leading spirit in all important social 
events in Fryeburg. 



OSEPH C. CALDWELL, M.D., the 
oldest practising physician in Buck- 
field, O.xford County, was born in 
Topsham, \'t., December 3, 1842, a 
son of James and Nancy (Chamberlain) Cald- 
well. The Caldwell family is of Scotch 
origin. James Caldwell, whose birth oc- 
curred at sea, was an industrious farmer, and 
resided for the greater part of his life in Ver- 
mont. He took a deep interest in the politi- 
cal movements of his day, and belonged to the 
anti-slavery party. In religious belief he was 
a Presbyterian. He died at the age of fifty- 
five. Mr. Caldwell was twice married, and 
his second wife is now living in Topsham. 
He had seven children, four of whom are liv- 
ing. These are : Mary, the wife of Gustavus 
Tibbetts, of Neponset, 111. ; Joseph C, the 
subject of this sketch; James R., a resident of 
Vermont; and Eliza, the wife of James Lang, 
of Topsham, Vt. 

Joseph C. Caldwell grew to manhood in 
Topsham, obtaining his first knowledge of 
books in the schools of that town. After 
finishing his preliminary course of stud}', hav- 



BIOGRAI'HK AL RKVIFAV 



2S1 



ing l)(.'cn an industrious student, lie was aiale 
to take up the profession of teacher, which he 
foUowed successfully in his native State, 
Michigan, and Illinois. In his twenty-third 
year he bej;an the study of medicine, and sub- 
sequentlv i)ursued it at Howdoin College, from 
which he received his medical diploma in 
iiSjo. In the fall of that year he started in 
his profession at" Buckfield, and for over a 
quarter of a century has been here engaged in 
ministering to suffering humanity. Dr. Cald- 
well has a large practice, and iias the confi- 
dence and esteem of all who know him. Me 
is a member of the State Medical Societ)-. 

In December, 1870, he was united in mar- 
riage with Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel 
Stanwood, of Brunswick, Me She was born 
April 14, 1852, and died June 7, 1888. Of 
her children one, Wilbur, is deceased. The 
others — Josephine, Bessie M., and Wilbur C. 
— are still with their father. Dr. Caldwell 
is a member of the Republican party. He is 
a Mason in good standing, belonging to liven- 
ing Star Lodge, No. 180. In religious 
matters he is liberal. His wife was a mem- 
bei- of the Baptist church. 



-J^TANNIBAL G. BROWN, of the firm 
L^J Hannibal G. lirown & Son, manu- 

\[s I facturers of clapboards, lumber, and 

^—^ wooden bicycle rims, at West Paris, 
O.xford County, was born December 18, 1829, 
in Plymouth, Penobscot County, Me., son of 
John and lluldah (Gardner) Brown. His 
grandfather, Aaron Brown, was an earl\- set- 
tler of Wilton, Me., whence he subsequently 
removetl to Livermore, Me., and lived there 
for a number of years. Aaron Brown was an 
officer in the War of 1812, and had charge of 
a fort at Portland. The latter part of his life 
was spent at the home of his son James, in the 
town of Grafton. He lived se\-enty years : and 
his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah 
Thompson, also attained a good age. The 
latter bore him eight children, the youngest of 
whom, a daughter, Abigail, living in Port- 
land, is the only survivor. The others were: 
James, John, Reuben, Orrin, Larnard, Re- 
becca, and Arthur. 

John Brown was born in Wilton, Me. He 



was a skilful mechanic as well ,is a farmer, 
and followed his trade throughout the active 
years of his life. He lesided for a number of 
years in the towns of Liveiniore and Grafton; 
but his last years were s|)ent in West Paris, 
Me., and in Lrrol, Coos County, N.H. He 
died at the age of eighty-seven years. In 
politics he was a Republican from the forma- 
tion of the party. His wife, lluldah, who 
was born in Buckfield, Me., died in West 
Paris, aged seventv-si.\. He was a member 
of the Universalist church, and she of the 
15aptist. .Sew.n chiltlren were the fruit of 
their union, three of whom have |iasscd awa\. 
These were: John O. A., Orrin H., and Joanna. 
Orrin H.. who served in the P'irst Maine Cav- 
alry during the Civil War, died from the 
effects of confinement in l.ibby Prison. The 
others are: Hannibal G., the subject of this 
sketch; Aaron B.. a mechanic residing in 
Worcester, Mass., who served in the late war 
with Colonel .Shaw's Massachusetts regi- 
ment; Bartlett J., a pianoforte finisher, living 
in Hyde Park,' Mass.; and Miss Maria I-:. 
Brown, a milliner in Boston, Mass. 

Hannibal G. Brown received his rudimen- 
tary education in the schools of Livermore 
and Grafton, where his early years were 
passed. After coming to Paris, at the age of 
twenty, he attended the schools and academy 
here, and acquired a good business education. 
On starting out in life for himself he pos- 
sessed no cash capital, and for nine years fol- 
lowed various occupations. After a time he 
was able to start in farming for himself, lie 
l-Hirchased his first land in 1855, where the 
village of West Paris now stands. The fol- 
lowing year he took possession of this place, 
which has since been his home: and tliere he 
was actively engaged in farming np to i86c). 
During the first few years he was the only 
resident here in the locality. The present 
owners of lots in West Paris bought them for 
the most jxart from Mr. Brown. He has 
furthered the building up of the village by 
donating lands to induce manufacturers to lo- 
cate their plants here. In 1869 he engaged 
in manufacturing on his own account ; and four 
years later, in 1873,. his present mill was 
erected as a co-operative concern for manu- 
facturing chairs. In 1877 or 1878 Mr. Brown 



zSz 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



with others engaged in manufacturing lumber. 
This business he still continues with his son, 
turning out large quantities of lumber, making 
a specialty of clapboards, and planning to en- 
gage more largely in making wooden bicycle 
rims. They are the leaders in their line of 
manufacture at West Paris. 

On May 3, 1853, Mr. Brown was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Pari in, who was 
born in Paris, September 25, 1S32, daughter 
of Robinson Parlin. Their children are: 
Edwin H., born May 26, 1856; and Jennie M., 
born July 10, 1870. Edwin H. Prown, who 
is in business with his father, married Miss 
Cora Judkins, by whom he has one son, 
Charles H. Brown. 

In town affairs the elder Mr. Brown has 
always been very active. For some time he 
has been Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. 
During war times he held the office of Assist- 
ant Assessor of Internal Revenue. Although 
rejected for active service in the field on ac- 
count of physical disability, he did good work, 
assisting in recruiting men for the service. 
He is one of the leading Republicans of Paris, 
and a zealous temperance worker. From 1853 
to 1875 he served as Justice of the Peace. He 
is a member of West Paris Lodge, No. 15, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of 
Home Commandery Lodge, No. 79, Order of 
the Golden Cross, both of West Paris. In 
religious belief he is a Universalist. 




SA (;. ST()WP:RS, a well-known resi- 
dent of New .Sharon, Me., was born 
here on July 12, 1836, son of Rich- 
ard and Susan D. (Follansbee) Stow- 
ers. His mother was a daughter of Joshua 
and Sarah Follansbee, and was the eldest of 
their five children. 

Richard .Stowers, the father of Asa G. 
Stowers, was born April 2. 1810. During his 
early years he lived in P'armington, his native 
town, and was educated in the common schools. 
Upon arriving at a maturer age he took up the 
trade of carpentering: and after carrying it on 
for some years there he went to Boston, where 
he worked at his calling for twelve years more. 
Later he came to New Sharon, and bought a 
farm of seventy-five acres. The house built 



b\' him in a handsome and substantial manner 
stands to-day, very little the worse for wear. 
Mr. Richard Stowers continued to work at his 
trade of carpenter, together with his. farming in 
his adopted place of residence, and was, quite 
naturally, a very busy man. When he went 
away from himie to do a job of carjjentering or 
to take a trip for some other purpose, he w(.>uld 
leave his son in charge of (he farm ; and thus 
the young man acquired considerable experi- 
ence in agricultural labors. 

In politics Mr. Richard .Stowers was a 
stanch Republican, and his religious views 
conformed to the tenets of the Congregational 
church. He had five brothers and sisters, of 
whom John, Samuel, and Eben, were older 
than himself, and his sisters, Sarah and Mary, 
younger. Not one of these is now alive. Mr. 
Richard -Stowers died at his son's farm in New 
Sharon village on February 24, 1879, at the 
age of sixty-eight. He and his wife, .Susan 
D. Follansbee, whom he married in 1835, 
were the parents of three children, namely: 
Asa G., the subject of this sketch; Augusta 
A., born May 6, 1839, who married J. V. 
Dyer, of racing fame, and died August i, 
1880: and Alifair, born October t, 1845, who 
died March 17, 1847. 

Asa G. Stowers spent his boyhood on the 
old farm in New Sharon, and was educated in 
the ])ublic schools, including the high school 
of the town. At the age of seventeen he went 
to California to engage in the mining busi- 
ness, and remained there until he was nearly 
twenty-one years of age, coming back to New 
Sharon just twelve days before attaining his 
majority. He attended school again for a 
short time, but soon grew restless and began 
to make preparations for a return to Califor- 
nia: but, as he was the only son, he was 
finally prevailed on by his mother to remain 
at home. Soon after, his father, selling the 
old homestead, bought another farm about one 
mile north of the village on the Industry road. 
Here he stayed for about si.\ years with his 
family. Again selling out he removed to New- 
Sharon village, where he became Ta.x Col- 
lector, and also filled several other minor 
offices. At this time his son, Asa G. Stowers, 
went to the northern part of the town of New- 
Sharon to live, buying a farm of one hundred 



BIOGRAPHIC \r KF.VIl'W 



and fort)' acres, where he settled down. 'I'liis 
was in 1864. A year later he .sold out and 
look up his habitation farther down the river 
on a new farm of aboLit one hundred and 
twenty-five acres in extent. After staying 
there for three _\-ears he sold that farm and 
bought the place now owned b)' Mr. 1.. A. 
(jreenleaf, in New Sharon village. It was 
on this [ilace that Mr. Stowers's father died. 

Mr. Stowers wa.s married on Se]itendier 3, 
1S62, to Miss L. Anna Hardy, the daughter 
of Arnold antl Lois C. (V'aughan) Hardy, of 
New Sharon. They have two children : Wal- 
ter L. , born .September <S. 1865; and Mabel 
.\.. born October 5, 1869. 

Walter L. Stowers spent his earl\' boyhood 
on his father's farm, getting his first education 
in the common schools of New Sharon, later 
attending the high school of the same ]ilace, 
ami later still studying at Farmington, Mon- 
mouth, and Lewiston. At the age of twentx'- 
four he went to Nebraska, where he taught 
school for the short period of six months. Di- 
rectly after this he went into the emplo}- of a 
large Nebraska nursery stock house, and re- 
mained identified with this company for a year 
and a half, travelling in the interests of the 
business over almost all the western part (jf 
the North American continent. He then be- 
came connected with the Fidelitv Building and 
Loan Association of Denver, Col., and has 
since remained with them, being now the man- 
ager of the field forces of the company. He 
was married June 12, 1895, to Miss ^hm^ie 
Coleman, of Aledo, 111. They have one 
child — Ralph Leslie, born May 14, 1896. 

Mabel A. Stowers, who is now the wife of 
Charles H. Gordon, of her nati\e town of New 
.Sharon, received her early education at the 
common and high schools of that place. After 
spending a season at Bar Harbor and one at 
Portland, Me., she went to Boston. Mass., antl 
learned dressmaking, a business which she 
carried on for about two years, or until she was 
married. 

Mr. Asa G. .Stowers is, as was his father 
before him, a good sound Republican in ]ioliti- 
eal faith; and his religious belief is also like 
his father's, that professed by the Congrega- 
tional church. His present little competence 
has been laboriously made by the exercise of 



that industry, patience, and earnestness lor 
which he is known and respected in the com- 
munity in which he lives, and by the cheerful 
co-operation and thrift of his faithful wife. 



(g>r .IL'DSON BLAKb:, Chairman of the 
4^ Board of Selectmen of Gilead, Me., 
yjl^V comes of two of the old families of 
— ' C)xtord County, which he worthily 
represents. A son of lJa\-id and Olive 
(Adams) Blake, he was horn May 10, 1856, 
on the farm where he now resides, once the 
homestead nf his maternal grandparents, 
David Blake, his father, was born in Bethel, 
this countv. and reared an<l educated there. 
He was a millwright, and followed his trade 
for a numbcM' of years, also working at farm- 
ing. In 1850 he moved to (iilead to the farm 
occupied by his wife's ]iarents, which he man- 
aged for tlu-m until they passed awav. The 
estate then became his wife's i)roi)erty, and 
Mr. and Mrs. David Blake spent the rest of 
their lives here. David Blake was actively 
interested in town affairs, voting always on 
the Republican side. Gifted with a good 
voice and a talent for music, he taught sing- 
ing-school here for some time: and he led the 
choir of the Bajitist church, of w'hich he w-as 
a member. He died August 8. 1856. 

His wife, Mrs. Olive Adams Blake, was 
born on this farm. Her parents, Isaac and 
Olive (Wight) Adams, were among the early 
settlers of Gilead. Mr. Adams was a promi- 
nent man in his day, a connoisseur in horse 
flesh; and he was particularly proud of the 
fact that he sold a horse to Daniel Webster. 
He liveil to an advanced age. Mrs. Olive 
Adams I-ilake died at the age of seventy-six. 
Like her husband she was an active member 
of the Baptist church. The following chil- 
dren were born to Mr. antl Mrs. L)avid Blake: 
Ellen i\r., wife of Boyle ChantUer, of Bethel: 
David Newtt)n, a farmer of liethel: Isaac A., 
the oldest locomotive engineer on the Maine 
Central Road, plying between Portland and 
Waterville; Lizzie H., wife of James Hodson, 
of Bethel; Eliphalet, an engineer on the 
Grand Trunk Railroad, whose home is at 
Islantl Pond, V' t. ; B. Frank. ]iart owner of the 
old homesteatl, on which he resides; A. Jud- 



.84 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



son, the subject ot this sketch; and Lillian, 
unmarried, who is living with her brothers "on 
tile ancestral hoinestead. 

A. ludson Hlake has lived on this tarm 
since birth, and has naturally followeil in 
his father's footsteps. Besides attending to 
the farm work, which he shares with his 
brother Frank, he works in the winter season 
at carriage-making and blacksmithing, having 
a shop on his farm. lie is one of the promi- 
nent Republicans of this county, and has been 
Chairman of the town Reimblican Committee 
since he was twenty-one years of age. As a 
Selectman of the town he is now serving his 
third term, this being his first year as Chair- 
man; and he has been in office as a Justice of 
the Peace for ten years. Quiet and unassum- 
ing in manner. Mr. Rlake is recognized as a 
man of abilit\', and has won the regard and 
confidence of all who know him. He is un- 
married. 



md Mrs. lliggins were 



Methodist l'"piscopal 



/ I3)e(:)RGE ZOETII HIGGINS. M.U., 
VpT and his daughter, LELIA HIG- 

— GINS, M.D., practising physicians 
residing in the village of Strong, Me., are 
prominent members of their profession, and 
are favorably known throughout Franklin 
County. Dr. George Zoeth lliggins was 
born in E.xeter, Me., December 29, 1832, a 
son of the Hon. Ebenezer and Ruth (Smith) 
Higgins, both natives of Bucksport, this 
State. 

His jiarents in 1S14 settled on a tract of 
wild land near the village of E.xeter, Mr. 
Higgins builfling a log house. He worked 
industriously to improve his claim, and in 
course of time it became one of the handsom- 
est estates in the county. A man of strong 
character and good judgment, Ebenezer Hig- 
gins served as a Representative in the State 
legislature, and also as a .State Senator; and 
for si.xteen years he filled the office of Deputy 
Sheriff of Penobscot County. He was a mem- 
ber of the Board of the Underground Railroad 
at Exeter conteni|iorary with General Fesseii- 
den and Stephen Thatcher. He died in 1853. 
Mrs. Higgins was a very intelligent lady, 
such men as Colonel F. W. Hill, of Exeter, 
finding great pleasure in her friendship. She 



died in 1884, Mr, 
active in founding the 
Church of Exeter. 

They were the parents of se\en children. 
The eldest, Fllijah, who was a [jrominent citi- 
zen of Exeter, serving as Chairman of the 
Board of Education during the war, died in 
1S65: the second son, Jeremiah P., is a 
farmer in 1-lxeter, Me. ; the third, F^benezer 
A., who resided in Conneaut, Ohio, died at 
Exetci' in 1S86: the fourth child, Harriet, 
lives on the old homestead in Exeter; the 
fifth, Julia, who died in 1865, was the wife of 
Captain Cook, a wealthy ship-owner and 
President of the National Bank of Province- 
town, Mass., who also has passed away; the 
sixth child, Ruth P., who is the widow of 
James Grout, resides with a daughter in 
Somerville, Mass. ; the seventh and youngest 
is George Z. , the leading subject of the pres- 
ent sketch, whose personal history follows. 

George Zoeth Higgins acquired his general 
education in the Bucksport Seminary and in 
Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., graduat- 
ing from the latter institution in 1855. Pur- 
suing his professional studies at the Maine 
Medical .School, he graduated in the class of 
1858, and completed his preliminary training 
with two terms at the Albany (N.Y.) Medical 
School. He began to practice in the town of 
Lubec, Me., and two years later removed to 
Pembroke, this State, where he remained until 
the fall of 1863. On October 28 of that year 
he enlisted as Assistant Surgeon in the Fif- 
teenth Regiment of Maine Volunteers; and 
nine months later he was promoted to the rank 
of Surgeon, and assignerl to garrison duty. 
He received his discharge at Castle Garden, 
N.Y., in July, 1866, and returned to his na- 
tive State a skilful surgeon, schooled in the 
trying exigencies of army life, and an exjjcri- 
enced physician, with perception sharpened by 
familiarity with disease. Settling in Lubec, 
he practised there until December, 1878, 
when he moved to .Strong, F'"ranklin County. 
Here he has a beautiful home, and is closelx' 
identified with the interests of the town. 
Within call of the citizens here for nearly two 
decades. Dr. Higgins has built up a large 
practice, and has many patients in the out- 
lying country. 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IF.W 



He was marrifd July 4, 1858, to Miss Kate 
Ford Lamson, a native of Liibec, Me., born in 
1834, dauj^hter of John L.amson, a merchant of 
that town, and niece of Daniel S. l''ord, tlie 
millionaire proprietor of the Yoiit/i's Loiiipan- 
ioii. Mrs. Higgins's ])arents are both dead. 
She has borne the Doctor two children — ■ 
Lelia and Albert R. The latter, who was 
born in 1868, lived but four years and eight 
months. Miss Lelia lliggins is a graduate of 
the Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia, 
and gained her first experience in practical 
work at the Lying-in Charity Hospital. A 
remarkably intelligent lady, with a natural 
gift for her work, she has a very large prac- 
tice, and has won the confidence and love of 
all who have claimed her services. She is a 
member of the Maine Medical Association. 
Dr. Lelia Higgins resides with her parents. 

Dr. George Z. Higgins, who has been iden- 
tified with the Republican party since he first 
took an interest in politics, has held a number 
of im])ortant public offices. P'rom 1S72 to 
1878 he was a member of the Board of Trus- 
tees of the State Reform School ; and for eleven 
years he was a member of the Pension Hoard 
of PLxamining Surgeons for Franklin County, 
1892 being his last year of service. He is 
now a member of the School Board of Strong. 
A Mason in good standi'ng, he was the first 
Master of George F. Davis Lodge, No. 78, 
A. F. & A. M., holding his office five terms: 
and as a Grand Army man he had much to do 
with the organization of F.dmund B. Clayton 
Post, No. 134. of Strong, of which he was 
Cf)mmander two years. Dr. Higgins and 
and his wife are members of the Bajitist 
Church of Lubec. 




'VLVANLS B. KNOX, who is re- 
garded as one of the best farmers 
of North P'ryeburg, Oxford County, 
was born in Limerick, Me., July 7, 
1821, son of Samuel and Olive (Lord) Knox. 
His grandparents were Samuel and Polly 
(Kimball) Knox, the former a native of 
Dover, N.H., while the latter was born in 
Maine. 

Samuel Knox, the father of the subject of 
this sketch, was born in Cornish, Me. In 



earl\' manhood he took uj) the occiijiation of 
farmer in Limerick, Me. In 1821 he moved 
to Chatham, N.H., and there purchased a 
farm, which he conducted prosperously for the 
rest of his active period. He died in 1877, 
aged sevent\'-nine years. 11 is wife, Olive, 
who was horn in Parsonsfield, York County, 
Me., was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah 
Bradbury Lord, both natives of Parsonsfield. 
.She hail eight children, as follows: Alonzo, 
who was born in Maw 1819, anti died in 
1881 ; .Sylvanus B., the subject of this sketch; 
Sarah B. , who is now the widow of Samuel 
A. B. P'arrington. and is living in Nortii 
Fryeburg; Judith C, now deceased, who mar- 
ried Francis Lord, an extensive farmer and 
lumberman of this .State; Simeon 1'., who 
married Sarah Bickford, of .Stow, this county, 
and is now a carpenti'r of l'"armington. Me. ; 
Olive L., now deceased, whu in;iiried ( )sgood 
Watson, now engaged in market gardening at 
Natick, Mass.; Samuel, who is also married, 
and is a carpenter in Chicago, 111.; and Mary, 
who married Elmer Stevens, a locomotive en- 
gineer on the Grand Trunk Railroad, and re- 
sides in Gorham, N.H. The mother was 
eighty years old when she died in 1879. Both 
parents belonged to the Metiioilist denomina- 
tion. 

Sylvanus B. Knox acquired his education in 
the common schools, and grew to manhood 
upon his father's farm in Chatliam. He as- 
sisted in carrying on the homestead farm until 
he was thirty-one years old, when he came 
to Maine, and settled in .Stow. Here for 
twenty-three years he owned and cultivated a 
good farm. In 1875 he sold the property and 
removed to Ncu'th P'ryebiirg, where he has 
since resided. He is now the proprietoi- ol 
one of the best farms in this locality. ( )n it 
he raises the customary variety of crops, which 
are generally of a superior quality. To his 
natural energy and habits of industry must be 
largely attributed his success in life. 

On March 4, 1852, Mr. Knox was united in 
marriage to Mary Fl. Nutter, who was born in 
Porter, Me., August 24. 1834, daughter of 
Charles and Dorothy (Moulton) Nutter, both 
of whom were natives of that town. Mrs. 
Knox's father, who was for many years a 
prominent farmer of Porter, tor the last ten 



2 86 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIF.W 



years ol liis lile was engaged in mercantile 
business at Nortii l*"ryeburg, where he died 
Septeniber 14, 1X74. Mis wife's death oc- 
curred January 30, 1890. She was the mother 
of two chil(h-en. namely: Mary E., who is now 
Mrs. Knox; and Charles H., who was born 
October J2, 1841, and died October 2t,, 1858. 
Mr. antl Mrs. Knox have had four children, as 
follows: William .M, who was born November 
30, 1853, and died February 22, 1872; I'rank 
H., born December 29, 1857, a prosperous 
farmer of this town, who married Lizzie 
Chase, of Chatham, N. H., and has one son, 
Wendell H., who was born November 6, 1893: 
ICmnia (3., who was born June 26, 1865, and 
died April 30, 1887; and ()live L. , who was 
l:)orn May 14, 1877, and is residing at home. 
In politics Mr. Knox is a Republican. Al- 
though an earnest supporter of the principles 
of that party and a leading spirit in the local 
organization, he has never aspired to public 
office. He and his family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 




■1-:NRY H. HERSEY, one of the best 
known farmers of Sumner, Oxford 

1.15 I County, and an ex-member of the 

Maine legislature, was born De- 
cember 10, 1833, upon the farm where he now 
resides, son of Samuel and Polly (Bradbury) 
Hersey. His grandfather, James Hersey, who 
was a native of Massachusetts, and served as a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War, after the 
close of that struggle sold his property in the 
latter State, and, moving to Maine, became 
one of the earliest settlers in Minot. James 
engaged in agriculture on Hersey Hill, which 
takes its name from him. After residing 
there until the year 1800 he came to Sumner, 
where he spent the rest of his life, and died 
aged about eighty-four years. He married 
Althea Poole, who was born in Whitman, 
Mass., daughter of Deacon Poole. She was 
the mother of twelve children, and was over 
eighty when she died. 

.Samuel Hersey, a native of Minot, born 
May 14, 1786, came to Sumner witli his par- 
ents, and settled w'ith them upon a tract of 
new land. This pro[)erty had been made a 
good farm when it came inti.i his possession. 



Here he carried on general farming, and 
bought and sold cattle for many years. He 
became widely and favorably known through- 
out this section of the State as a drover, in 
which calling he transacted a larger business 
than any other person at that time. In 1855 
he deeded the farm to his son, Henrv A., re- 
tired from business, passed the rest of his life 
in ease and comfort at the homestead, and died 
November 19, 1867. In politics he followed 
the majority of the Whigs into the ranks of 
the Republican party. He occupied a |iosi- 
tion of influence in the community as an hon- 
orable, upright business man and a useful citi- 
zen. By his first wife, in maidenhood F^unice 
Bradbury, who was born June 9, 1788, he be- 
came the father of six children, two of whom 
are living. These are: Moses B. , who was 
born -September 26, 1816, residing in Lincoln, 
Penobscot County; and Jason, born September 
20, 1 81 8, who resides in Whitman, Mass. 
The others were: William R., Hiram. Sam- 
uel, and Julia. The mother died May 5, 
1830. The father's second wife, whose 
maiden name was Polly l^radbury, was borji 
July 5, 1792. She had two children, namely: 
Henry B. , the subject of this sketch; and 
Eunice M., born July 18, 1835, who married 
A. P. Andrews, of North Paris, Me., and died 
August 25, 1862. The mother died Novem- 
ber 15, 1859. Both parents were members of 
the Congregational church. 

Henry B. Hersey is indebted to the district 
school of Sumner for his early education. He 
was afterward for some time engaged in 
teaching school. This occupation he relin- 
quished to take charge of the home farm at the 
solicitation of his father, whose health was 
then failing. Receiving a deed of the home- 
stead in 1S55, he began a series of improve- 
ments, which included the erection of a new 
set of buildings. The farm, containing one 
hundred and sixty acres, is one of the most 
desirable pieces of property in town. On De- 
cember 10, 1855, Mr. Hersey wedded Betsey 
Jane Richardson, who was born in Sumner. 
June 18, 1836, daughter of Lyman and Mercy 
Richardson. Their children were: Louella 
J., born December 14, 1856; George H., born 
September 14, 185S; P'annyA., born Febru- 
ary 9, iSdi; and .'\lice A., born July 24, 




NATHAN G- MILLS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



289 



1864. I.ouella J. married I-'raiik L. Warren, 
of Hartford, Me., and has three chilth'en - 
Mary A., Hersey, and George L. George H., 
who is the inventor of improved steam and hot- 
water apparatus, married Laura E. Lynch, of 
Brooklyn, N. Y., and resides in Buckfield, 
Me., having seven children, namely: Herbert 
C, born January 30, 1883; Raymond A., 
born October 2, 1884; Grace Z. , born July 
17, 1887; Bessie W. , deceased, born Septem- 
ber 28, 1889; Henry E., born November 15, 
1890; George, born May 21, 1893; and Al- 
bert, born March 18, 1895. Fanny A., who 
attended Hebron Academy, is now a book- 
keeper in Auburn, Me. Alice A. is now the 
wife of Fred. A. Taylor, the steward of the 
VVestboro In.sane Asylum. 

Mr. Hersey was for many years a prominent 
figure in the public affairs of both the town 
and district. He was elected to all of the im- 
portant town offices, and in 1879 he repre- 
sented the district in the legislature. He is 
highly respected in Sumner, with whose agri- 
cultural interests he has been closely identified 
since 1851. ]5oth he and Mrs. Hersey are 
members of the Congregational church at East 
Sumner. 




k;\THAN G. MILLS, a prosperous 
farmer of Mason, Oxford County, Me., 
was born on the farm that he now 
owns, F'ebruary 20, 1824, son of 
Cyrus and Abiah (Bean) ' Mills. The father 
was liorn in Bethel, and the early years of his 
life were spent on a farm and in logging 
camps. Coming to Mason when a young man, 
he purchased the farm that his son now owns, 
and lived here for many years, finally selling 
the place to his son and returning to his 
native town, where he bought another farm. 
He died there at seventy-six years of age. In 
his younger days he was a Democrat, but he 
afterward adopted the principles of the Repub- 
lican party. He was an able public speaker, 
and took a prominent part in local affairs, 
serving several years as Selectman. He was 
a patriot soldier in the War of 18 12. Abiah 
Bean Mills was born in Bethel. She died 
August 14, 1846, at fifty-three years of age. 
Thirteen children, ten sons and three daugh- 



ters, were the fruit of her union with Cyrus 
Mills. 

Nathan Ci. Mills was one of the ten sons 
born to his ])arents. He lived at home dur- 
ing his minority, then went to North Hampton, 
N.H., and engaged in chopping cord wood at 
forty cents per cord, working at this occupa- 
tion fiu- five years. Having saved sufficient 
money he then returned to Mason, and [un- 
chasetl the old farm, which has since been his 
home. It contains about seventy-five acres of 
land, and is one of the most highly cultivated 
farms in this townshiii. In addition to this 
he owns about seven hundred acres of timber 
and pasture land. .'Xlthough now past seventy- 
two years of age he is still able to perform a 
full day's labor. Mr. Mills makes a specialty 
of dealijig in veal calves, handling as high as 
one hundred and thirty in a year. 

In September, 1849, Mr. Mills was joined 
in marriage with Mrs. Mary h^. (Gordon) 
Mills, the widow of his older brother, Daniel 
Mills. Six children have blessed this union, 
namely: Mary A., wife of Charles Dunham, a 
farmer of Bethel; Eudora M., wife of Moses 
M. Mason, of Gilead, Me. ; George E., a resi- 
dent of Dorchester, Mass.; Bessie Alida, liv- 
ing at the parental home; Ada, who died at 
nineteen years of age; and Nathan E., a car- 
penter in Lewiston, Me. 

Mr. Mills, who is a Democrat in politics, 
has served on the Board of Selectmen five 
years, also as Town Surveyor. He is a mem- 
ber of Mount Abram Lodge, No. 31, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bethel: 
and Pleasant Valley Grange, No. 136, Patrons 
of Husbandry. 



*-m»^^ 



•OSEPH S. HOUGHTON, a successful 
merchant of Weld, Franklin County, 
Me., and an ex-member of the Maine 
legislature, was born in this town, July 
9, 1S51, son of Daniel and .Sophia (Parlin) 
Houghton. His paternal grandfather, James 
Houghton, who was the fifth settler in the 
town of Weld, cleared a good farm, upon 
which he resided for the rest of his life; and 
he reared a large family of children. 

Daniel Houghton, Mr. Houghton's father, 
son of James, w-as born in Weld, January 3, 



290 



ftlOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



iSij, and was here a lifelong resident. He 
was prosperously engaged in tilling the soil 
during the active period of his life, and died 
)unc 17, 1856. His wife, who was before 
niarriage Sophia Pari in, became the mother of 
three children, namely: Morence B., wife of 
B. F. Mctcalf, of Auburn, Mc. : Joseph S., the 
subject of this sketch; and Josephine, wife of 
D. 15. Swett, of Weld. Daniel Houghton was 
a member of the Congregational church, and 
in politics he voted with the Whig party. 

After the death of Daniel Houghton, 
Sophia, his wife, married Vincent G. Parlin, 
a resident of Weld, by whom she had five chil- 
dren. Three of them died young, but two 
livcil to reach manhood; namely, George Otis 
and Abel Ezra. The former now resides at 
Rumford Falls, Me. Abel l^Lzra Parlin gradu- 
ated with honors at Maine Wesleyan Seminary, 
Kent's Hill, Me., after which he took a course 
of theology at Boston University. He was 
subsequently pastor of several churches in 
Maine and \ew Hampshire. He died at 
Paris, Me., in January, 1S95. 

Josejih S. Houghton was ed\icated in the 
common schools of his native town. After 
comjileting his studies he began work in a 
spool factory, where he remained for nineteen 
vears; and since April 1, i88g, he has been 
engaged in trade at his present location. He 
carries a varied line of merchandise, including 
di'y goods, groceries, provisions, and other 
wares, and has succeeded in establishing a 
large and profitable business. In politics he 
is a Republican, and takes a prominent part 
in jjublic affairs. He was Town Clerk thir- 
teen years, is now serving his third year as 
Town Treasurer; and while representing this 
district in the legislature, during the session 
of 1885 and 1886, he served on the Committee 
upon the Reform School. He was Postmaster 
here for four years; and as Assistant Post- 
master he now has charge of the office, which 
is located in his store. 

On October 4, 18S3. Mr. Houghton was 
united in matrimony with Lizzie -Staples, a 
native of Carthage, Me., and a cousin of the 
Hon. Eugene Hale, United States Senator 
from this State. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton 
have one child living, a daughter, Madge, 
aged eleven years. 



Mr. Houghton is a member of Mystic 
Lodge, No. 154, A. F. & A. M., of Weld. 
He was Master of the lodge for two years, 
served as Senior Deacon, Junior and Senior 
Warden, and is a member of the chapter. 
He has acted as a Justice of the Peace since 
1885. 



fHOMAS SWAN, for many years an es- 
teemed resident of Waterford, was born 
in this town, September 11, 1810, son 
of Dudley and .Sallie (Green) -Swan. His 
father was a farmer and a lifelong resident of 
Waterford. The subject of this sketch resided 
for many years on an eighty-acre farm just 
west of South Waterford. Bro'ught up to 
agriculture he became a practical farmer. Ik- 
was also a skilled road builder, and man)- of 
the best roads in Waterford were built under 
his supervision. Industrious and thrifty, he 
prospered; and, at his death, which occurred in 
this town, April 15, i S96, he left a fair prop- 
erty. Widely known, he was equally re- 
spected, and was chosen by his fellow-towns- 
men to serve them in various public capaci- 
ties, including that of Selectman. He was 
twice married, first to Miss Eliza .Sanderson, 
of Sweden, Me., who died June 6, 1878. 
Five children were the fruit of this union, 
namely: Mary E., wife of Albert Caswell, a 
farmer of Waterford, holding the office of .Se- 
lectman; Nancy O., who died in childhood; 
Charles, a ])hysician, resitling in Iowa; 
Thomas }]., an attorney in Atlantic City, la.; 
and John S., a farmer of Livingstone Countw 
California. For his second wife Mr. .Swan 
married Miss Charlotte H. Walker, who 
survives him, and who was born in Bethel, 
Me., April 12, 1832, daughter of Joseph C. 
and Lucinda (Hale) Walker. Her father was 
a native of Bethel, and her mother of Water- 
fonl. The former, who followed farming in 
Waterford for many years, died at the home of 
his daughter, Mrs. Swan. Mr. and Mrs. 
Walker had three children — Caroline M., 
who married D. B. Willis, a prominent specu- 
lator and merchant of Lewiston, Me. (both are 
now deceased) ; Charlotte H. ; and Columbia, 
who died in infancy. Mrs. Swan's mater- 
nal grandparents were Oliver and luiiiice 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



291 



(I'"lclcln'i) Ilalc. Oliver Hale was one of the 
jjioncer settlers of Oxford County, coming 
iiere when Waterford was a wilderness. He 
was a trader, and conducted a store on the spot 
where his grand-daughter, Mrs. Swan, now 
resides. He was also engaged quite exten- 
sively in farming, lie and his wife had eight 
children. 



-01 1\ 151.AXC11AR1), one of the best 
known farmers of Wilton, I'"ranklin 
County, Me., was born in this town, 
August I, 1 826, son of Cyrus and 
Hetscv (Floyd) Blanchard. His paternal 
grandfather, Timothy Blanchard, who was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served 
at the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, 
removed from Billerica, Mass., to Litchfield, 
where he resided for some years: and Iiis last 
days were passed with his son in Maine. He 
diet! at the age of eighty-four years. His 
children were: Timothy, Hannah, Cyrus, 
Rhoda, Reuel, Lorina, and Mary. 

Cyrus Blanchard, son of Timothy, journeyed 
from Massachusetts to Maine on foot : and 
deciding to settle in Wilton he here bought 
eighty acres of wild land. After clearing a 
small space and erecting a frame house twenty 
h\- twenty feet, he continued to improve the 
property until, as the result of his labor, he 
possessed a ])roductive farm, and his first 
abode was replaced by a large and more sub- 
stantial house, together with spacious barns 
and out-buildings. He enjoyed a comfortable 
l)rosperity as a general farmer, and resided in 
W'ilton until his death, which took place 
w^iien he was sixty-four years old. In his 
younger days he was a Whig, later uniting 
with the Republican party; and he was a mem- 
ber of the Free Will Baptist church. His 
first wife, whose maiden name was Chloe 
Welch, survived but a short time after mar- 
riage. She had one child, a daughter, Rhoda, 
who died young. His second wife, formerly 
Betsey Floyd, who was a daughter of Samuel 
Floycl, became the mother of two children, 
namely: Jessie; and John, the subject of this 
sketch. Mrs. Betsey F"loyd Blanchard lived 
to reach the age of seventy-five years. 

John Blanchard was the only son born to 



his ]iarents. As he grew to manhood in his 
native town he attended the public schools of 
Wilton when opjiortunity [lermitted, and as- 
sisted his father in the faini duties until be- 
coming of age. lie then bought sixty acres 
of partially impro\-ed kuul, adjoining his 
father's estate; but, after residing there for 
twelve years, during wdiich time he made vari- 
ous improvements, he s(dd that propert}', and 
purchased the J. Maconiber farm of one hun- 
dred and eight)' acres, where he has since 
lived. He has spent a great deal ol time in 
bringing his land uji to a high state of fei'til- 
ity, has set out an orchard, keeps some extia 
fine cattle and sheep, has remodelled his icsi- 
dence, and besides attending to his farm has 
been quite extensively engaged in lumbering. 

In 1853 Mr. Blanchard wedded I'.lizabeth 
Colburn, daughter of John and .Sarah Colbinn. 
He and his wife have three children, as 
follows: Chailes F. , a large farmer and stock 
dealer of Wilton, who was horn ( Jctober \C>, 
1S54, married Julia .Savage, Aud has three 
children — John 1-"., Minnie, and Jeannett; 
I' rank N., also a farmer and stock dealer, who 
was born November 17, 1863, mai'ried Lillian 
K. Adams, and lias had two children— Cala 
C, who died young, and Clifford, who was 
born December 8, 1894: and Annie May, who 
was born May 25, 1866, marrit'd William 
-Savage, and has two children — Linn .S., who 
was born Decembei' 17, 181J3, and Clinton 1^., 
who was born October 24, 1895. 

Although still vigorous and active, ,Mi'. 
Blanchard is now resting aftei- ;i long t-areer of 
useful activity, having given up the mure 
laborious duties of his fai'ni to his son-in-law, 
William .Savage, who resides with him. He 
has voted with tlie Re]iublican party ever since 
its formation, but has never aspired to public 
office. In his religious faith he is a Free 
Will Baptist. 




JIANDLFR BROTH FRS, who, under 
the firm name of G. A. Chandler & 
Co., conduct a large general store 
at West Sumner, Oxford County, 
Me., are natives of Sumner and sons of the 
late Hiram IV Chandler. Their father died 
October 31, 1888. Their mother. Mi-s. Lme- 



292 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



line Culnirn Chandler, is still living at the 
homestead. Their paternal grandfather, Reu- 
ben Chandler, who was a shoemaker by trade, 
was an early settler in Paris, this county, and 
in Minot, a few miles distant, but passerl the 
latter part of his life in Sumner, where he 
died at the age of fifty-six years. His wife, 
Abigail Harrows, lived to reach a good old 
age. 

Hirani B. Chandler, .son of Reuben, was 
born in Minot, Androscoggin County, Febru- 
ary 13, 1 8 14. He built his shops in Sumner, 
and followed the trades of a cooper and wheel- 
wright until about 1846, when he engaged in 
mercantile pursuits, establishing and conduct- 
ing for many years, or till his death, the busi- 
ness in West Sumner which is now carried on 
bv his sons. He was prominently identified 
with public affairs, serving as Postmaster and 
Town Treasurer for forty years. He was a 
Republican in politics, and for many years 
was an active member of the Universalist 
church. 

His wife, Emeline O. Coburn, whom he 
married November ig, 1S38, was born in 
Sumner, November 10, 18 19, daughter of 
Samuel Coburn. She became the mother of 
eight children. The eldest, Mary E., was 
ijorn December 16, 1839, married Kingman 
Gurney, and died August 6, 1862, leaving one 
daughter, Flora L. , who was born May 21, 
i860, and is now the wife of Elbridge S. 
Tuell, having two children — Mary E. and 
Emily. The second, Julia A., who was born 
June I, 1841, married Horace Gurney, and 
died November 22, 1864. The third, also a 
daughter, Victoria A., was born February 
7, 1843, and married William T. J^onney, of 
West Sumner. Her children are: Corry A., 
born September 23, 1864, who married Effie 
Abbott, and has one child, Elva E. ; Agnes 
I^., who was born May 23, 1871: and Will- 
iam A., born September 15, 1878. The fourth 
was Eliza (j. Chandler, who was born January 
5, 1846. and died May 26. 1870. Oscar G., the 
eldest son, a resident of West Sumner, who 
was born Julv 2, 1848, by bis first wife, I-HIa 
Whitman, had one child, Elton, born Novem- 
ber I, 1874, and by his second wife, Abbie 
Farrar, a son, Leslie, born February 2, 1879. 
Agnes E. Chandler, the si.xth child, was born 



January 17, 185 i, married the Rev. George E. 
Forbes, and died May 12, 1885, leaving one 
child, Murray E. The seventh and eighth 
born were George A. and Harold Chandler, 
the subjects of this sketch, now to be further 
mentioned. 

George A. Chandler, senior member of the 
firm, was born February 21, 1858. He ac- 
quired his education in the common and high 
schools, and after completing his studies he 
taught ten terms of school. He then engaged 
in the mercantile business, which since the 
death of his father he has managed as the ac- 
tive partner. This firm is now carrying a 
large and varied line of general merchandise, 
embracing unnumbered articles for domestic, 
agricultural, and mechanical use; and they not 
only have the most profitable trade in the vil- 
lage, but supply a numerous patronage from 
the adjacent towns. Mr. Chandler has served 
as Town Clerk for ten consecutive years, has 
been Postmaster for the past si.\ years, besides 
holding other town offices, and has served 
efficiently for three years as a member of the 
School l^oard, being deeply interested and 
well versed in educational matters. He is 
connected with the lodge of Odd Fellows at 
West Paris and with Pleasant Lake Lodge, 
No. 232, of Good Templars. George A. 
Chandler and Helen Tuell were united in 
marriage on October 12, 1879, and have two 
children — Linnie T. and H. Benjamin. 

Harold Chandler, junior member of the firm 
of G. A. Chandler & Co., and also engaged in 
the job ])rinting business, was born March 1. 
i868. After finishing his studies he entered 
his father's store as a clerk; and, since suc- 
ceeding to its possession in company with his 
brother, he has been a partner in the business. 
He possesses mechanical genius of a high 
order; and, having acquired a knowledge of 
printing without the aid of instruction, when 
he had become proficient in the business, and 
desired to apply steam-power to his ]3resses, 
he built an engine, which now performs the 
required services in the office. He carries on 
quite an extensive business as a job printer, 
doing a great deal of work for the town, be- 
sides filling numerous orders for private indi- 
viduals and business concerns; and this little 
enterprise is proving very profitable to him. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIJEW 



2C)^ 



The CliaiulliT Brothers nw not only active 
and exceedingly enterprising young business 
men, but are very popular social favorites; 
ami their success is fully merited. They are 
Republicans in politics, and they attend the 
Universalist church. 




(4)|;|- USTIM REYNOLDS, M.D.,a widely 
known and successful eclectic physi- 
cian of Farmington, Me., was born 
in Jay, Franklin County, Me., 
July 9, 1830, son of Luther C. and Charlotte 
R. (Jackson) Reynolds. 

Dr. Reynolds's father, who was a native of 
Peru, O.xford County, Me., learned the slioe- 
maker's traile, and in young manhood settled 
in Jay, where he followed that calling with 
])rosperous results. He became the owner of 
a good farm, which he cultivated industriously 
for the rest of his life and he died in Jay at 
the age of fifty-seven years. He was an ar- 
dent abolitionist and originally a W'iiig in 
jjolitics, later joining the Republican party; 
and he was highly respected and esteemed as 
a worthy and useful citizen. His wife, Char- 
lotte R. Jackson, who was a daughter of 
-Samuel Jackson, bore him nine children, as 
follows; Austin, the subject of this sketch; 
George A. and William I-"., twins; Helista; 
(Irrin A.; I-.liza; Henry; Lewiston ; and 
Rhoda. Dr. Reynolds's mother lived to reach 
the age f)f eighty-five years. His parents were 
members of the Baptist churcii. 

Austin Reynolds acquired his early educa- 
tion in the district schools of Jay, and resided 
with his parents until reaching manhood. He 
then went to Randolph, Mass., where he 
engagetl in the boot and shoe business till 
1 .Sfio, when he commenced the study of medi- 
cine with Dr. J. Alden, of tiiat town. At the 
breaking out of the Rebellion he went to the 
front as nurse, but was soon apjiointed member 
of Medical Cadet Corps, under Sergeant 
Waters. He saw considerable active service, 
being present at the second battle of Bull Run 
and the memorable engagement at Fredericks- 
burg. 

Returning North in 1863, he took a course 
of one year in the medical department of 
HarvartI L^niversity, after which he entered 



the Lxlectic Medical .School of Pennsylvania, 
where he was graduated in 1866. He com- 
menced the practice of his profession at Fast 
Wilton in this county. Two years later he 
located in P'armington, and he has since 
maintained a large and successful practice in 
this and the surrounding towns. Purchasing 
the Dr. F.dniund Russell i^ropert)' situatetl on 
Main .Street, he proceeded to i-nlai"ge and re- 
model the house; and, being a natural me- 
chanic, he designed and finished several of the 
rooms himself. Tiie interior, which contains 
some handsomely designed archways, is 
finished in black walnut and ash, inlaid in a 
most artistic manner, showing exquisite taste 
and skilful workmanshi]). The exterior has 
also received careful attention, marks of the 
same cultivated taste being visilile every- 
where. The spacious lawns are intercepted 
by an aspiialt driveway. The residence ad- 
joining, which is owned and occupied by Mrs. 
M. H. Newell, was also designed In' tiie 
Doctor, and is a most creditable ant! pleasing 
piece of architectural work, plainly demon- 
strating the fact that his abilities in this 
direction are of a higli order and full)- 
developed. 

For his first wife Dr. Res-nolds married 
Abbie Fustis, daugiiter of Daniel luistis, of 
Jay, and by this uiiion there were two sons, 
namely: George W., born in 185J; and 
Charles, born in 1857. Ciiaries died at the 
age of three years. George \V., who has been 
the popular |iastor of the Congregational 
church at Gorham, Me., for the ]5ast nine 
years, is a graduate ot ^Amherst College and 
of Vale Divinity .School. Tiie first iMght 
years of his ministry were spent as yiastor of 
churches in .Stuart and Osage, la. The 
Doctor's pi'esent wife, formerly Mrs. Luella 
Cutts, born .Stevens, daughter of Oliver 
.Stevens, has by her first marriage one daugh- 
ter, Jane M., who is a successful teacher. 

In politics Dr. Reynolds is an earnest su])- 
porter of Republican ])rinciples, and, as an 
enterprising and progressive citizen, is actixely 
interested in all matters relative to the general 
welfare and improvement of the town. As a 
physician he is both professionally and finan- 
cially successful, which s]K'aks well for iiis 
ability; and the high position he occujiies 



294 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



among the prominent, well-to-ilo ix'sidents has 
been meritoriously attained. 




I [.LI AM NEWELL THOMAS, an 
alile farmer of Oxford and a repre- 
sentative of a pioneer family of 
this town, was born upon the farm where he 
now resides, September 22, iS^i, son of Will- 
iam and Harriet (Brackett) Thomas. His 
grandfather, I^llisha Thomas, a native of 
Middleboro, Mass., settled at the Thomas 
hoinestead in (.Oxford when it consisted of a 
primitive log house and a small clearing. By 
indnstriously applying himself to the task of 
improving the propert)' I-llisha succeeded in 
making it a very productive farm. He died at 
the age of eightv-three years. In politics he 
supported the Whig party, while his religious 
\iews were of a liberal character. He was 
twice married, and reared a family of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters, none 
of whom are li\ing. His second wife, Eliza- 
beth Thomas, who reached a good old age, had 
three children — William, Ichabod M., and 
Deborah. 

William Thomas was born in Middleboro, 
Mass., and accompanied his parents when they 
came to Oxford. He inherited the homesteatl, 
where the greater part of his active life was 
|)assed in tilling the soil. In time he became 
one (if the leading farmers of his da)'. He 
was also quite an extensive speculator in 
land. In politics he was a Democrat. He 
was closely identified with local public affaiis, 
serving as a member of the Board of Select- 
men. Eor some years he acted as a Trustee 
of the Oxford County Agricultural Society. 
He died at the Thomas homestead, aged sixty- 
nine years. His wife, Harriet, who was a 
native of Westbrook, Me., bore him seven 
children, two sons and five daughters. Three 
of these are living; namely, William N., 
Angie W., and Harriet A. The others were: 
Sarah J., Catherine, Elisha, and Atosia. The 
mother lived to the age of seventy-si.x years. 

William Newell Thomas acquired a good 
practical education in the schools of Oxford, 
and grew to manhood at the family home- 
stead. Since becoming its owner he has not 
onl\' improved the property by the erection of 



a new set of buildings, but has added' more 
land to the estate, which now comprises three 
hundred acres. The Thomas farm is ranked 
by many people among the best properties in 
the county. Its owner enjoys the reputation 
of one of the most practical and energetic agri- 
culturists of this town. He has also an inter- 
est in the .South Paris Savings Bank, of which 
he is a Trustee. He is one of the oldest 
members of the Board of Trustees of the Ox- 
ford County Agricultural Society. In politics 
he acts with the Democratic party, and he is a 
leading spirit in public affairs. He served 
with ability as Selectman for a number of 
years. 

On September 30, 1 .S60, Mr. Thomas 
wedded Julia Sturtevant, who vvas born in 
Hebron, Me., January 25, 1841, daughter of 
Eliphalet and Eunice (Jordan) Sturtevant. 
Eliphalet Sturtevant, a native of Worcester, 
Mass., born August 14, 1784, settled in He- 
bron, where he followed the carpenter's trade, 
and was engaged in farming. His religious 
belief was that of the Baptist denomination, 
and in his last years he supported the Repub- 
lican party. His wife, who was born June 6, 
1799, in Gray, Me., died October 8, 1871; 
and he died in Massachusetts on November 8 
following. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have had 
three children, namely: Arthur K., who is 
married and lives in Portland; Lillian E., 
wife of II. 1-'. Cushman, of Auburn, Me.; and 
Elisha M., the eldest, wdio dieil at the age of 
thirteen years. Mr. Thomas has advanced in 
Masonry to the Royal Arch degree, having 
affiliation with the Blue Lodge at .South I'aris 
and the chai^ter in Norway. P'or six years he 
has been Master of .South Paris Grange, Pa- 
trons of Husbandry. Mrs. Thomas is also a 
membei' of that order. 



lORNELIUS M. HOLLAND, one of 
the oldest and best known farmers of 
js Canton, Me., and formerly Chair- 

man of the Board of .Selectmen, was 
born in this Oxford County town, Eebruary 
21, 1822, son of Dr. Cornelius and Milly 
(Billings) Holland. The family is of English 
origin and of old Colonial stock. Mr. Hol- 
lanrl's great-grandfather, John Holland, re- 



lilOCKAIMIIC \I, KKX'IKW 



=9? 



sidcil ill SuUon, Mass. ; and liis son, John 
Molland, second, Mr. llnlhuKTs j;i-andtalhcr, 
who was born in Sutton, became an earlv set- 
tler in Dixlieid, Me. He was a sturd)' pio- 
neer and an industrious farmer, and he Ii\ed 
to re.'ich a ripe olti a.t;e. 

("ornelius Holland, son ot the \ounj;ci- John 
Iloiland, was born in Sutton, Mass., July (>, 
i/Sj!. His youthful o|)portunities lor school- 
ing were extremely limited; but he devoted 
his spare time to stutly, siientlins;' his eveninn's 
in obtainin;;' a knowletln'c of the hiL;her 
branches of learning by the light of a pitch 
pine knot, and became a well-educated man. 
Having adopted the profession of metlicine, 
he first settled as a [physician in Livermore, 
Me.; and in 1815 he located upon the farm in 
Canton where his son now resides. He had 
a large and successful practice; and he took a 
]3rominent ]iart in public affairs, serving as a 
Justice of the Peace and in various other town 
offices, being among those appointed to frame 
the constitution of the State of Maine, and in 
I.S2I and I.SJ2 a member of the State legislat- 
ure. In I 830 Dr. Holland was elected a Re])- 
resentative to Congress to fill out an unexpired 
term, and he was afterward re-elected. He 
took a deep interest in the improvement antl 
welfare of the town, and was honored and re- 
spected by the entire conmiunity. In politics 
he supported the Democratic party, and in 
his religious views he was a Universali.st. 
During' the last fifteen years of his life the 
worthy Doctor suffered from the loss of his 
eyesight. He died at his home in .Canton, 
June 2. 1S70. and was buried with IMasonie 
honors. 

His wife, Mill)- Hillings, whom he married 
November 16. 1S15, was biu-n in W'ilttui, 
N.H , April 25, 178S. She became the 
mother of four children, nair.ely: Eliza \V., 
who was boiai (Jctober 13, i,Si6, married 
Horatio Austin, and died Januar\' 28, 1844; 
James M., who was born December 22, 1818, 
married Sarah F. F"airbanks, and died October 
II, 1847, leaving one son, James Frank, born 
November 13, 1844, died in Houlton, Me., 
November 30, 1892; Cornelius M., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Amanda B., who was 
born January 9, 1826, and is now residing in 
Buckfield, the widow of N. T. Shaw. Mrs. 



Milly H. Holland died Decendier fi, 1874. 
Cornelius M. Holland, the younger of the tw<i 
sons reared b}' his parents, began his educa- 
tion in the common schools of Canton, and 
completed his studies with a course at the 
Westbrook .Seminai'y. In \iiung manhood he 
ado|)ted agricultural pnisuits: and he has 
alwaws resided at the homesteatl, which he in- 
herited at his father's death. He has sold 
eighty acres ot the original ti'act, and now 
owns and cultivates sixty acres (jf e.Ncelleiit 
tillage land, his farm being among the most 
fertile to be tound in the Androscoggin 
valley. Although well advanced in years, he 
is still actively engaged in attending to the 
regular duties about the jilaee ; and during the 
present season he has wielded the scythe with 
the skill Antl pi'ccision of a much younger 
man. 



On March 



1845, Ml 



II 



united in marriage with I.)-dia II. Reynolds, 
who was born in Canton, .September 5, 1824, 
daughter of Daniel and F'Jizabeth (Austin) 
Reynolds. Mr. and Mrs. Holland have had 
four chiklren, as follows: Abbie I*".., who was 
born December g, 1846, and died March 14. 
1849; Charles Monroe, a farmer and nurser\- 
man of Rhode Island, who was born June 8, 
1850, married IClla M. Dodge, of .Sutton, 
Mass., and has one daughter, Lottie M.; I^lla 
Amanda, who was born No\-ember 9, 1853, 
and is now the wife of .S. A. Russell, a car- 
riage painter of Dixfield. having three chil- 
dren, — namely, Lizzie M., Charles M., aiul 
Milly II.; and Cf)ra M., who was borr. August 
21, i860, married Fred K. Rowe, of Canton, 
and has three children — Alice II., Homer 
]{., and .Sherman. 

In politics Mr. Holland is a Democrat. 
He has served efficiently as Chairman of the 
lioard of .Selectmen, was Postmaster at Cant(Mi 
Point for eight X'cars, aiul for the past thirtv- 
five years he has been tierk of the Board of 
j Trustees of the School I-'und. He has served 
as Moderator at town meetings for many years, 
and his ability as a presiding officer and his 
experience and judgment in public affairs 
are recognized and appreciated by his fellow- 
townsmen. He is a member and Past Master 
of Oriental Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M. : and 
a member of Androscoggin Chapter, Royal. 



2g6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Arch MasDiis, ol UNcriiiore I-"alls: and of 
Diinlaii Council, Royal and Select Masters, of 
Lcwiston. Mr. and Mrs. Holland attend the 
Universalist church. The}' arc widely and 
favorably known throughout this section, 
being among the oldest residents here; and in 
1S95 iiuiuerous friends and acquaintances as- 
sisted them in celebrating the golden anni- 
versary of their wedding. 




;S)|T ^^^-^^ AH150TT r.ROVER, a well- 
tf)-do farmer ol the town of Norway, 
Oxford County, Me., who for many 
years was prosperously engaged in 
the lundier fnisiness, was born in Cumberland, 
Cumberland County, this State, July 2, 1829, 
son of Ile/A-kiah Grox-er, who was a native of 
Bethel, Me. 

His paternal grandfather, ICli Grover, son 
of Deacon James Grover, an early settler in 
this region, was born in 1763 in the town of 
ik'thel. He grew to manhood in his native 
place, and continued a resident there, carrying 
on farming until his death, which took place 
on September 2, 1837. His wife, Mehitabel 
Austin, was a native of Maine. They were 
the parents of fourteen children, as follows: 
Abigail, who was born in May, 1790, and 
flied August 2, 1893; Kli, who was born Jan- 
uary 18, 1792, and died September 30, 1843; 
James, born November iS, 1 793, 'deceased ; 
Peter, born July 30, 1795, who died in 1874; 
Mehitabel, born July 3, 1797, who died No- 
\emher 16, 1831; Leonard, l)orn May 9, 1799, 
diei-l P'ebruary 25, 1884; Amos, born July 13, 
1801, died August 3, 1883: Hezekiah, father 
of Amos Abbott, born in 1803: Andrew, born 
September 25, 1805, who died in 1863; Abel, 
boiai December 7, 1807. deceased: Alpheus, 
born October 26, i8og, who died November i, 
1842; .Sarah, born October 7, 1812, died July 
15, 1819; Almon, born Januar)' 24, 1815, now 
deceased; and Arvillc, who was born January 
20, 1817, and died June 2, 1845. 

Hezekiah Grover was the si.xth son and 
eighth child born to liis parents. He early 
chose farming as the occu]3ation by which he 
should earn his livelihood, and soon after his 
marriage settled on a farm in the town of 
iMason, Oxfortl County, where during the few 



remaining years of his earthly life he was 
actively engaged in general husbandry. He 
died October 6, 1831, when but twenty-eight 
years of age. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Betsey Hartlett, was born in Cumberlantl, 
Me., her father, Thomas Bartlett, who was a 
native of England, having settled in that town 
after following the sea for a few years in earjy 
manhood. Two children were born to Heze- 
kiah and Betsey B. Groxer, namely: Amos 
Abbott, the subject of this sketch; and Mehit- 
abel J., who came into the world September 
23, 1 83 1, only a few days before the death of 
her father, and who is now the wife of E. G. 
Wheeler, of West Bethel, Me. After her 
husband's death Mrs. Grover became the wife 
of Artemas Mason, of Mason, Me., by whom 
she had three children, namely: a son, Heze- 
kiah G., now a resident of Mason, who mar- 
ried the late Susanna Watson; and two daugh- 
ters, Minerva and Elizabeth Frances, both 
deceased. The mother passed away December 
2, 1846, having lived but a few years after her 
second marriage. Mr. Mason survived her 
many years, dying in 1893. 

Amos A. Grover was educated in the com- 
mon schools of his native county, and early 
began to engage in the activities of life. 
Buying a farm in the town of Mason, when 
but twenty years old he devoted his energies 
to farming and lumbering on an extensive 
scale. He owned a saw-mill, in which he 
manufactured shingles, clapboards, and dressed 
lumber of all kinds, carrying on a substantial 
business for thirty years. In 1879 he trans- 
ferred the scene of his ojierations t(j Oxford 
County, selling out in Mason, and coming to 
Norway on the ist of April to engage in mill- 
ing in this vicinitv. In 1883 Mr. Grover 
bought his present farm of one lumdred ;ind 
sixty acres, situated near the shores of Lake 
Pennessewassee, his beautiful homestead oc- 
cupying one of the most attractive sites in the 
county. He has been very successful in his 
agricultural labors, including the cultivation 
of the soil, dairying, and stock raising. Mr. 
Grover is a public-spirited citizen, genuinely 
interested in the welfare and progress of the 
community; and while a resident of Mason he 
filled all the important offices within the gift 
of his fell(jw-townsmen. .Since coming to 



BIOGRAl'HKAL REVIEW 



297 



Norway he lias sei-vcd with fidelity in many 
minor public positions. Politically, he is an 
earnest advocate of the principles ot the Re- 
publican party. Fraternally, he is a member 
of the grange at Norway. 

On May 6, 1855, Mr. (irover married Miss 
Cordelia Watson, a nati\e ol Norway, born 
May 15, 182.S. Her father, Daniel Watson, 
who was born October 27, 1797, was a lifelong 
farmer of this town. His wife, formerly 
Lydia Clark, was born in I?ethel, June 25, 
1798. Mr. and Mrs. (irover have two chil- 
dren now living in their home, namely: I'"red 
O. , born November 14, 1863; and P'lorence 
C, born September 19, 1866; and with others 
they have been called to part: Daniel Watson, 
born December 24, 1856, who died July 25, 
1862; and Frances A., born October 26, 1859, 
who died October 17, 1880. 




II.I.IAM III'.XRV ALLKX, a well- 
to-do farmer and extensive lantl- 
owner of Hebron. Oxford County, 
is a worthy representati\'e of sturdy New ICng- 
land stock, strengthened by generations of 
growth in the free air of the I'ine Tree State. 
He was born in Hebron, October 2, 1850, a 
son of William P. and Wealthy (Hutchinson) 
Allen. His grandfather, William Allen, was 
an early settler in Androscoggin County, 
whence he eventually removed to Penobscot 
County. An industrious and enterprising 
man, he was engaged for a number of years in 
farming, lumbering, ami logging. He died 
in Hermon, Penobscot County, at the age of 
eighty. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Araminta Pettingill, was a native of Andros- 
coggin County. .She lived to be eighty-one 
years of age. This couple had ten children, 
namely: Jeremiah D,. born October 2, 1809; 
William 1'., the father named above: and 
Abel, born January 29, 18 14, — all deceased; 
John ]'., born April 25, 1816, a sea ca|)tain 
residing in Thomaston, Me. ; Levi, born 
March 15, 1818; and James li., born March 
4, 1820, residing in Hermon Centre, Me. ; 
Albion P., born September 13, 1822, de- 
ceased; Asael G., born May 13, 1825; -Sewall 
A., born April 10, 1827: anrl Alpheus, born 
April 22, 1829, all in Hermon Centre. 



William P. Allen w;is born in Minot, Me., 
December 26, 181 1, but spent much of his 
active life in Hebron, the last thirty years on 
the farm now oct'upied by his son. He was a 
carpenter by trade, and was very successful as 
a tarmer. In politics he was a Democrat, in 
religious belief liberal, his wife being a mem- 
ber of the I'ree Will Haptist church. He 
died on the home farm, Januar)' 14, 1879. 
Mr. William P. Allen was married .September 
8, 1839, to Miss Wealthy Hutchinson, who 
was born in Hebron, (l\ford Count\-, Me., 
August 2, 1811, and died here, August 16, 
1880, having been the mother of four children. 
The parents were bereft of their two elder 
children within a single week, namely: Devi, 
born March 2, 1841, who died in Hebron, 
September -9, 1848; and .Stafford, born ( )cto- 
ber u 1843, who died in Hebron, Se|)teRd)er 
3, 1848. The others who are )'et living are: 
Albion P. and William Henry. Albion P. 
Allen, who was born Nm'ember 30, 184=;, is 
engaged in farming in Hebron. He married 
on November 25, 1871, Miss y\urilla Hates, 
who died June 15. 1876, leaving two children 
-George H. and \'elma A. Three years 
later, on June 14, 1879, he married Miss 
Hattie I. Turner, who lived hut a little over 
a year; and he was married Ma}' 14, 1S82, to 
Mrs. Addie T. Eastman, his |)resent wife. 

William Henry Allen, the younger of the 
.two sons who grew to maturity, accpiired his 
education in the common schools of Hebron. 
He started in life by learning the shoemaker's 
trade, which he followed until al:)out 1.S80, 
when he turned his attention to the pursuit of 
agriculture. To-day he owns [he home larm 
in Hebron of one hundred acres, a good prop- 
erty with substantial buildings, besides con- 
siderable land in the town of Minot. 

On .Sejitember t8, 1879, Mi'. Allen was 
united in marriage with Susie M., daughter of 
James B. and .Susie G. (Page) Allen. .She 
was born in Hermon Centre, November 4, 
1854. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have no children. 
Politically, Mr. Allen favors the Democratic 
side. He is highly esteemed by his towns- 
men, and has served on the Board of Select- 
men for ten years. He belongs to livening 
Star Lodge, No. 147, A. F. & A. M., of 
Buckfield ; and he and his wife are niembers of 



29' 



lilOGRAl'UR'AL Ri:VlK\\' 



East llchion (irangi-, ratrons of Husl)aiulry, 
No. 300, of which he is now 'rreasurer, and 
lias been two vcars Master. On religious sub- 
jects be holils liberal views, fa\'oring the Free 
Will JkiiJtist church, at which he is a frequent 
attendant. 




ARKISON J. HATICS, leading mer- 
chant in -Strong, was born in this 

l_9 I village, October 2, 1850. He is 

the son of William E. and Sally 
(Haines) Hates, natives of Avon, now resid- 
ing in Strong. His father was for many years 
engagetl in farming and teaming, but has now 
retired from active labor. Mr. and Mrs. 
William ]■',. i^ates have had three children, of 
whom Harrison J., the subject of this sketch, 
is the eldest and the only one living. The 
others were: Erastus, who died at the age of 
ten: antl Lillian, who died at the age of seven 
years. 

Harrison J. Bates was educated in the com- 
mon schools of Strong, and resided with his 
parents until he was about twenty-five years 
old. He then engaged in the trucking busi- 
ness, hauling merchandise from Earmington to 
Strong: and he continued in that employment 
for three years. Since 1879, when he bought 
out P. Daggett, then in the harness business 
here, he has conducted a general store. He 
carries a well -selected stock of salable goods 
of a miscellaneous character; and as he has 
made it a point to give his undivided attention 
to his business, taking p<iins to meet the 
wants of his customers, he has a liberal share 
of patronage. 

Mr. Hates h.is l)een twice married. His 
first wife, I'lmma \'ining, was a daughter of 
Nathaniid Vining, a prosperous farmer of 
Avon. .She died May -5, 1887, leaving one 
daughter, Lillian !■'., who was born July 7, 
1874, and is now the wife of Henry -Sewell, a 
can manufacturer of .Strong. Mr. liates's 
present wife was before marriage Laura Guild. 
She was born in .Strt)ng, daughter of Lewis 
(juild, a native of New Vineyard, who is now 
a salesman, and resides in the West. By this 
union there is one son, Vivian E. Bates, who 
was horn December 14, 1890. 

Politically, Mr. 15ates has alvvavs favored 



the Democratic party; but, as he is not an 
office-seeker, his name has never been used 
with that end in view. His business ability 
has placed him in a position of comfortable 
prosperity; antl he occupies a pleasantly lo- 
cated residence, which he built a short time 
since. He is a citizen of high social stand- 
ing, and is a member of Marathon Lodge, No. 
96, Knights of Pythias. 



4^«» > 




LLIAM H. MANTER, a well- 
known resident of New Sharon, was 
born in Anson, an adjacent town in 
Somerset County, on March 31, 1842, son of 
William W. and' Betsey W. (Norton) Manter. 
His great -great-grandfather was Benjamin 
Manter, a native of Martha's.Vineyard, Mass., 
where he was a man of more than ordinary 
note, being of good family, prosperous, and a 
Colonel of the militia. 

James, second son of Benjamin, was prob- 
ably born on the island of Martha's Vineyard 
about 1746. He and his wife, Mary Butler 
Manter, were among the very foremost settlers 
of that portion of New Vineyard set apart and 
denominated as Lidustry. They came from 
Holmes's Hole, Mass., to New Vineyard, or 
Industry, in 1791, sailing as far as Hallo- 
well; and from there the whole family, with 
the exception of Mrs. Manter, who was not 
strong enough to undertake such a journey on 
foot, walked to their destined home in the 
wilderness. James Manter and sons cleared 
here on his new possessions a small tract of 
land, felled the trees, and built a log house. 
He died in 1796, at the age of fifty years. 
His wife lived until nearly the middle of this 
century, dying in 1845, at the ri])e old age of 
ninety-four. 

Henry, second son of James and Mary 
(Butler) Manter, was born on November 28, 
1777. He married Mary West, and event- 
ually settled on what is now known as the 
Brackett farm in Starks. He, however, after- 
ward e.xchanged that homestead for the one 
now owned and occupied by Mrs. Sarah Lewis. 
Here he built a comfortable house, and spent 
the remainder of his life, dying in 1858, aged 
eighty years. His wife followeil liim just ten 
years later, at the age of sevent\-nine. They 



BIOGRAI'IIICAL REV[F,\\' 



299 



hatl nine children, William \V. being the 
eldest. 

Me was born on the i/lh of August, 1806, 
in New Vineyard, where he spent his early 
life and comnienced his education. At the 
age of twenty-two he was married and settled 
at Iiuhistry, where he built the Brick 1 louse, 
near West's iMills. Three years before he had 
built a saw-mill at or near the same place, 
and, after paying for the cranks of the mill 
sweeps by sawing aiul hauling chair bcjttoms, 
he continued to run it until he removed to 
Anson in 1835. He died at Mercer on the 
28th of March, 1S91, aged eighty-five years. 
He was a Democrat in politics, and was a 
member of the Methodist church. He filled 
during his life quite a number of public 
offices, being at one time Selectman in Anson 
and also Ta.x Collector and Constable. 

Although strangely addicted to changing 
his place of residence for so solid and prosper- 
ous a man, William VV. Manter could never be 
called a rolling stone, in the ordinary sense of 
the word. Whatever moss he gathered he 
kept, or, as in one instance, made money from. 
This was in 1856, when he sold all his real 
estate at a profitable figure, and removed to 
New Sharon with his family, buying here the 
large farm of two hundred and si.\ty-five acres 
where his son now resides. liven this place 
he left, and removed for the last time to 
Mercer, where he died. He left quite a large 
property behind him, his Anson farm alone 
containing over two hundred acres. 

William H. Manter, son of William W., 
and the special subject of this sketch, spent 
most of his boyhood at Anson, and there re- 
ceived his early education. When he was 
fourteen he removed with his father and 
mother to New Sharon. There he still at- 
tended school until he had arrived at the age 
of eighteen, when he began to work regularly 
on his father's farm. On the day he attained 
his majority he acquired by purchase the farm 
known as the Eben Collins farm, containing 
seventy-si.\ acres. Mr. Manter has been in- 
creasing his property from year to year, until 
at present his farm is about four hundred acres 
in extent. He owns a fine herd of fifteen cat- 
tle and three horses, besides a handsome flock 
of seventy sheep, excellent wool producers. 



On the 17th of December, 1878, he was 
married to Jane Stilson, the daughter of Cyrus 
Stilson, a farmer of New Sharon. They have 
two children, both living: ]5essie M., born 
July 14, 1880, who is still at school; and 
Marion, born June 20, i88r), who is at school 
in the home district. 

Like his father, he is a Democrat in poli- 
tics and a member of the Methodist church. 
He was a .Selectman of the town of New 
-Sharon from 1892 to 1893. He is generally 
respected for what he has made himself, a man 
whose ]:)rosperity is due entirely to his own 
hard work and temporary self-sacrifice, while 
striving for the end that he has now so justly 
sained. 



—•-♦♦•-♦— 




AMUia, D. KNOWI.TON, a car- 
riage manufacturer of Farmington 
and one of the leading farmers of 
Knowlton's Corner, was born upon 
the farm he now owns and cultivates, Septem- 
ber 19, 1832, son of Dean and Mehitable 
(Graves) Knowlton. Mr. Knowlton is a de- 
scendant of Samuel Knowlton, a native of 
Massachusetts, and a shoemaker by trade, who 
was born in 1647, son of William Knowlton; 
and the line continues through Samuel, Jr., 
who was born November 9, 1672, to Samuel, 
third, the date of whose birth is unknown. 
He married Esther Dean; antl they became 
the parents of si.\ children, the fourth-born of 
whom was Samuel, fourth, who settled in 
Maine. 

Samuel Knowlton, fourth, was born in Ips- 
wich, Mass., in 1764, and in 17S6 came to 
Sandy River township, now Farmington, 
where he bought a tract of wild land, consist- 
ing of a portion of back lot No. i, which has 
since remained in the family's possession. 
The first clearing was started near the large 
rock which stands in front of the present resi- 
dence. After bringing a portion of his tract 
into a state of cultivation, he found the land 
to be of a superior quality for tillage purposes, 
and by carrying on general farming in connec- 
tion with his trade of shoemaking, he soon 
advanced in prosperity far beyond the average 
settler of that day. The primitive log house, 
which served as a temporary abode, was in 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



due time replaced by a frame building twenty- 
eight by thirty-six feet, which stood near the 
old elm-tree; and when in recent years this 
was torn down by his grandson, Samuel U. 
Knowlton, after standing nearly a century, its 
frame was found to be still sound enough to 
be used for another building. Mr. Knowlton 
saved also some of the moulded nails, which 
were probably made in luigland. 

Grandfather Knowlton was one of the first 
to engage in the cultivation of fruit in this lo- 
cality, and, having set out a large orchard, 
derived con.siderable profit from the sale of his 
apple crop. He was not only a sturdy and 
industrious pioneer, who possessed the ability 
to attain prosperity in spite of the numerous 
difficulties which beset the progress of the 
early settlers, but his noble nature caused 
him to extend a helping hand to those of his 
neighbors who were less fortunate; and at his 
death, which took place February 17, 1844, 
he was deeply mourned as a generous, kind- 
hearted neighbor and a worthy, useful citizen. 
He was survived by his w^ife, formerly Jane 
Linscott, who lived to reach the advanced age 
of ninety-three years, dying May 22, 1S57. 
Their twelve children were as follows: Sam- 
uel, John, lietsey, Joseph, Kbenezer, Esther, 
Joshua, Jane, Benjamin, Patty, Sally, and 
Dean. 

Dean Knowlton, son of Samuel, fourth, and 
father of Samuel D., was born July 23. 1S07. 
He inherited the homestead, and like his 
father was an energetic and prosperous farmi.'r 
and a highly esteemed citizen. He died in 
the prime of life, October 17, 1.S49. In poli- 
tics he supported the Whig party, and in his 
religious views was liberal. His wife, Mehit- 
able Graves, daughter of Samuel Graves, of 
Wayne, bore him seven children, as follows: 
Samuel D., the subject of this sketch; Esther 
J. ; Clarissa B. ; Mary and Martha, twins, who 
died in infanc}'; and John and Joshua, also 
twins, who did not live to grow up. Mrs. 
Mehitable G. Knowlton died September 25, 
184S, aged thirty-nine years. 

Samuel D. Knowlton was educated in the 
town schools; and, being the only son of his 
parents that lived to reached maturity, he re- 
sided at the homestead, and succeeded to the 
ownership of the property after their death. 



When a young man he learned the carriage- 
maker's trade, and in 1 850 began manufact- 
uring upon his own account upon a small 
scale, in connection with tilling the soil at 
the home farm; and in 1868 he erected a new 
residence, using the old one for a shop. In 
1893 he demolished the old building, and 
used its frame for the construction of his 
present factory, which is twenty-eight by 
thirty-six feet, and two stories high. He is 
now producing about seventy-five carriages 
and quite a large number of sleighs an- 
nually, which are all made by hand, and are 
of a superior material and fine workmanship. 
He has also built a new stable upon his 
farm, and as an agriculturist is up with the 
times, keeping the land in a high state of 
cultivation, and owning a fine herd of Jersey 
cows. 

On February 23, 1851, Mr. Knowlton 
wedded for his first wife Jane Reed, daughter 
of James Reed, of Kingfield, Me. By this 
union there were four children, namely: 
Georgiana, who died at the age of fourteen 
years; Ella, who died young; Elizabeth, who 
is now the wife of Charles McGaffey, and re- 
sides in Mount Vernon, having two children 
— John and Laura; and Dana, who died at 
the age of one year. Mrs. Jane Reed Knowl- 
ton died September 20, 1864; and for his sec- 
ond wife Mr. Knowlton married Martha Tyler, 
daughter of James and Mary (Brownell) Tyler. 
Mr. Tyler was a prosperous farmer of Vienna, 
Me., who died at the age of fifty years, 
his wife dying younger, leaving two children, 
namely: Stephen, who married for his second 
wife, Eliza Jenks; and Martha, who is now 
Mrs. Knowlton. By his present union Mr. 
Knowlton has had six chiklren, as follows: 
Dana and Cora, who died young; William, a 
carriage-maker of North Chesterville, who 
married Eunice Whitmore, and has four 
children — Ethel, Martha, Ernest, and Sybil; 
Evelyn, now the wife of George Weymouth, 
of North Chesterville, having one child, 
Gladys; Charles M., who married Theodocia 
Jennings, and has one daughter, Hazel ; and 
Harry, who is now emploved in the factory 
with his father. 

A prominent business man of Knowlton's 
Corner, Mr. Knowlton enjoys the sincere es- 



RIOGRAIMI [CM, KF.VIi:\V 



301 



tccni and yood will of the entire coninumity, 
and his enterprise is exceed inj^ly beneficial to 
this locality. He acts with tlie Democratic 
party in politics, is liberal in his religious 
views, and is connected with I'"ranklin Lodge, 
No. 58, Independent Ortler of Odd Fellows. 




iI.l'Wia.LVN 15. UliALD, Town Clerk 
of Sumner, O.xfortl Count}', is a 

progressive and successful farmer. 

He was born on the farm where he 
is now living, October 25, 1842, son of 
Jefferson and Jane (Hersey) Heald, both na- 
tives of Sumner. His grandfather, Ben- 
jamin Heald, who was born in Carlisle, 
Mass., June 25, 1764, served in the Revo- 
lutionary War. In 1783 or 17S4 Benja- 
min Heald settled on the land now occupied 
by his grandson, and for a long period dwelt 
in a log cabin erected by his own hands. 
A man of ability and energy, he was one of 
the largest land-owners and most extensive 
farmers in .Sumner, and one of the first Select- 
men of the town. In religious matters he was 
liberal. He died in Sumner, October 12, 
1841. His wife, whose maiden name was Re- 
becca Spaulding, was born November 10, 
1766, and died June 10, 1858. They were 
the parents of nine children, who have all 
passed away. 

Jefferson Heald was born on the farm now 
occupied In' his son, November 16, 1805. 
He, too, was a successful farmer, progressive 
and energetic. "In politics he was a Republi- 
can, in religious belief liberal. He died July 
II, 1875. His wife, who, born April 22, 
i8og, died February 26, 1882, bore him six 
children, namely: Olive F. , born May 17, 
1832, now residing in Sumner; Eliza A., born 
May 12, 1834, the wife of Levi B. Bisbee, of 
Sumner; Cyrus B., born March 24, 1838, who 
married Miss Elvira Briggs, and resides in 
Sumner; Mary A., born July 20, 1840, the 
wife of A. W. Robinson, of Lynn, Mass. ; 
Llewellyn B., the subject of this sketch; and 
Emma M. J., who was born March 23, 1851, 
and became the wife of Daniel G. Woodcock, 
and died January 4, 1876. 

Llewellyn B. Heald had good educational 
advantages, finishing his studies at the Sumner 



High .School. He engaged in farming in 
early youth; and it has since been his life 
work, exce])t for the time he s])ent in the 
Civil War. lie enlisted August 8, 1862, in 
Company C, Twentieth .Maine Regiment, 
under comirand of Cajitain J. H. McDonald, 
and served an unusually hai'd and perilous 
term. He was in the battle's of Anlietam, 
Alden, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilder- 
ness, North Anna, South Side, Weldon 
Bridge, and Hatch's Run. At Gettysburg 
he received a wound that confined him to the 
hospital in Pennsylvania for four months. 
Honorably discharged June 23, 1865, he re- 
turned home and resumed his farm work. 
To-day he is the owner of the old Heald home- 
stead cleared by his grandfather, one of the 
largest estates in the section. He makes a 
specialty of raising hay, but dairying is his 
principal business. 

Mr. Heald was married December 17, 1867, 
to Fannie B. Robinson, who died without 
issue May 22, 1869. On October 15, 1871, 
he contracted a second marriage, uniting him 
to Ada ]'. Bonney, a native of Sumner, born 
June 21, 1S52, daughter of Oliver Bonne}'. 
By this union he has four children: Annie 
H., born January 29, 1873, a pleasing and 
talented singer; Sabra R., born July 5, 1876; 
I'^stella J., born April 10, 1878: and Emma 
A., born March 19, 1880. In politics Mr. 
Heald is a Republican. He has served as 
-Selectman of Sumner for four terms and as 
Town Clerk for seven years. He belongs to 
Nezinscot Lodge, No. 104, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows, of Buckfield, Me.; and to 
Barrows Post, No. 65, Grand Army of the 
Republic, of .Sumner. In religious belief he 
is liberal, while his wife is a member of the 
Cona;regational church. 




EORGE H. BARROWS, Constable 
and Tax Collector of .Sumner, Oxford 
Countv, is a prominent and wealthy 
farmer and a veteran of the Civil War. He 
was born in Hebron, Me., August 2, 1840, 
son of Joel and Demarious (Tubbs) Barrows. 
Mr. Barrows's father, a native of Hebron, 
learned the trade of blacksmith, and followed 
it steadily and industriously in Hebron, Nor- 



302 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



way, Paris, and Sumner, throui;h the active 
[jeriod of his life. He died in the last-named 
town in 1864. His wife, Demarious, who was 
born in Kennebec County, became the mother 
of ten children, four of whom are living. 
These are: Alonzo F., a blacksmith of South 
Paris; Harland C, a resident of Sumner; 
George H., the subject of this sketch; and 
Mary Augusta, who is now the widow of 
Cyrus Murray, and lives in Abington, Mass. 
The others were: Joel E., who died at the age 
of fifty-six years; Thomas Hiram, who died 
while serving as a soldier in the Civil War; 
Albert, who also died in the war; and three 
others, whose death occurred in infancy. Of 
six of the sons who fought in their country's 
cause at one time, four were members of Com- 
pany F, Ninth Regiment, Maine Volunteers; 
while Joel E. was a member of a Massachu- 
setts Regiment, and George H. was in Com- 
pany C of the Twenty-third Maine Regiment. 
Besides the two who died while in the service, 
Harland C. Barrows lost a leg in the defence 
of the Union. This is a proud record for one 
family. The mother died in 1863. 

George Horace Barrows passed his youth in 
Sumner, acquiring his education in the dis- 
trict schools of this town. At an early age 
he began to work out as a farm assistant, re- 
ceiving for his services eight dollars per 
month. What he earned previous to reaching 
his majority he dutifully gave to his parents. 
Enrolling his name in 1862 among the volun- 
teers of Company C, Twenty-third Regiment, 
Maine Infantry, under Captain Prince, he 
served in the Civil War for about one year. 
After his discharge in 1863 he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits upon his own account in 
Sumner. He bought his present property of 
one hundred and thirty acres in 1868, since 
which time he has displayed much energy and 
good judgment in managing a well-located 
dairy farm. He has advanced to the promi- 
nent position he now holds among the leading 
residents of this town, solely through hard 
work and a wise application of the resources 
at his command. 

On July 17, 1S63. Mr. Barrows wedded 
Rachel B. York, who died in 1877. On Feb- 
ruary 7, 1879, he entered a second marriage, 
contracted with Elsie G. Chandler, daughter 



of Horatio and Emily (Dunham) Chandler. 
Mr. ]5arrows has been the father of seven chil- 
dren, three by his first union and four by his 
second. Of these, four are living, namely: 
Herbert H., who married Dell Chick, and re- 
sides in Portland, Me. ; Mrs. Mary A. Dean, 
the wife of George Dean, of Paris, and the 
mother of two children — Ralph and Inez; 
and Melville C. and Charles A. Barrows, who 
resided with their father. The others were: 
Carrie May, a child of his first union, who 
died at the age of eight months; one who died 
in infancy; and Annie E., who died at the age 
of sixteen years. 

Mr. Barrows has served the town ably and 
faithfully as a member of the Board of Select- 
men. He was also an Assessor for five years. 
Now he holds the offices of Constable and 
Collector. He is connected with the lodge of 
Odd Fellows at Buckfield, and is a comrade of 
William A. Barrows Post, No. 65, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of .Sumner. His resi- 
dence occupies an elevated and extremely 
healthy site, commanding a beautiful view of 
the surrounding mountains and valleys, and is 
a most delightful home in which to pass his 
declining years. 



M 



AVID F. CUMMINGS, commonly 
called Deacon Cummings, one of 
the foremost citizens of Hebron, 
Me., is experienced in agricultural 
matters, and for the past three years has been 
Master of Hebron Grange, No. 43, Patrons of 
Husbandry. He was born in Albany, Me., 
July 27, 1833. 

His parents, Stephen and Nancy (P'rost) 
Cummings, were natives of the Pine Tree 
State, the former born in Albany, the latter in 
that part of Hebron which is now Oxford. His 
grandfather, Asa Cummings, who was one of 
the first settlers of Albany, was an energetic 
and progressive farmer. A member of the 
Congregational church, he was an active 
worker in its interest, and was for many years 
Deacon. He died in Albany at an advanced 
age. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Lydia Holt, was born in Andover, Mass. Of 
the fourteen children born to this couple, thir- 
teen have passed from earth. 



BIOORAPHICAI, REVIEW 



303 



.Stc[)hcn Ciimmin,i;s, one of tlio hu"j;c laiiiily 
group, Ihc father before alluded to, was born 
in July, 1805, and spent his life in his native 
town. Me, too, was an industrious and com- 
petent farmer. In politics he was a Republi- 
can, in religious belief a Methodist. He dietl 
in March,^ 1863. Mrs. Nancy Frost Cuni- 
mings, who was born in January, 1805, dietl 
in November, i88g. Eight children were 
born to them, of whom four, Irene, Elmira, 
Wesley, and Stephen H., have passed away. 
The others are: David I'"., with whom this 
sketch begins and ends; Mary, widow of J. F. 
Bird, of Albany; Harriet, wife of H. O. 
Wilber, of the same town; and Randall, a 
resident of Bethel. 

David F. Cummings grew to manhood in 
Albany, his native town, accjuiring his educa- 
tion in the public schools. The first wages 
he received was fifteen dollars per month for a 
year's work on a farm in Andover, Mass. 
Then at the age of twenty he engaged as clerk 
for W. W. Green, of North VVaterford, Me., 
remaining three years. He subsequently 
bought a farm of one hundred and si.xty acres 
in Albany, on which he lived some seven 
years, his next venture being the purchase of 
a general store in the same town. After seven 
years of trading in that locality he sold his 
business and moved to Mechanic Falls, where 
he was in trade eleven years. In November, 
1884, he purchased the farm in Hebron on 
which he is now living. This is a good prop- 
erty of one hundred and sixty acres, with 
substantial buildings. Deacon Cummings is 
engaged in general farming, his staple crop 
being hay; anti he keeps from twelve to fifteen 
head of cattle for dairy purposes, full-blooded 
and grade Jerseys. He is a thrifty and pro- 
gressive man, gifted with sound judgment, and 
takes a leading place among the citizens of 
Hebron. 

On November 14, 1857, he was married to 
Margaret A. Upton, who was born in Albany. 
Me., August 2, 1833, daughter of Micah and 
Ruth (Abbott) Upton. Her father, who was 
a farmer, was a son of Francis and Sarah 
(Bancroft) Upton, of Norway and Albany, 
Me. ,and was a great-grandson of Deacon 
Amos and Sally (Bickford) Upton, of North 
Reading, Mass., where the emigrant progeni- 



tor of the lamil)-, John Upton, who was an ex- 
tensive landholder, spent his last years, dying 
in 1699, at an advanced age. Seven children 
have blesseil the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cum- 
mings: lulson .'\., who lived but three years; 
Carrie M., who died at the age of fourteen; 
Lizzie lulna, born June 23, 1861, now wife 
of O. A. Lovering, of Oxford, Me.; VVillard 
Henry, born .Septembt'r 14, 1865; Bertha 
Alice, born August 5, 1867; Charles Wesley, 
born July 14, 1870; and Arthur David, born 
February 22, 1S76. 

David F. Cummings is a member of the 
Republican jxirty. He is an Odd I'ellow, 
belonging to Monami Lodge, No. 40, at Me- 
chanic Falls. He and his wife are members 
of the Congregational church at West Miiiot, 
in which he is Deacon. 



/®^1 



ILBERT ALLEN, a highly successful 
\ '3 I farmer of Wilton and a well-known 
citizen, was born in this town, July 
18, 1828, son of Seth and Sally (Scales) 
Allen. His grandparents were Thomas and 
Alary (Jackson) Allen, the former of whom 
was born in the vicinity of Boston, and in 
young manliood settled upon an unimproved 
tract of land in the town of Jay. Having 
cleared the land and erected a frame dwelling- 
house, he carried on general farming success- 
fully until his death, his property being later 
owned by Leonard Allen. Thomas Allen died 
at the age of sixty j'ears, and his wife lived 
to be older. Their children were: Thomas, 
Reuben, Asa, Lucretia, Seth, Relief, Jackson, 
John, William, Lucy, Roanna, Joshua, Henry, 
and two others who died in infancy. 

Seth Allen, fourth son of Thomas, was born 
in Jay, Me., June 7, 1799. When a young 
man he began farming for himself upon 
Walker Hill, where he resided for a few years; 
and then, selling his property there, he bought 
a tract of new land, from which he cleared 
and improved the farm now owned by E. Buck. 
He had reclaimed about fifty acres and erected 
a set of buildings which are still standing, 
when he sold the tract, and settled where his 
son Gilbert now resides. Having cleared off 
a good portion of this farm, he in 1854 erected 
the present house: and here he carried on gen- 



304 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



oral farming with good results until his death, 
vvhieh took place March 13, 1873. His wife, 
Sally Scales, whom he married in 1823, was 
horn in New Hampshire, November 27, 1802. 
They became the parents of seven children, 
namely: Ebenezer S. : Andrew J.; Gilbert, 
the suloject of this sketch ; Seth ; Sarah; John; 
and Anna C. Mr. Allen's father was in his 
later years a Republican in politics and a 
member of the Free Will Baptist church. 
His mother, who is also a member of that 
church, still survives, and is now ninety-four 
years old. 

Gilbert Allen was educated in the public 
schools; and after finishing his studies he 
went to Wayne, Me., where he served an ap- 
prenticeship, and worked as a journeyman in 
the scythe factory for twenty years. He then 
returned to the homestead in order to take 
charge of the farm during his father's declin- 
ing years, and succeeding to the ownership of 
the property, consisting of one hundred acres, 
has since resided here. He has added ninety 
acres of pasture land, raised and enlarged the 
barn, remodelled the house, and otherwise im- 
proved the farm into its present excellent con- 
dition. Diligent and enterprising, he takes 
every available opportunitv to advance his 
prosperity. 

On September 14, 1851, Mr. Allen was 
married to Marian Morse, daughter of Waldron 
and Charlotte (Seavery) Morse, late of Jay. 
Mrs. Allen's father followed the trade of a 
carpenter in connection with farming until 
his death, at the age of seventy-si.\; but her 
mother lived to be eighty-seven. Their chil- 
dren were: Lucy; Marian, who became Mrs. 
Allen; Lizzie; S. Curtis; Laura; Philo; and 
Abbie C. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have had nine 
children, as follows: Fred W., James, Emory 
E., William F., Lucy, Emma ]., Fila M., 
I'.ben, and Henry. Fred W. Allen, who was 
born May 16, 1853, married Ella Sampson, 
and lives at I'-ast Wilton, having three chil- 
dren — Gilbert L. , Percy, and one not named. 
James Allen, a scythe-maker and a farmer, 
was born April 20, 1855. lunory E. , who 
was born September 6, 1856, married Jennie 
Cary, and is a member of the police force in 
Rrookline, Mass. They have two children — 
Eugene E. and Grace M. William F. , who 



was born November 7, 1S58, is assisting his 
father in carrying on the farm. Lucy, who 
was born July 30, i860, married C. D. Lyford, 
and died February 19, 1884. Emma J., who 
was born August 17, 1862, is now engaged in 
teaching. Fila Mabel was born April 7, 
1864, and died May 26, 1887. Eben, who 
was born September i, 1865, married Fanny 
G. Bean, and is living in Brookline, Mass., 
having one daughter, Olive. Henry, who was 
born September 3, 1870, married Nellie F. 
Coombs, and is a carpenter at Orrs Island. 

Being a natural mechanic and an expert 
blacksmith, Mr. Allen has a well-equipped 
workshop upon his premises, where, when not 
otherw'ise occupied, he makes and repairs 
wagons and farm implements used upon his 
place. He is a charter member and Past 
Master of Wilton Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of 
which his sons are members; and in iiolitics 
he acts with the Republican party. 



/C^TeORGE OLIVER ROBINSON, a 
\ 'S I retired lawyer and wealthy real estate 
owner, who resides in Oxford during 
the summer season, was born March 13, [821, 
in that part of Oxford wdiich was then in- 
cluded within the town of Hebron. He is a 
son of George and Hannah (March) Robinson. 
His paternal grandfather, Captain Samuel 
Robinson, came from Massachusetts to this 
part of Maine among the early pioneers, 
settling in Hebron, where he became a pros- 
perous farmer and large land-owner, and was 
one of the most prominent citizens of his 
locality. He married Sally Rawson, who 
died at an advanced age in 1835, one year 
before her husband. They reared three sons, 
namely : Prescott, who was graduated from 
the LTnited States Military Academy at West 
Point, and became an officer in the regular 
army; George and Samuel, who were success- 
ful agriculturists of Oxford. 

George Robinson, father of George O. , was 
born in Hebron (now Oxford), May 28, 1797. 
In early manhood he engaged in tilling the 
soil, which occupation he followed energeti- 
cally during the active period of his life; and 
in company with others he built tlie first saw 
and grist mill in Wclchville. Enterprising 






^^^^ 




^ 



n 




GEORGE O. ROBINSON, 



BIOGRAPHKWL REVIEW 



307 



and progressive, his intlucncc and example 
were exceedingly beneficial to the growth anil 
development of this locality. His last days 
were passed at the homestead in Oxford, where 
he died at the venerable age of nearly ninety- 
three years. He was a man of much natiiral 
ability and personal worth, and was fur many 
years a prominent figure in local public 
affairs, serving as a member of the Board of 
Selectmen and as Constable and Collector. 
He was besides closely identified with the 
State militia. In politics he was originally 
a Whig, but, with the majority of his col- 
leagues, joined the Rejiublican party at its 
formation. He held an honorable position in 
the community as an able and faithful official, 
and was pre-eminently a public-si-iirited citi- 
zen. His wife, Hannah March Robinson, 
who was born in Sutton, Mass., January 31, 
1789, became the mother of six children, as 
follows: George O., the direct subject of this 
sketch, who is the only one now living; Mil- 
ton, who tlied at the age of fifty-three; ]{ve- 
lina Prudentia, who died August i, 1893; 
Julia, who died April 9, 1832; Sally R., who 
died February 8, 1836; and Stephen M., who 
died in infancy. May 28, 1822. Mrs. Hannah 
M. Robinson lived to the age of eighty-seven 
years. 

George O. Robinson began his education in 
the district school, subsequently attending 
Hebron Academy, and still later continuing 
his studies at the Lewiston Falls and North 
Yarmouth Academies. He then entered Bow- 
doin College, from which he was graduated 
with the class of 1849. The year after his 
graduation he taught in Topsham Academy, 
and during the two years following he was 
principal of the classical department of the 
North Yarmouth Academy. He then began 
the study of law with Willis & Fessenden of 
Portland. After completing his legal studies 
he was admitted in 1854 to the Cumberland 
County bar, and, immediately starting for 
the West, settled in Bloomington, 111., where 
he was admitted to practice in the courts of 
that State. He was also admitted to practice 
in the United States courts at Springfield. 

At the time of his advent in Bloomington 
the political atmosphere was charged heavily 
with trementlous and conflicting forces. Al- 



ready the air reverberated with the mutterings 
of the advancing war clouds, forerunners of 
the great tem|)est to come. The passage in 
the spring of 1854 of the Kansas-Nebraska 
Bill, repealing the Missouri Compromise of 
1S20, had brinight nearer the inevitable strife, 
and drawn shari^er and more <listinct the lines 
separating the pro-slaver)- and anti-slavery 
elements. The time was at hand for the birth 
of a new jiaity. In several .States meetings 
had been held and initialorv steps taken 
looking toward the formation of a party that 
should unite under one banner all those o]i- 
jiosed unalterably to the further extension of 
slavery; and in Bloomington, 111., at a State 
convention held May 29, 1856, the organization 
of the great Republican party was effected. It 
was here, that Abraham Lincoln made the 
speech which definitely severed his relations 
with the Whigs, and identified him at once as 
one of the foremost members of the new or- 
ganization. The words he spoke on that occa- 
sion were long referred to as " Lincoln's Lost 
Speech," from the fact that all the reporters 
present were so carried away by his eloquence 
that they forgot to take notes, and could give 
no reports to their papers. One man in the 
audience, however, a young lawyer and a 
personal friend of Air. Lincoln's, kept his 
head sufficiently to obtain a fairl}' accurate 
report of the speech: and it has been pub- 
lished for the first time in AfcCliiic' s lilagazine 
for September, 1896. Mr. Robinson was one 
of those present at the thrilling scene when 
Lincoln, erect, tall, and majestic in apjjear- 
ance, hurled thunderbolts at the foes of free- 
dom, while the great con\'ention roared its 
indorsement. 

P"or over thirty years Mr. Robinson prac- 
tised his profession in Illinois, building up 
and maintaining an extensive general law 
practice, and becoming well known as one of 
the most successful attorneys in the State. 
In [lolitics a stanch and unswerving Republi- 
can, he was interested in perfecting the first 
party organization in the immediate vicinity 
of Abraham Lincoln's home; and, besides 
rendering valuable political aitl, he was 
deeply interested in educational matters, serv- 
ing for several years as examiner of teachers 
for the public schools of Bloomington. 



3o8 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



On August J3, 1S54. Mr. Robinson was 
united in marriage with Marianne Greene, of 
Topsham, Me., daughter of Gardner Greene, 
a prosperous merchant and highly respected 
citizen of that town. He and his wife are 
the parents of owe child, a daughter, Florence 
N. Mr. Robinson may fairly be considered 
as one of the most successful of the many 
bright and intelligent sons of the Pine Tree 
State who have won fame and fortune in the 
West; and the jjeople of his native town have 
good reason to look upon his career with 
pride, and point to it as an example for the 
younger generation. His pleasant and kindly 
disposition makes him very popular in OxfonI, 
where his summers are passed amid the scenes 
of his boyhood days; and he is actively inter- 
ested in all matters relative to the town of 
his nativity. Since 1885 he has been a resi- 
dent of Cambridge, Mass., having a pleasant 
home at No. 16 Forest Street. In his relig- 
ious opinions he is an Orthodox Congrega- 
tionalist. 




|HARLES F. BROWN, a progressive 
farmer and esteemed citizen of Mason, 
Oxford County, is a native of the 
town of Alban}', this county, born 
November 2, 1857. His father, George H. 
Brown, was also a native of Albany, and was 
reared to farm life. Soon after his marriage 
he came to Mason, and purchased the farm 
now owned by his son, Charles F. Besides 
carrying on the farm he conducted a small 
store for a short time, and also taught about 
forty terms of school. In 1855 or 1856 he was 
elected Representative to the lower house of 
the State legislature on the Republican ticket, 
and thus far has been the only citizen of this 
town thus honored, with the exception of 
J. H. Bean, who was elected in 1S92. Mr. 
Brown served as Justice of the Peace for 
twenty years, was Chairman of the Board of 
Selectmen several years, and, in fact, held at 
various times nearly all the town offices. He 
was the most prominent member of his party 
in the town of Mason. During the Civil War 
he enlisted successively in Companies B and 
G, Tenth Maine Regiment, and had been out 
about one year when he was injured by a fall. 



After that he served as field nurse for a time. 
He died in Mason when seventy-one 3'ears 
old. His wife's maiden name was Lavina J. 
Shaw. She was born in Dalton, N.H., and" 
is still living, making her home with her son, 
the subject of this sketch. She became the 
mother of four children, namely: Edgar S. , a 
lawyer and prominent citizen of IMendota, 111., 
who has served two terms as Representative; 
Sarah J., wife of Jonas Swan, of Norway, 
Me.; Fannie O. , wife of Ebenezer Barber, of 
Marseilles, 111.; and Charles F". 

Charles F". Brown was the youngest son of 
his parents. He received a common-school 
education. With the exception of two years 
spent in Massachusetts, he has always lived 
on the old homestead, a farm of about two 
hundred acres, at first assisting his father in 
carrying it on, and eventually becoming the 
owner and conducting it for himself. Follow- 
ing his father's lead, he has supported the Re- 
publican party, and has been influential in 
town affairs. He is now serving his third 
term as First Selectman, and has served on the 
Board almost continuously since attaining his 
majority. He has also been a member of the 
School Committee, and was Road Commis- 
sioner three terms. Fraternally, he is a mem- 
ber of the Pleasant Valley Grange of West 
Bethel. ^Ir. Brown was married November 
24, 1878, to Miss Ida L. Mains. They are 
the parents of five children — Christabel, 
Trenna E. , Albert M., Frances B., and one 
that died in infancy. 



AMES BROWN, one of the prominent 
manufacturers of Waterford, Me., pro- 
prietor of a large lumber-mill, was 
born in the bordering town of Albany, 
in the same county of Oxford, March 14, 
1846, the son of Samuel and Mary Jane 
(Esthers) Brown. Samuel Brown was a na- 
tive and lifelong resident of Albany, being 
there engaged in agricultural pursuits up to 
the time of his death, which occurred in 
April, 1863. His wife, who was a native of 
Bethel, this county, died in February, 1S61. 
They were the parents of eleven childreYi, only 
two i)f whom are living, namel)': Alice, resid- 
ing in Lcwiston, Me., widow of William 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



^oo 



Tuttlc; and James, the subject of this sketcli. 
The departed are: Myra, Saiah, three who 
dietl in infancy, Isadore, Amanda and Miranda 
(twins), and Helen. 

James Brown was educated in the common 
schools of Albany, his native town. Al- 
though but a boy in his teens when the South- 
ern Rebellion broke out, in October, iS6i, he 
was enrolled as a private in Company A, 
Twelfth Maine Infantry, under command of 
Captain (afterward Major) Hastings and 
Colonel Shepler. After reaching the seat of 
war he experienced the varied hardships of a 
soldier's life; and, had it not been for his 
strong constitution, his military experience 
would have ended his career. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Port Hudson, Irish 
]5end, La., Winchester, Cedar Creek, and a 
number of skirmishes, suffered the fatigue of 
forced marches under the burning summer sun 
of the South and through the heavy mud and 
snow and rain of the winter season, and finally 
was taken ill with the measles and small-pox. 
He received his discharge at Albany, N. Y., 
July 35, 1866. He has since been granted a 
pension by the government in requital for his 
sufferings. 

After returning from the South he worked 
in different saw-mills some eight years, one 
year in Levviston, Me., one year in Bethel, 
this county, and the rest of the time in differ- 
ent mills in North Waterford. In 1S77 he 
started a water-mill on Crooked River, Al- 
bany, and, in company with William Plummer 
and J. B. Rand, of North Waterford, engaged 
in milling, remaining there three years. 
Selling his interest at the end of that time, 
he was employed for seven years in different 
mills near Waterford ; and the four years en- 
suing he was engaged in farming near Water- 
ford village. He then erected his present 
mill, which is commonly called the "James 
Brown mill," in what is now known as Lynch- 
ville in Albany. Here he has built up a 
prosperous business, manufacturing a variety 
of boxes, which he ships to Fryeburg, Water- 
ford, and Bethel ; clapboards, with which he 
supplies the building trade; and shook, which 
he ships to Portland. He employs a number 
of men, to whom he gives few vacations, the 
demand fur his iroods beinsj almost constant. 



Mr. Hniwn has worked ver)' iiard during his 
active years, and lias attained success in the 
face of many difficulties. 

In October, iiS/i, he was marrieil to l'',l\ira 
C. Proctor, of Waterford, the daughter of 
Thomas Proctor, a carpenter and carriage 
manufacturer of that town. Mr. Proctor died 
some time prior to liis daugiitcr's marriage. 
Mrs. lilvira C. Brown passcil away in 1S81. 
She was the mother of tliree chikiren, namely: 
Harry, who married Miss lulna llutchinson, 
of Albany, Me., and is employed in his 
father's mill; Delbert, ft'ho tlied in infancy; 
and Alice, wlio li\-es with Iier father. Mr. 
Brown was again married in August, 1.S82, 
Miss Henrietta Brown, of Albany, Me., be- 
coming his second wife. .She was the daugh- 
ter of Wa-lter M. Brown, a farmer of Bethel, 
and his wife, Elizabeth, wdio has passed to the 
world beyond. Mrs. Henrietta Brown died 
in March, 1893. By his second union Mr. 
Brown had four children — James Albert, 
Florence, and Carlton, wdio are with him; and 
Thursa, who lived but one year. 

Mr. Brown is a Republican in politics, and 
has served on the Waterford Board of Select- 
men. He is a member of Lep]Den Post, Grand 
Army of the Republic, at Stoneham, Me.; 
and belongs to Mount Tire'm Lodge, A. V. 
& A. M.,\)f Waterford; and Oxford Lodge, 
No. 61, Inde]3endent Order of Odd Pillows, 
of North Waterford. Widely known in social 
and business circles, he has tiie respect and 
esteem of all his acquaintances. 




BP:N II. WIIITNLY, a retired resident 
of Farmington, was iiorn in Weld, 
I'rankl in County, P'ebruary 28, 1832, 
son of Jacob A. and Rhoda I). (Hutchinson) 
Whitney. The family was founded by an 
Englishman, whose son became a tanner in 
Greene, Me. ; and his son, Jeremiaii, who was 
a native of that town, was Mr. Whitney's 
grandfather. In 1806 Jeremiah Whitney set- 
tled in the town of Weld, where he took up 
one hundred and sixty acres of new land, 
cleared and improved it, and erected upon it a 
good set of buildings. PI is industrious life 
terminated at the age of eighty, and his wife 
died at the age of fifty-five years. Her chil- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



drcn by Iiim were: Jeremiah, Julin, Jacob A., 
Susan,' Rlioda, Lydia, and Kenjamin. 

Jacol) A. Whitney, Mr. Whitney's father, 
was born in Greene in 1802. When a young 
man he bought a new farm, ujaon which he set- 
tled. After clearing a considerable portion of 
it and erecting buildings, he sold it, and re- 
turned to the homestead to care for his aged 
parents. Upon the death of his parents he 
succeeded to his father's property. This he 
afterward sold, and bought a large piece of 
property in Weld, where he became a progres- 
sive farmer and a prominent resident. "In 
politics lie supported the Democratic party, 
and in his religious belief he was a Baptist. 
He died of typhoid fever at the age of fifty 
years. His wife, Rhoda, was a daughter of 
Ebenex.er Hutchinson, a native of Wilton, 
N. H., who became a successful farmer in 
Weld. Her children were: Emily, Eben H., 
Jacob, Lucy, and Amasa. Amasa died at the 
age of four years. She mairied a second hus- 
band, Nathan Judkins, and lived to be eighty- 
four years old. 

Eben 11. Whitney attended the district 
schools. At the age of twenty, owing to the 
death of his father, he was called upon to man- 
age the farm and assist his mother in bring- 
ing up the rest of her family. He subse- 
quently bought the homestead, where he 
continued to reside for a time. Later, after 
making various improvements, he sold it, and 
purchased another farm in Weld, which he 
carrieil on for a short time. He then spent a 
seascni in the ice business at Lewiston, Me., 
after which he returned to Weld, bought the 
Andrew Dunning farm, and conducted it for 
some ten years. From Weld he moved to Car- 
thage, where he continued to till the soil for 
fifteen years. Then, with a view to settling 
there, he visited a tract of land in Eaton, 
Ohio, belonging to his wife, but was unfavor- 
ably impressed, and returned. For some time 
after he resided in West Farmington. Later 
he movetl to the village, where he bought the 
S. Lake place at 7 North Street; and, retiring 
from active labor, he is now enjoying a life of 
leisure. 

For his first wife Mr. Whitney married 
Irene Judkins, daughter of Philip Judkins, of 
Carthage. .She died at the age of twentv-f(un" 



years, leaving two children — Albion and 
Oscar.. Albion, who died at the age of thirty- 
eight, married Marilla R. Hutchins, and had 
five children, namely: Artell ; Minnie, who 
died aged twelve years; Otto; Algie; and 
Nettie. Oscar married Eliza Barrett, and is 
a farmer in Carthage. Mr. Whitney's second 
marriage was contracted with Cordelia Sweet, 
a daughter of Benjamin Sweet, of Weld. She 
died at the age of forty -two years, having been 
the mother of five children, as follows: Ella, 
who became Mrs. Magee, and died aged 
twenty-two, leaving two children; Emma, who 
is the wife of Harry Rand, and has two chil- 
dren — Harold and Robert; Warren M., who 
married a Miss Kennister; Eben, who married 
Florence Ranger; and Ina M., who resides at 
home. The father was by a third marriage 
wedded to Annette Marsh, of Di.xfield, a 
daughter of David and Asenath (Park) Marsh, 
both natives of Dixfield. Mrs. Whitney's 
grandparents were Andrew and Rebecca 
(Stone) Marsh, natives of Massachusetts, who 
settled in Di.xfield upon a new farm which An- 
drew cleared from the wilderness. He died 
at the age of ninety years, and his wife 
reached nearly the same age. Their children 
were: David, John, Lewiston, Andrew, 
Nancy, and Susan. The homestead fell to 
the possession of David Marsh, who added to 
it by purchasing an adjoining farm; and he 
became a wealthy and prominent citizen, and 
died aged seventy-seven years. In politics 
he was a Republican, and in his religious 
belief a Lfniversalist. His wife, Asenath, 
who was a woman of remarkable physical de- 
velopment, lived to be eighty-seven years old, 
and was a believer in the Adventists' doctrine. 
Her children were: Andrew, Caleb, Leonora, 
Paulina, David M., Albion P., Jerome, Ma- 
tilda, Alvina, Annette, Justina, and Mattie L. 
In politics Mr. Whitney acts with the Repub- 
Ician party, while in religious belief he is an 
Adventist. 



AMES DEERING, a retired manufact- 
urer of South Paris. Me., was born 
November 2, 179.S, son of Joseph and 
Hannah (Jameson) Deering, and grand- 
son of John and lumice (.Spinney) Deering. 




JAMES DEERING. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



His grandfather Deeriiig' was son of John anil 
Mary (Carpenter) Deering. John was son of 
Thomas and Elizabeth Deering. Thomas was 
son of Roger and grandson of George Deering, 
a native of England, who was one of the first 
settlers of Scarboro, Me., and owned a planta- 
tion at Blue Point as early as the year 1640. 
George Deering was a shipwright by trade, a 
calling afterward followed by many of his de- 
scendants. His wife, Elizabeth, who sur- 
vived him, subsequently married Jonas 15aily, 
the agent of Trelawney. 

John Deering, son of John and Mary (Car- 
penter) Deering, was the father of six chil- 
dren by his wife, Eunice. His fourth child, 
Joseph, the father of James Deering, was born 
October 6, 1754. A good workman and a 
man of much intelligence, he was in prosjjer- 
ous circumstances, and occupied a prominent 
position in the community of Old Orchard, 
Me., where he resided. In March, 1779, he 
was united in matrimony with Hannah Jame- 
son, a daughter of William Jameson, of Old 
Orchard, and he became the father of eleven 
children; namely, Jane, Eunice, Joseph, Sam- 
uel, William, Martin, Noah, Enoch, James, 
Hannah, and Elizabeth. He died September 
25, 1834, at an age wanting but a few days of 
fourscore years. His wife's death occurred 
May 20, 1 84 1 . 

James Deering was one of the younger chil- 
dren of his father's family. In his early man- 
hood he completed an apprenticeship in furni- 
ture-making, with a thorough knowledge of 
the trade. This he did in a factor)- at .Saco, 
Me. Shortly after, when passing through 
South Paris on his way to visit a brother who 
lived in Oxford County, he took note of the 
fact that the locality was remarkably favored 
with water-power and space, the main requi- 
sites for the establishment of such a factory 
as he had worked in at Saco. (3f course, to 
him, whose only capital was his skill at his 
trade, the idea was as a dream. But. of an 
eminently practical turn of mind, he saw 
profit in making a beginning there, however 
humble. Accordingly, on the west side of 
the river, with the most makeshift appliances, 
he began to manufacture chairs, cutting his 
timber in the woods, kiln-drying it for use, 
splitting it by hand, and operating but one 



small turning lathe, which he ran, with a 
l)rimitive yet ingenious arrangement, by water- 
power. Some of the chairs made in this way 
are still to be found in the town, and are re- 
garded as interesting memorials of an indus- 
try that has largely aided in developing the 
locality, and of a man whose energ\- and per- 
sistence reflect credit on the people of the 
entire county. Mr. Deering's venture proved 
signally successful. As business increased, 
he enlarged and im])roved his shoi)s and ma- 
chinery, until at length the dream of his 
youth was more than realized. When his 
business was established on a secure founda- 
tion he began to invest in real estate. At 
different times he has owned the land on all 
sides of the village, as well as the lots locati-d 
along its streets. Included in this |)roperty 
were several farms, which he conducted with 
hired help. He built eight dwellings, thor- 
oughly repaired many more, and cleared a 
great deal of wild land. The large house 
that has since been his residence was erected 
by him in 1856. In 1876 he withdrew from 
active participation in business, and has since 
lived in retirement. 

In 1823, March 24, he was married to Eliza 
Moore, daughter of I-^lisha and Elizabeth 
(Morse) Moore, of this town. They have had 
three children, namely: Elizabeth H., born 
March 22, 1824; William, born April 25, 
1826; and Mary K., born Se]itember 3, 1846. 
Elizabeth is the wife (if the lion. William R. 
Porter. They have five cliildren — William 
Deering, FA'iza Deering, Fanny R., Abby 
l^arbour, and James Deering. Mary makes 
her home with her aged' father. Mr. Deer- 
ing's only son, William, is one of the leading 
business men of Chicago. After finishing his 
education he entered the employment of the 
South Paris Manufacturing Company as clerk, 
subsequently becoming one of that firm's 
agents. Beginning in 1850 he was engaged 
in business on his own account in South 
Paris for eleven years. In 1865 he became 
the senior partner of the well-known firm, 
Deering, Milliken & Co., of Portland, com- 
mission merchants, who owned several woollen- 
mills, and had a branch house in New York. 
Withdrawing from this firm after some time 
on account of ini|iaired health, he invested 



314 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



with a company enga-cd in the manufacture of 
orain and grass harvesting machinery in 
Chicago. In 1873 he removed to Chicago, 
bought out the company hiter, and conducted 
the business alone until 1880. Then, taking 
into partnership his two sons, Charles and 
James, and his nephew, William D. Porter, 
he had the firm incorporated under the name 
of William Deering & Co. and later the 
Deering Harvester Company, who to-day are 
among the largest manufacturers in the world 
of their class of goods. He has been twice 
married. His first marriage was in 1856 with 
Abby Reed Barbour, who died at the age of 
twenty-eight years, leaving one son, Charles. 
His second wife, whose maiden name was 
Clara H. Hamilton, has borne him two chil- 
dren — James and Abby M. 

Mr. James Deering and his wife celebrated 
the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage in 
March, 1883. Mrs. Deering, whose health 
was always excellent throughout her lifetime, 
died from an accident in i8go, in her nine- 
tieth year. .She was a prominent member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, having been 
one of the first to join the society, and there- 
after a most liberal supporter. Mr. Deering, 
who is also a member of the same church, was 
a heavy contributor to the building fund, built 
the parsonage, and made a present of it to the 
society, and has been the main support of the 
church for many years. Actuated by a most 
laudable degree of public spirit, he has aided 
every well-conceived movement designed to 
serve the interests of the town. Now, in his 
ninety-ninth year, he is remarkably active 
and entirely free from ache or other indication 
of ill health; and no man in the county is 
held in higher esteem by the general public. 



-ABEZ CURRIER TARBOX, a promi- 
nent merchant of Earmington, Me., 
proprietor of the gentlemen's clothing 
anil furnishing establishment known as 
■Red Store," which is the largest of its 
kind in I'ranklin County, was born in Earm- 
ington, July 28, 1843, son of William and 
Mary A. (Currier) Tarbox. Ancestors of the 
family, which is of Scotch origin, were early 
settlers in Gloucester, Mass., where Mr. Tar- 



the 



box's great-grandfather, Samuel Tarbox, was 
born May 3, 1731- He removed to New 
Gloucester, Me., erected a dwelling, and there 
engaged in agricultural pursuits for the rest of 
his life. He died July 10, 1809, having been 
the father of twelve children. 

William Tarbox, son of Samuel, was born 
in New Gloucester, January 30, 1779, and 
was a lifelong resident of that town. On No- 
vember 27, 1802, he married Judith Haskell, 
who was of English descent, and was born in 
New Gloucester, March 27, 1781. She be- 
came the mother of eleven children, as fol- 
lows: Hannah, born in 1803; Joseph, who 
was born in 1807; Samuel, born in 1809; 
Deborah, born in 181 1; Benjamin, born in 
181 2; William, born in 1813; John, born in 
1 8 14; Stillman, born in 18 17; George, born 
in 1821; Plumnier, born in 1827; and another 
child, who died in infancy. Mr. Tarbox's 
grandparents both lived to be over eighty 
years old. 

William Tarbox, the younger, son of Will- 
iam, was born February 14, 1S13, in I'Jew 
Gloucester, and acquired his education in his 
native town. At the age of sixteen he began 
to learn the harness-maker's or saddler's 
trade, as it was then called, and worked with 
John Densmore until 1839, when he came to 
Earmington, and established himself in busi- 
ness. At first there was little demand for 
harnesses, as nothing but saddles were used in 
this section previous to that time; but, as the 
use of vehicles became more universal, he 
won a wide reputation, and for many years 
carried on a large and profitable business, 
putting out a great deal of piece work, and 
having several apprentices. He continued in 
business until 1876, when failing health 
caused him to withdraw from active pursuits; 
and he has since lived in retirement. He was 
originally a Whig, but later became a Demo- 
crat, and has been connected with the public 
affairs of the town and county, having served 
as jailer for four years, and held various town 
offices. 

His first wife, Mary A. Currier, who was a 
daughter of Samuel Currier, of Mount Vernon, 
Me.", died at the age of forty-eight years, leav- 
ing three children, as follows: Jabez C, the 
subject of this sketch; Samuel O., who was 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



.3"5 



born November i6, 1846; and Rosa AI,, who 
was born in 1862. Samuel O. Tarbox is one 
of the most extensive general merchants in 
this county, dealing largely in groceries, 
paints, oils, drugs, and other merchandise. 
He owns a fine residence on Main Street. 
He married Kate P. Randall, and has had 
three cliildren, namely: Blanche, who died 
agetl nine }'ears; Mary, who was born April 
22, 1874, and died at the age of eighteen; 
and Orland S. , her twin brother, who is now 
a drug clerk. William Tarbox wedded for 
his second wife Julia Hunter, daughter of 
Thomas Hunter, of Farmington; and the only 
child of this union is Helen. 

Jabez Currier Tarbox acquired a, common- 
school and academic education, and at the age 
of seventeen he entered mercantile life as a 
clerk for H. M. Howes. He later became a 
partner in the enterprise, which was devoted 
to the wholesale flour, grocery, and drug 
trade. The firm of H. M. Howes & Co. re- 
ceived flour and grain direct from the West, 
and sold it at wholesale throughout Franklin 
County, Mr. Tarbox managing this part of the 
business for two years. They had the largest 
trade of any firm in this section. At length, 
selling out his interests in Farmington, Mr. 
Tarbox went to Portland, where he was for 
two years and a half in the wholesale flour 
trade, also in the wholesale drug business nine 
months. Retiring to Farmington, he and his 
brother, Samuel O. Tarbox, leased the old 
stand, a short time later adding another store 
to their enterprise, each partner taking charge 
of a separate store. The one occupied by 
J. C. Tarbox was totally destroyed by fire on 
October 22, 18S6, there being nothing saved 
but one showcase and a cat. Having ad- 
justed his business affairs, he in i88g bought 
the gentlemen's clothing and furnishing-goods 
store formerly carried on by L. J. Lyons; and 
in 1889 he moved his goods into the "Red 
Store Block," of which he became the pos- 
sessor. The store is located at the corner 
of Main Street and Broadway. It is a two- 
story brick structure, with two large office 
rooms on the second floor, the first floor and 
basement being occupied by Mr. Tarbox. It 
was built for investment purposes by Hannah 
Boardman, when she was eighty-three years 



old. By careful judgment and a close atten- 
tion to business a large trade has been de- 
veloped ; and the Red Store under its present 
able management is an enterprising establish- 
ment, which is a credit both to its pro]M-ietor 
and the town. 

In 1873 Mr. Tarbox wedded Columbia V. 
Whitney, daughter of George W. Whitney, 
for many years one of Farmington's most ac- 
tive business men. This union was blessed 
by two children, namely: Belle Violet, now 
the wife of L. \V. Franklin, dealer in boots 
and shoes at ' Waltham, Mass. ; and l-Ved- 
erick Whitney, who died in infancy. In 
politics Mr. Tarbox supports the Republi- 
can party, an.d he is now a member of the 
Town Board of Assessors. He lias been a 
Trustee of the Savings Bank for several 
years, is connected with Maine l.odge, A. I*". 
& A. M. ; and he attends the Congrega- 
tional church, to the support of which he 
is a liberal contributor. 



Ji 



ANIP:L CLARK, of l'"armington, who 
is the proprietor of one of the best 
^J equipped livery stables in Franklin 
Count)', w'as born in Kingston, 
N.H., September 29, 18 19, son of Uaniel and 
Anna (Eastman) Clark. Mr. Clark is a de- 
scendant of Colonial ancestr)'. His great- 
grandfather, Nathaniel Clark, who was a pros- 
perous farmer of Haverhill, Mass., not only 
served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, 
but loaned money to the town for the purpose 
of furthering the cause in other ways. He 
married Mary Hardy, and w^as the father of 
twelve children, of whom his eldest son, 
Da\iid, was Mr. Clark's grandfather. 

David Clark was born in Haverhill, Novem- 
ber 27, 1755. He settled in Sandown, N.H., 
where he followed the trade of a clothier. He 
was in the first New Hampshire regiment 
that reported for duty in the struggle for in- 
dependence. Afterward he Iniilt carding, 
saw, and grist mills, becoming one of the 
most progressive and successful business men 
in New Hampshire at that time. When forty 
years old he retired on a competency, and died 
March 6, 1833. The maiden name of his wife 
was Mary Woodman. .She liecame the mother 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of eleven children, of whom Daniel, Mr. 
Clark's father, was the sixth-born. 

Daniel Clark (first) was born in Sandown, 
December 7, 1791. In young manhood he en- 
gaged in general mercantile pursuits in Kings- 
ton, N.H. After carrying on a large and suc- 
cessful business for some time he died in 
1822. I lis wife, Anna, who was born in 
Kingston, June 5, 1/93, daughter of Colonel 
John and Joanna Eastman, reared with him 
three children — John E., Daniel, and Mary 
A. Mr. Clark's mother was seventy-six years 
old when she died in 1869. 

Daniel Clark was sent to the Farmington 
Academy when he was seventeen years old. 
After completing his studies here he engaged 
in trade at Mercer, Me. Five years later he 
relinquished mercantile pursuits to enter into 
the stage-coach business upon an extensive 
scale. For twenty years after he owned and 
conducted the lines running from Farmington 
to Phillips, Belgrade station, Chesterville, 
Fayette, and Readville, employing sixty 
horses, and covering a distance of three hun- 
dred miles per day. He had a large and 
profitable business, until the building of rail- 
roads ruined it. In 1S66 he bought a part of 
the Cutler farm, upon which he built a resi- 
dence and a large stable, and has since carried 
on a flourishing livery business. His stable, 
which stands at the corner of High and 
Church Streets, is centrally located, and is 
equipped with good roadsters and fine driving 
horses; while his vehicles and other accesso- 
ries, all of the finest pattern, enable him to 
furnish as handsome a turnout as can be de- 
sired. 

On January 4, 1843, Mr. Clark wedded 
Sophia S. Church, who was born in Farming- 
ton, April 14. 1822, daughter of Samuel and 
Betsey B. Church. She died August 12, 
1873, leaving four children, as follows: 
Daniel E., a prosperous farmer, born October 
10, 1844, who married Ella Harrington, and 
has three children — ^ Edward H., Anna \V., 
and Charles F. ; Sophia E., born June 3, 
1847, who is the wife of Lyman Dutton, of 
Lawrence, Mass., and has one daughter, Mary; 
Marv 1-2., an artist, born August 29, 1850; 
and Samuel ]•".. born November 30. 1855, who 
is in business with his father. Mr. Clark 



subsequently married Mrs. Augusta (Hatha- 
way) Homer, a daughter of George Hathaway, 
of Mechanic Falls, Me. A widely known 
and popular man, it can almost be said that 
Air. Clark's friends comprise the community. 
He is connected with the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity. 
His religious belief is the Methodist faith. 
As an instance of his public spirit, it may be 
mentioned that upon one occasion during the 
Rebellion he transported to Augusta free of 
charge one hundred and twenty recruits going 
to the front, and paid for their dinners out of 

his own pocket. 

« * ■ * I — — 

(5 I HOMAS H. RICHARDSON, who.se 
'I death in May, 1896, removed from our 
-*- midst one of Norway's most worthy 
citizens, had been for many years closely iden- 
tified with the agricultural interests of this 
section of Oxford County. He was born De- 
cember 3, 1821, in Portland, !\Ie., and was a 
son of Joshua Richardson, who was born and 
reared in Salem, Mass. 

In his early manhood Joshua Richardson 
was engaged in the East India trade, which 
was then in a flourishing condition. After 
travelling throughout the East Indies he set- 
tled in Amsterdam, Holland, as a commission 
merchant. Subsequently, continuing in the 
same business, he travelled extensively in 
I'rance and England, returning in 1802 to his 
native country. He located in the city of Port- 
land, Me., and for thirty years thereafter was 
President of the Manufacturers' and Traders' 
Bank, and was also Treasurer of the Portland 
Manufacturing Company, which manufactured 
cotton goods. One of his cherished ambitions 
in life, however, was to be a farmer. Accord- 
ingly, he came to Oxford County in search of 
a favorable location, and in Norway bought 
the farm until recently occupied by his son, 
Thomas H. He remained here several years, 
but finally returned to Portland, where his 
death occurred in 1862, at the advanced age of 
eighty-five years. His wife, a widow, Mrs. 
Ann (Hanford) Jones, before she became Mrs. 
Richardson, was born in England, a daughter 
of Sir Thomas Hanford, of London. She 
died at the comparatively early age of fifty- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



;i9 



three years. They had seven children, none 
of whom are now living, namely: Julia; Ann; 
Nathaniel Putnam, first; Nathaniel Putnam, 
second; Thomas H., the special subject of 
this biographical sketch; William; and Ann 
Hanford. The latter was twice married, her 
first husband ha\'ing been Mr. Mauger, and 
her second Henry W. I^ishoj), formerly of 
Lenox, Mass.. but now a resident of Chi- 
cago, 111. 

Nathaniel Putnam Richardson, the second, 
was a graduate of the Portland College, and 
was for many \'ears connected with a foundry 
in that city. In icS66 he established himself 
as a commission merchant in New York City; 
but, not meeting with desired success, he went 
to Geneva, N.Y. , and engaged in the nursery 
business. He subsequently went to Daven- 
port, la., where for some time he held an 
official position in the Episcopal College. 
He died in Florida, whither he had gone in 
pursuit of health. He married Mary Smith, 
a native of Overland, Ohio. 

Thomas H. Richardson, the fifth-born of 
the seven children, received his early instruc- 
tion in private schools in Portland, complet- 
ing his studies at the North Bridgton Acad- 
emy. Under his father's judicious training 
he acquired a practical knowledge of business 
methods, remaining at home some time after 
attaining his majority. He then made a trip 
to Europe, and travelled extensively on the 
Continent and in Great Britain, being abroad 
several years. On returning to this country 
Mr. Richardson landed at New Orleans, La., 
whence he made a trip up the Mississippi 
River, coming then to New York City, where 
he was sojourning when the death of John 
Ouincy Adams occurred, in February, 184S. 
He subsequently lived for a while in Portland, 
prosperously engaged in business: and later 
he removed to the farm now occupied and 
managed by his son Albert. On March 12, 
1849, ^Ir. Richardson married Miss Hannah, 
daughter of the late Ephraim and Sally 
Crockett, well-known members of the farming 
community of Norway. Five children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, namely: 
Albert; George Hanford, who was murdered 
in Norway village, March 5, 1S77; Julia Ann, 
wife of Chester Home, of Norway village; 



Thomas Putnam, a resident oi Norway \-il- 
lage, who married Miss Kate Hobson, of 
North Waterford, this county; and Winnie 
Maud, wife of William II. Allen, of Coati- 
cook, Canada. Mrs. Richardson lives with 
her daughter in Canada. 

Albert Richardson, the eldest child, was 
horn December 16, 1.S49. He has succeeded 
to the ownership i)f the ancestral homestead, 
which contains one hundred and eighty-three 
acres of land, and is carrying on general farm- 
ing with gratifying success. He has a fine 
dair}-, composed principally of grade Jerseys; 
and he makes a superior quality of butter, 
which he sells at the highest market price. 
With the e.xcej-Jtion of a few years when he 
kept books for his father in Portland, Mr. Al- 
bert IvichaKlson has always given his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits. 

I^e married Miss Louisa Lakin, who was 
born November 12, 1849, at Sebago, Cumber- 
land County, i\Ic. , where her parents, Arthur 
and Nancy (Irish) Lakin, spent their entire 
lives. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Richardson have 
two daughters. The elder, Annie Maude, a 
graduate of Colby University, was a teacher in 
the Norway High School. In August, 1896, 
she became the wife of Professor C. P. Barnes. 
The other, ICthel May, is a student in the high 
school. Two children, one unnamed, and 
Margaret, died in infancy. The mother and 
her daughters are regular attendants of the 
Congregational Church of Norway. I'or the 
past ten years Mrs. Albert Richartlson has 
thrown open hei- beautiful house for the ac- 
commodation of summer guests from the city, 
her boarders averaging about twelve in number 
each season. 




RTKMAS L. HERSEY, M.D., a 
skiltul and popular physician, one (it 
the most prominent residents of 
O.xford, Me., was born in Liver- 
more, Me., March 17, 1826, a son of Isaac L. 
and Lura (Howard) Hersey. He comes of 
early Colonial stock, William Hersey, the 
founder of the family in New I^ngland, having 
settled in Hingham, Mass., in the autimin of 

Samuel Hersey, Dr. Hersey's grandfather. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



who was born in Ilingham, Mass., became 
a settler in Livermore, Me., about the close 
of last century. He died in that town at 
the age of seventy-nine years. His wife, 
whose" maiden name was Mary Lendall, 
died in middle life, having been the mother 
of seven children that reached maturity; 
namely, Samuel, Isaac L., Simeon, Harri- 
son, Mary, Eliza, and Sarah, none of whom 
are living. 

Isaac L. Hersey, father of Dr. Herscy, was 
born in Livermore in 1802. He grew to man- 
hood there, and in time became the owner of 
a valuable piece of agricultural property, 
which he worked with energy and success dar- 
ing his active period. He died at the age of 
seventy-seven. A Whig in politics, he joined 
the Rcintblican party at its formation, and 
henceforth adhered to its principles. In re- 
ligion he was a Methodist, and he was for 
many years a class leader in that church. His 
wife, Lura Howard Hersey, who was born in 
Livermore in 1801, became the mother of six- 
children, as follows: George R., who died at 
the age of twenty-eight; Elizabeth L., who 
died in childhood, aged nine years; Russell 
B. , now a [irosperous farmer of East Liver- 
more; Artemas L., whose name heads this 
sketch: Lura, now Mrs. John A. Rowell, of 
Livermore; and Abbie N., wife of Henry A. 
Tabor, of Vassal boro, Me. Mrs. Lura H. 
Hersey lived to reach the age of eighty-six 
years. 

Artemas L. Hersey acquired his early edu- 
cation in the schools of Livermore and at the 
Oxford Normal School in Paris, Me. When 
twenty-four years old he began the study of 
medicine with Dr. Edwin Mayberry, of Ox- 
ford. Subsequently entering the Maine Med- 
ical School, Bowdoin College, he was gradu- 
ated in 1853, and immediately located in 
Oxford, where he has since resided. A 
gentleman of scholarly attainments, he has 
been successful in his profession, and has 
made many friends in the community. In 
politics he is a Republican, and has served 
most cajjably as superintendent of schools 
for over thirty years. Though making no 
public profession of religion, he is an at- 
tendant and liberal supporter of the Con- 
gregational church; and his aid and influence 



can always be counted upon in behalf of 
all practical measures having for their ob- 
ject the moral and material well-being of 
the community. His tasteful residence near 
the village is situated amidst picturesque 
surroundings, commanding delightful lake and 
mountain scenery. 

On January 26, 1854, Dr. Hersey was 
united in marriage with Heloise Helena 
Keith, a daughter of the Hon, Jairus S. 
Keith, formerly a member of the Maine 
House of Representatives and of the State 
Senate, and a prominent figure in the political 
life of Oxford. He was graduated at Brown 
University, studied law with General Fessen- 
den, of Portland, and practised law in Oxford. 
Mrs. Hersey's mother, who was before mar- 
riage Mary C. Norton, was a daughter of 
Major Norton, who for many years took a lead- 
ing part in developing the natural resources 
of this town. Mrs. Hersey's parents had 
three children, the others being: Eugenia B., 
wife of Charles A. Spring, of Chicago, 111. ; 
and Herman N., who died at the age of sixty 
years. Mrs. Hersey is a lady of much intel- 
lectual ability and many accomplishments, 
and in her younger days was a successful 
music teacher. 

Dr. and Mrs. Hersey have one daughter, 
Heloise Edwina Hersey, who was born in Ox- 
ford, February 22, 1855. She is a graduate 
of Vassar College, and has devoted her life to 
educational work, for which she is well quali- 
fied, both by reason of her superior mental 
endowments and her thorough training. She 
is the founder and proprietor of a private 
school for girls at 25 Chestnut Street, Bos- 
ton. She occupies a high position in educa- 
tional circles, being widely known as an able 
teacher, an interesting and instructive lect- 
urer, and as a writer of several carefully pre- 
pared text-books. An admiring student of 
Robert Browning, Miss Hersey has success- 
fully essaved the role of interpreter of that 
great poet, who has written so many things 
hard to be understood: witness her "Introduc- 
tory Essay on Browning's Theory concerning 
Personal Immortality," prefixed to a small 
volume, entitled "Christmas Eve and Easter 
Day, and Other Poems," also the accompany- 
ing Notes. 



BIOGR.M'IIICAL REVIEW 




KORGE S. HLAKE, a .successful 
farmer and fruit grow'er of Brown- 
field, was born here, -iMarcli 21, 1836, 
son of Francis and Hannah (Rogers) Blake. 
Mr. Blake's grandfather, Benjamin Blake, who 
was a native of Gorham, Me., and had fol- 
lowed fanning in that town for some years, 
moved to a farm in Browmficld, and resided 
here for the rest of his life. Francis, Ben- 
jamin's son, then eight years old, in early 
manhood settled upon a farm in the southern 
part of the town. His active period was de- 
voted to agricultural pursuits, in which he 
was very successful; and he died April 20, 
1885, aged eighty years. His wife, Hannah, 
who was a native of Parsonsfield, Me., after 
surviving him about eight years, died January 
31, 1893, at the advanced age of ninety years. 
She was the mother of nine children, namely: 
Charles M., wdio married Lucy Brooks, of 
Porter, Me., and resides in South Brownfield; 
Mary Ann, now deceased: Albert, who mar- 
ried Rebecca Quint, and is now a merchant in 
Brownfield village; Jane, who resides in 
Brownfield; George S., the subject of this 
sketch: Caroline, who married Daniel Hill, 
and lives in Ikockton, Mass. ; Fanny, a resi- 
dent of Lowell, Mass. : Clara, the wife of Jo- 
seph Welch, of Lowell: and Horace F., who 
married Eva Harris, and is a prosperous 
farmer in Brownfield. 

George S. Blake attended the common 
schools of his native town. lie remained at 
home until he was twenty-four years of age, 
.■iiid then bought a farm in Porter, Me. After 
residing on it for five years he returned to 
Brownfield, and settled upon his present farm. 
He owns two hundred acres of good lanil, 
which, with the e.vpenditure of much time and 
money, he has brought into a first-class condi- 
tion. He produces large and superior crops 
of hav, corn, and potatoes: and he raises more 
apples than any other farmer in this locality. 
He also breeds some fine cattle and horses. 
The latter receive special attention from him, 
and he has a wide reputation as a producer 
of speedy driving horses. 

In March, i860, Mr. Blake was first united 
in marriage with Sylvia Storer, who died June 
12, 1867. She was born in Brownfield, 
daughter of Jeremiah and Orpha (Tiny) 



Storer, both of whom are also deceased. On 
^Llrch 25. 1869, Mr. Blake contracted a sec- 
ond marriage with Susan IL Higgins, who 
was born in Standish, Me., March 30, 1837. 
Her father, Joseph ]>lake, also a native of 
.Standish, who was an industrious farmer, died 
J'"ebruarv 25, 1877. Her mother, likew'ise a 
native ol the same town, is still residing 
there. In pulilic affairs Mi'. Blake has long 
been a [prominent figure. He has served as a 
member of the J5oard of Selectmen, and he 
was superintendent of schools for several years. 
He is a membei' and the clerk of the Baptist 
church. 




LBERT S. HOLM AN, who was born 
in Dixfield, Me., March 29, 1853, son 
"of Silas L. and l':ilen M. (Carlton) 
Holman, is now successfully en- 
gaged in farming in Peru. Ebenezer Hol- 
man, his paternal grandfather, who was a na- 
tive of Sutton, Mass., settled in Di.xfield with 
the early pioneers of the town, and spent the 
remainder of his life there, successfully en- 
gaged in farming. He married Sarah Knap|5, 
and with her reared a family of nine children, 
all of whom have passed away. He live'd to 
the remarkable age of one hundred and four 
years, and was the oldest man in O.xford 
County at the time of his decease. His son, 
Silas L., also a native of Di.\field, born in 
1820, having acquired a knowledge of farming 
before leaving home, on starting out for him- 
self chose for his occupation that of a farmer. 
All his life time, except three or four years, 
was spent in Dixfield, where he was a man of 
influence. He died March 24. 1896, aged 
seventy-six years. II is wife, who was born 
in Gardiner, Me., and is now living in Dix- 
field, bore him eight children, respectively 
named: Frances E., Albert S., Ida M., 
George C, P'-loise, Darwin B.. Arthur C, and 
Mattie. 

Albert S. Holman remained with his par- 
ents during his early years, receiving a good 
practical education in the schools of Dixfield 
and Canton. .After beginning life as a teacher 
he gave up that occupation, and has since de- 
voted his attention exclusively to general farm- 
ing and dairving. In 1SS8 he came to Peru, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



where he now owns about one hundred acres of 
land, and occu])ies as a tenant under lease 
about one hundretl more. He keeps a dairy of 
hi^h-grade Jerseys, which, together with his 
crops, lirings him a gooil income. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat. He has been a mem- 
ber of the Board of Selectmen for the past 
four years, and is its present Chairman. On 
March lo, 1S77, Mr. Holman married Miss 
Lona \V. Mines, who was born in Turner, 
Me., daughter of Leonard Hines. Seven 
children have been born to them; namely, 
Grace B., Fred C, Guy F., Carl S., Florence 
M.. Edith M., and Harold L. 




RTHUR D. PARSONS, of East Wil- 
ton, a member of the firm Clark, 
Parsons & Co., manufacturers of hay 
knives, corn knives, and other edged 
tools, was born in Huntsburg, Ohio, October 
4, 1844, son of Lucius P. and Florintha 
(Loud) Parsons. Mr. Parsons is a descendant 
of an old Massachusetts family. His grand- 
father, David Parsons, was a native and, as 
near as can be ascertained, a lifelong resident 
of Westhampton, that State. 

Lucius P. Parsons was born in Westhamp- 
ton, and educated in the schools of that town. 
Some time after his marriage he went West, 
not any easy task then, as railroads were un- 
known. On reaching Ohio he managed to 
get by stage to the town of Albany, thence to 
Buffalo by the Erie Canal, from which iioint 
he went in a sailing-vessel upon Lake Erie to 
Kirtland. Having had some experience in 
carpenter work, he secured employment upon 
the Mormon temple which was then in 
process of erection in Kirtland. Later he 
I)ought one hundred acres of wild land in 
Huntsburg, Geauga County, Ohio, where the 
jirospects appeared exceedingly promising. 
His expectations were fully realized, as he 
succeeded in clearing a good farm, and lived 
to see the region become a populous and agri- 
cultural centre. He had his full share of New 
England ]iluck, to which the Western States 
are so greatly indebted, and continued in ac- 
tive occupation until within two years of his 
death, which occurred when he was eighty-five 
years old. In politics he acted with the Re- 



publican party after its formation, and he at- 
tended the Congregational church. His wife, 
Florintha, a native of Massachusetts, became 
by him the mother of nine children; namely, 
Edwin, I'rances, E^dward, Arthur D., Lucius, 
Willis, Flora, Frank, and Fred. She is now 
eighty-four years old, enjoys good health, and 
maintains the cheerful and amiable demeanor 
that has been her characteristic through life. 

Arthur D. Parsons received his early edu- 
cation in the schools of his native town. Sub- 
sequently he attended the high school and the 
academy of Bloomfield, Ohio, and completed a 
business course at Eastman's Commercial Col- 
lege in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He then went 
to Boston, where he was book-keeper succes- 
sively for a lumber firm and one dealing in 
paints and drugs. In January, 1886, he was 
ajipointetl Superintendent and Treasurer of the 
Hiram Holt Company at I^ast Wilton. This 
concern, which then manufactured scythes and 
hay knives, was founded by C. Keyes in the 
days when these tools were made by hand. 
When the enterprise was jjut in the hands of a 
stock company, Air. Parsons became its man- 
ager; and in 1894 the present firm of Clark, 
Parsons & Co. was organized, with F. J. 
Clark, of I-'armington, as President, and A. D. 
Parsons, as Treasurer. Besides manufactur- 
ing hay knives, including those known as the 
"Lightning" and the "Blizzard," they make 
a specialty of clippers, corn, cane, and bread 
knives. The private brands of hay knives, as 
well as the other edged tools manufactured by 
this firm, are witlely known in the American 
and foreign markets for their durable quality 
and excellent workmanship, and command a 
large and ready sale. This satisfactory state 
of affairs is expected to continue as long as 
the business remains under the present man- 
agement. The building has three stories, is 
well lighted, and thoroughly equipped with 
machinery of the latest design. None but the 
most expert workmen are employed. 

Mr. Parsons wedded Hattie K. Phillips, of 
Orrington, Me., and has now two children, 
namely: Maud N., who was born September 
13, i88[ ; and A. Vernon, who was born June 
28, 1883. As a leading business man he 
has considerable infiuence in public affairs. 
While he has no political ambition, he is serv- 



BIOGRAPIl [CAI, REVI KW 



int; as • Chairman of tlic Kci)ublican 'l\)wn 
Committee. The community has the advan- 
tafje of his counsel as a member of the Hoard 
of Health. In the Masonic fraternity he lias 
advanced to the Thirty-second degree and to 
the .Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, 
being a member of Wilton Lodge, No. 156; 
F"ranklin Chapter, No. 44, Ro\-al Arch 
Masons; Jephthah Council, No. 17, Royal 
and Select Masters; and the Council of the 
Order of High Priesthood of Maine; Pilgrim 
Commandery, No. 19, Knights Temjilars; 
Lewiston Lodge of Perfection ; Auburn Coun- 
cil, Princes of Jerusalem; Dunlap Chapter, 
Rose Croix, of Portland; Maine Sovereign 
Consistory; and Aleppo Temple of the Mystic 
Shrine of Boston. Both he and Mrs. Parsons 
are members of the Congregational church, 
and Mr. Parsons at the present time is acting 
as superintendent of the Sundav-school. 



r7?)T-'^I'^'^ISON FARRAR, an industrious 
and well-to-do agriculturist of the 
town of Paris, Oxford County, is a 
worthy representative of the native 
residents of this place. He was born March 
I, 1S37, son of Bela and Lydia (Thayer) 
Farrar. On the father's side he is descended 
from an honored family of Massachusetts. 
His grandfather, David F'arrar, an early pio- 
neer of this county, was born and bred in 
Hingham, Mass. In his young manhood 
Uavid removed to Maine. L(.)oking about for 
a favorite spot in which to build a home, he 
became im])ressed with the future possibilities 
of Oxford County, and invested his little 
hoard of money in ^ timber tract in Buck- 
field. Here, having cleared a farm, he lived 
to a ripe old age, chiefly engaged in cultivat- 
ing the land and in working at the carpenter's 
trade. 

Bela Farrar, who was born in Buckfield, 
December 27, 1791, as soon as he was able to 
wield an axe, assisted his father in his pio- 
neer work. After his marriage he came to 
Paris, locating on the farm now owned by his 
son Harrison, and here si)ent the remainder of 
his eighty-six years of life. By honest and 
upright living he established himself in the 
confidence of the people, and made for him- 



self a good recortl as a valuable nieniber of the 
community where he lived. He was liberal 
in his religious beliefs, and was a Democrat 
in ]iolitics. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Lydia 'I'hayer, was born in this town, July 
3, 1799, and here resided until her death in 
1863. Of their ten chililren three died; 
namely, Delphina. Maria, and Janet. The 
others were severall)- naniecl: Laiiiard, Ara- 
bella, Delphina K., Bela W., Harrison, b'air- 
field, and Jefferson. 

Harrison F'arrar grew to maturity on the 
family homestead, obtaining his education in 
his native town. After teaching school for 
one term he then engaged in agriculture, 
which he has since continuously followed. 
His industry and business capacity have en- 
abled him i.o make the home farm one of the 
finest estates in the vicinit)'. Owning land 
also in the towns of Buckfield and Sumner, 
his real estate aggregates two hundred acres. 
In political contests he votes independently 
of party lines. He is a member of Paris 
Lodge, No. 44, Patrons of Husbandry. 

Mr. F'arrar was married November 9, 1N57, 
to Eliza .A. Hammond, daughter of William 
P. Hammond, of Buckfield, where she was 
born, December 30, 1S37. Mr. and Mrs. 
Farrar have four children li\'ing, as follows: 
F>erett H., a resident of South Paris, Me., 
born May 16, 1859: .\nna Lydia, born August 
23, 1864, who is now the wife of H. R. 
Teague, and resides in Jay, Me.: Harry 
Douglas, born .September 19, 1870, who re- 
sides at home; and Carl Edgar, born F'ebruarv 
I, 1874, also a resident of Jav. 




LMION B. GEE, the jiroprietor of the 
(irand Trunk House, .South Paris, 
was born in Chatham, N.H., March 
4, 1830, son of Abner and Mary 
(Cox) Gee. Mr. Gee's father was a native of 
Three Rivers, Province of (juebec, and left 
his home at the age of nine years to seek his 
fortune. At the age of twenty he had ac- 
quired a sum sufficient to buy a farm. This 
farm, after considerably improving it, he sold 
to good advantage, and bought another in 
Brownfield, Me. Here he lived for several 
years, prosperously engaged in tilling the 



;24 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



soil. Then, selling; this farm also, he re- 
moved to Xorthfield, Mass., where the rest of 
his life was passed in agricultural pursuits. 
He (lied in i 88g, aged seventy-five years. He 
was considered one of the best violin players 
of his dav, and his services as a violinist were 
in constant demand. He was prominent in 
the early State militia, in which he was com- 
missioned Captain. In politics he acted with 
the Democratic party, while in his religious 
belief he was a Universalist. He married 
Mary Co.x, a daughter of Isaac Cox, who was 
an early settler and a progressive farmer of 
Chatham. By her he became the father of 
four children; namely, Caroline, Francis 
(second), Albion B., and Mary. The mother 
died at the age of forty-seven years. 

Albion B. Gee obtained his education in 
the schools of Brownfield and at the Fryeburg 
-Academy. At the age of fifteen he went to 
Lowell, Mass., where he learned dancing, 
with a view of becoming a teacher of that art. 
.Successfully pursuing the profession after- 
ward, he taught over one thousand classes in 
the different towns from Lowell, Mass., to 
Bangor, Me. During the summer season he 
was employed as clerk at hotels in Mount 
Pleasant, Conway, and North Conway. At a 
later date he conducted the Washington and 
Kearsarge Houses, finally buying the O.xford 
House in Fryeburg, which was destroyed by 
fire while under his management. He subse- 
quently managed the Lake Auburn House and 
the Grand View House for four seasons each. 
In April. 1S95, he bought the Paris Hotel, a 
fine three-story building containing thirty 
rooms, and situated on Main Street near the 
depot in South Paris. Since then he has re- 
modelled and refurnished it at a considerable 
expense, so that the Grand Trunk House, as 
it is now called, is one of the best appointed 
hotels in O.xford County. His extensive ac- 
quaintance among summer tourists and the 
travelling public generally insures him a lib- 
eral patronage. Although he has resided here 
but a short time, he has already won the es- 
teem and good will of the leading citizens of 
the town. 

On January 29, 1851, Mr. Gee was united 
in marriage with Fanny M. Berry, daughter of 
Isaac C. Berry, of Ikidgton, Me. She died in 



18S3, aged forty-seven years, having been the 
mother of four children. These were: Addie, 
who became the wife of O. E. Barker, and 
died in 1895, aged thirty-five years: Mabel, 
who died at the age of four years and six 
months; Frank B., who was born January 6, 
1866; and Katie M., who was born January 29, 
1868. In politics Mr. Gee is a Democrat. 
He attends the Universalist church. 



M 



ANA B. FOGG, of the w^ell -known 
firm Byron & Fogg, dealers in 
SJ general merchandise in Strong, 
Franklin County, was born in 
Readfield, Me., June 16, 1832, son of Joseph 
and Lavina (Russell) Fogg Joseph Fogg, 
who was a native of Cornville, Me., and a 
tanner, currier, and shoemaker by trade, liveii 
in Readfield from early manhood until his 
death in August, 1842. His wife, Lavina, a 
native of P'ayette, Me., bore him five children 
— Sarah Emeline, Fannie, Ruth Ann, Lavina 
Maria, and Dana B. Sarah Emeline married 
P. H. P'isk, neither of whom is now living. 
Fannie married Simeon Hearsey, both of 
whom are also deceased. Ruth Ann passed 
away in 1842. Lavina Maria was twice mar- 
ried, first to Peasley Morrill, who afterwartl 
died. Her second husband was Daniel Wey- 
mouth, of Greene, Me., who also died. She 
is now living in the State of New Ham]ishire. 
Her mother died in 1875. 

Dana 15. Fogg acquired his education in 
the common school with his sisters. At 
the age of eighteen he learned the trade of 
harness-making at Readfield. In 1854 after 
the expiration of his three years" apprentice- 
ship, he bought out the business of his em- 
ployer, and managed it for two years. .Subse- 
quently going to Skowhegan, Me., he bought 
the business of Chandler Tuttle, a 'dealer in 
harnesses, and carried it on for one year. He 
then sold out to William Tucker, returned to 
Readfield, and, purchasing a vacant store, 
started independently in the business. After 
a year he forsook this enterprise, and was after- 
ward extensively engaged in cattle dealing. 
In 1 88 1 he came to Strong, and entered the 
firm of Fogg, Hoffess & Fogg, wholesale 
dealers in flour, grain, and agricultural imple- 




DANA B. FOGG. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



327 



mc-nts, rumainiiii;- with thciii fur thret- years. 
At the end of that time a copartnership was 
formed with J. H. Byron, under the style of 
Byron & Kogg, which still continues, Mr. 
Fogg having resided here ever since. In pol- 
itics he is a strong Repuhlican, has a high 
reputation as a party worker, and served the 
town as Postmaster from 1890 to 1893. He 
afifiliates with Davis Lodge of A. F. & A. M. 

On Christmas Day, 1856, Mr. Fogg was 
united -in marriage with Miss Charlotte V. 
I'ackard, a native of Readfield, and a daughter 
of Oakes and Sal lie Packard, both now de- 
ceased. The father was a carpenter. Mr. 
and Mrs. Fogg have one son, W. Fred. P., born 
October 6, 1859, who is now a prominent 
attorney and the General Manager of the 
Wiscasset Railroad. The first partner of his 
joys and sorrows was Ollie Hoffess, who sub- 
sequently died; and he afterward married 
Abbie Hodge, of Wiscasset, Me. By his 
first marriage he became the father of three 
children — Ona, Freda, and Vera. Mr. Fogg 
has worked his way from the condition of a 
poor boy to his present prosijerity, all that he 
now has being doubly enjoyable from the fact 
that it is the result of his own individual 
effort. Personally, he is well known and 
highly respected throughout Franklin County, 
especially in Strong, where he is very popu- 
lar. Both he and his esteemed wife attend 
the Congregational church. 

A portrait of Mr. Fogg accompanies this 
account of his life. 




Oxfort 



'EYMOLTR A. FARRINGTON, a 
veteran of the Civil War, who occu- 
jjies a prominent place among the 
thrifty farmers of North Fryeburg, 
County, was born where he now re- 
sides, September 22, 1836, son of Southwell 
and Amanda I'. (Miller) F'arrington. His 
grandfather, John Farrington, when a young 
man, came to Fryeburg from Concord, N.LL, 
and settled upon a farm. The grandfather 
was an energetic and progressive man, whose 
natural ability not only enabled liim to achieve 
success in agricultural pursuits, but brought 
him into prominence in public affairs. He 
served as a member of the Board of Selectmen 



for a number of years; and he died January 

11, 1833. His wife, in maidenhood Nancy 
Royce, daughter of Cajjtain Vere Royce, had 
thirteen children. Her death occui'red March 

12, 1853. 

Southwell P'arrington was born in h'rye- 
burg, P"ebruary ij , 1807. In 1825 he settled 
upon the farm where his son now resides, and 
tilled the soil with energy for the rest of his 
active period. He was noted throughout ().\- 
ford County as an accom[)lished singer and a 
teacher of vocal music, talents which ha\'e de- 
scended to his children; and he died in No- 
vember, 1875. His wife, Amanda, whom he 
married November 29, 1831, was born in 
Brownfield, Me., April 6, 1810. She had 
three children by him, as follows: James H., 
who was horn .September ij, 1832, and died 
December 2 of the same year; James H. (sec- 
ond), born October 2, 1S33, who married Anna 
Bassett, and died Septen)ber 10, 1863; aiul 
Seymour A., the subject of this sketch. -She 
died March i i, 1884. 

Seymour A. b'arrington accpiireil his educa- 
tion in an academy, and resided at home until 
the breaking out of the Rebellion. On Octo- 
ber 7, 1 86 1, he enlisted as a jirivate in Ct)m- 
pany E, Twelfth Regiment, Maine Wilunteer 
Infantry, under Colonel George F. Shepley 
and Captain Enoch Knight, and served in the 
war upon the lower Mississip])! and in Vir- 
ginia. He participated in the siege and capt- 
ure of Port Hudson, the battle of Winchester, 
and other engagements, coming out of all un- 
injured, and received his discharge in Port- 
land, Me., in December, 1864. He returned 
to Fryeburg, and has since resided at the 
homestead. The property contains one hun- 
dred and fifty acres of fertile land. Since he 
succeeded to it he has made various improve- 
ments. Conducting his farm according to the 
most approved methods, he takes a high rank 
as a general farmer, while his crops are above 
the usual standard in quantity and quality. 

On September 30, 1865, Mr. Farrington 
was united in marriage to Anna (Bassett) Far- 
rington, the willow of his deceased brother. 
She was born in Lovell, Me., April 8, 1834, 
daughter of Joseph Bassett, a tanner, now de- 
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. F"arrington have had 
two children, namelv: I'lorence M., born Jan- 



3^> 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



iiarv 9, iiS67, who married I'"raiik K. limcry, 
a prosperous farmer of Lovell, and died April 
30, i8gi; ami Ida M., born August 31, 1874, 
who is residiiii; at home. In |X)litics Mr. 
]'"arrington folhnvs an independent eourse, 
supporting tlie candidates wiio in liis opinion 
are the best qualified to hold public office. 
He has made the best use of his opportunities 
in life. ]5y steadfast adherence to upright 
]irincii)les he has gained the esteem and good 
will of his townsmen. Like his father lie 
possesses musical talents of a high order. 
He has an e.xcellent tenor voice, and he has 
been very successful as a teacher of singing- 
schools in this locality. His tlaughter has in- 
herited a liberal share of her father's taste for 
music, and has cultivated her talent to a high 
degree. Mr. Farrington is a member of the 
grange at Fryeburg Centre. 




RANK W. LORD, senior partner of 
the firm Lord & Starbird, general mer- 
chants of Oxford, is an enterprising 
and progressive business man and a leading 
resident of this town. Prominent positions, 
both in busines.s and political circles, are 
filled by representatives of the Lord family, 
one of whom is S. L. Lord, the present Mayor 
of Saco, Me. The subject of this sketch was 
born December 4, 1S53, in Peabody, Mass., 
son of W'illiam H. and Chloe (Wanlwell) 
Lord. His grandfather, Isaac C. Lord, by 
trade a carpenter, was one of the first settlers 
of Buxton, Me., where, while working at his 
calling, he was accidentally killed at the age 
of forty-five years. 

William H. Lord, who was a native of Bux- 
ton, in early life followed the sea. Subse- 
quently taking up his residence in Peabody, 
Mass., he was for several years engaged there 
as a tanner and currier. From Peabody he 
moved to Otisfield, Me., and thence to Saco, 
Me. Here he carried on a farm until his 
death, which occurred in 1872, at the age of 
fifty-eight years. He was active and industri- 
ous, his farming operations were successful, 
and he enjoyed a desirable measure of prosper- 
ity. He served for a time in the City Council 
of Saco, to wliich he was elected by the Re- 
publican party. His religious piiiici|iles were 



liberal. His wife, who was a native of Otis- 
field, became the mother of three children, as 
follows: Lizzie H., now the wife of Alonzo 
Edwards, of Norway, Me.; Pollen F., who died 
at the age of twenty-nine years; and P^rank 
W., the subject of this sketch. The mother 
died in 1894, aged sixty-nine years. She was 
a member of the P'ree Will Baptist church. 

Frank W. Lord acquired his education in 
the schools of Saco. After completing his 
studies he learned shoemaking, which he fol- 
lowed for about three years. He afterward 
secured a jiosition as clerk for T. L. Robinson 
in a corjMration store at Oxford, where he 
remained for seven years. After this he was 
engaged in business with K. W. Edwards 
until 1895, when he bought Mr. Edwards's in- 
terest, and admitted his present associate, 
C. F. Starbird, as a partner. Messrs. Lord 
& Starbird are the leading merchants here at 
the present time. Their large business is 
constantly developing into still greater pro- 
portions. The store is heavily stocked with a 
well-selected variety of general merchandise, 
including bicycles. Its appearance is that of 
a well-kept and exceedingly busy store. It is 
very popular in this section, where it has 
gained a wide reputation for honest dealing 
and fair prices. 

In 1S77 Mr. Lord wedded Tena A. Mc- 
Allister, a native of Stoneham, Me. Their 
two children are: I. Blanche, who was born 
October 4, 1883; and William !■"., who died at 
the age of eighteen months. In politics Mr. 
Lord is a Republican, and he has served two 
years as a member of the Board of Selectmen. 
He is connected with Norway Lodge, Knights 
of Pythias. 



B 



EACON RUFUS TAYLOR, a ven- 
erable and well-known citizen of 
P'ranklin County, residing at Bean's 
Corners, in the town of Jay, his na- 
tive place, where he was formerly a member of 
the Board of Selectmen, was born October 28, 
1815, son of Deacon James and Rhoda (Chand- 
ler) Taylor. He is a grandson of Samuel 
Taylor, who removed from Cape Cod to Read- 
field. Me., and resided ujion a farm in that 
town for the rest of his life. 



BIOGRAPIirrAI- REVIEW 



329 



lames Taylor, son of Samuel. ,L;rew to man- 
hood in Readfield. In i.Sio he settled at 
Bean's Corners, which was then a wilderness; 
and he cleared the farm where his son Riifns 
now resides. Commencing life as a pioneer, 
he labored diligently for the prosperity he 
ultimately acquired; and he resided here until 
his death, which took place in October, 1845. 
II is wife, Rhoda Chandler, was a daughter of 
lacob Chandler, a pioneer farmer of Wilton, 
who passed his last days in Jay, and died at 
the Taylor homestead in 1842. She was the 
mother of si.x children, as follows: Gorham, 
who died in infancy; Rufus, the subject of 
this sketch; Louisa, who married Elias Bean, 
a farmer and carpenter (both deceased); Lu- 
cinda, who became the wife of Joshua Bean, of 
Bean's Corners, and died in 1839; Hannah, 
who married Daniel Tarbox, of Phillips, and 
died in 1847, her husband being now a retired 
merchant of Lewiston, Me. ; and Love, who 
died in January, 1S85. She was the wife of 
Josiah N. Cutler, a prominent merchant of 
Chicago, now deceased. Mrs. Rhoda C. 
Taylor died in December, 1845, li^^ving sur- 
vived her husband but a short time. 

Rufus Taylor began his education in the 
common schools, and advanced in learning by 
attending the Parsonsfield and Farmington 
Academies. lie subsequently taught several 
terms of school in Jay, Wilton, and Sumner, 
and after his marriage settled upon a part of 
his father's farm. Four years later he re- 
turned to the homestead, where he has since 
resided, having cared for his parents and 
grandparents during their declining years. 
He has devoted his time and energy to general 
farming and fruit growing, raising also some 
excellent oxen; and his farm of one hundred 
and twenty-five acres is well improved and ex- 
ceedingly productive. 

On March 12, 1840, Rufus Taylor was 
married to Abigail T. Dakin. She was born 
in Wilton, April 12, 1822, daughter of 
Deacon Levi and Edee (Richardson) Dakin, 
the former of whom was a native of Dunstable, 
Mass., and the latter of Temple, N.H. Mrs. 
Taylor's parents settled in Wilton in the year 
1800, and her mother taught the first district 
school established in that town. Levi Dakin 
cleared and improved a farm in East Wilton, 



and resided there until 1844. lie then moved 
to ICmbden, Me., where he continued to till 
the soil for about fourteen years; and he antl 
his wife passed their last years with their 
daughter, Mrs. Taylor, in Jay. Deacon Levi 
Dakin died April 17, 1874; and his wife died 
September 27, 1871. They were the ])arents 
of eight children, namely: ICdee, who married 
Nathaniel Gammon; Levi 11., who married 
P'lorclla Smith; Sarah R., who married Jared 
Smith, all of whom have deixirted this life; 
Abigail T., who is now Mrs. Taylor; Sarejita 
N., who married Samuel Taylor, and neither 
is now living; Mary R., widow of the Rev. 
James M. h'oUett, now lesiding with her 
daughter in Oakland, Cal.; William Justus 
(deceased), who married Abbie Tower, of 
Dover, Me. ; and Rachel, who died in infancy. 
All of the above named were unusually intel- 
lectual and well educated, and most of them 
filled useful positions in life as teachers. 

Deacon and Mrs. Taylor have hat! six chil- 
dren, as follows: Augustine R., who was born 
December 25, 1841; Sarepta A., born Feb- 
ruary II, 1846, who died May 24, 1852; 
Hannah T., who was born January 20, 1853, 
and died April 23, 1867; i-'loriman J., M.D., 
who was born December 15, 1854; L. Will- 
iam, who was born September 9, 1858; and 
Mary Abbie, who was born November 2, 1863. 
Augustine R. is a dealer in marble and gran- 
ite, and a manufacturer of monuments in 
Waverly, la. He married P'rancena C. 
Buttci field, of Bean's Corners, and has two 
children, namely: Gorham, a graduate of 
Mount Vernon College and a civil engineer, 
who is married and has one child; and Anna 
M., who married Charles Holt, a druggist of 
Waverly, la., and has one son, named 
Howaril. P'loriman J. graduated from the 
Chicago Medical College in 1880, and is now 
a practising physician in Pittsfield, Me. 
On June 12, 1881, he married Nellie M. 
Vaughan ; and she is now a music teacher at 
the Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield. L. 
William is a graduate of the Maine State Col- 
lege, class of 1880, and is now a teacher. On 
July 7, 1885, he married Carrie M l^rown, of 
-Strong, and has two children — Lloyd and 
Lewis. Mary Abbie is an accomplished mu- 
sician, and has been a successful teacher. She 



i^'^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



has been twice married. Her first husband, 
ti) wliom she was married May 31, 1884, was 
Alexander H. Luce, of New Vineyard, who 
died in March, 1889. In August, 1893, she 
was again married to l-'red H. Ranger, of 
Wilton, Me. By her first union she has two 
children: namely, Justin T. and Leon A. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ranger are residing at the 
Taylor homestead, and Mr. Ranger assists in 
carrying on the farm. 

Deacon Rufus Taylor is a Republican in 
politics, and has for many years been a lead- 
ing spirit in public affairs. He has served 
with ability as a member of the Board of Se- j 
lectmen, and he was for some time a member 
of the School Board. He is well and favor- 
ably known throughout this section of the 
county as an upright, conscientious man 
and a worthy citizen; and his life has been 
successful as well as a busy one. He has 
been a Deacon of the Free Will Bap- 
tist church since 1856, and both he and 
his family are actively interested in religious 
work. 




SIIBI'.L G. ALLEN, a well-known 
and influential citizen of Stoneham, 
Me., was born in this town, May 
II, 1823, the son of Elisha and 
.Sarah (Cooley) Allen. He owns about two 
hundred and si.\ty acres in Oxford County, in 
the towns of Stoneham and Lovell, and is 
prosperously engaged in general farming. A 
hard worker from his youth, he has well 
earned success by his own diligent efforts and 
enforced habits of industry and thrift. His 
father, Elisha Allen, who was born in Little- 
ton, Vt., came in 1819 to Oxford County, 
Maine, where he had a brother living. Set- 
tling first in the town of Norway, he was 
there engaged in general farming for some 
lime, and then removed to the farm in Stone- 
ham now owned and occupied by his son, 
Ashbel G. Here he passed his remaining 
years. His career was an adventurous one, 
for part of his early life was spent on the sea 
as master of a vessel and part in the army as 
a soldier in the War of 18 12. Mrs. Sarah 
Cooley Allen was a native of Portland, Me. 
She died in Stoneham. She was the mother 



of eight children, namely: Sarah Fox (de- 
ceased) ; Emily, widow of Jacob Merrill, liv- 
ing in Yarmouth, Me. ; Jane Small (de- 
ceased), who was the wife of John Allen, a 
citizen of Bethel, Me.: George I-". (deceased); 
Ashbel G., the subject of this sketch: Pru- 
dence E. , living in Stoneham, widow of R. 
Smith: Charles, who died at the age of 
twenty; and Thomas, who died in infancy. 

Ashbel G. Allen received but a limited 
common-school education, as he went to work 
at the early age of twelve years. He was 
hired by different farmers in Waterford, and 
worked out for six years, returning then to his 
home, and being engaged for a while in a saw- 
mill making shook. About 1848 he pur- 
chased a farm in the neighborhood, and built a 
house, which he occupied with his family for 
a few years; and then he returned to his birth- 
place to take care of his parents. Since the 
death of the old people, with the exception of 
a brief term of years spent in the town of 
Waterford, he has continued to reside on tiie 
family homestead in Stoneham, being one of 
the leading members of the community. 

Mr. Allen was married September 17, 
1848, to Ann- Maria, daughter of Stephen and 
Hannah (Adams) Horr. She was born in 
Waterford, December 15, 1829. Her father 
was a native of Waterford, her mother of 
Bradford, Mass. ; and both lived for many 
years, and died in Waterford. I\Ir. Horr wa.s 
a farmer. Ten children have blessed the 
union of Mr. and Mrs. Allen — Ellen Maria, 
who died at the age of thirty-six; Charles 
Albert, who is in the insurance business 
in Ellsworth, Me.; Stephen (deceased); Han- 
nah Elizabeth, who lived but eight years; 
Frank Herbert, employed in a mill at Cum- 
berland Mills, Me.; William Arthur, who 
married Miss Alice McKeen, and lives in 
Waterford; George Henry, living in Idaho; 
Mary Isabel, wife of Charles E. Whitney, of 
Stoneham ; Fred Leroy and Edwin Everett, 
who are still at home with their parents. 

Mr. Allen cast his maiden vote with the 
Whigs, and has been a member of the Repub- 
lican party since its organization. He has 
been a member of the Stoneham Board of Se- 
lectmen for a number of years, and was Town 
Treasurer some time. Mrs. Allen is a niem- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



33' 



Ikt (if the Congregational cluircli in Mast 
Stonehani \'ilhitie. 




iHARLES N. I'ORTKR, a farmer and 
milk dealer of South I'aris, Oxford 
is , County, Me., was born April 7, 
1828, on a farm in the town of 
Paris, now owned by V. Porter. His parents 
were Charles and Rachel (Hamilton) Porter, 
and his paternal grandparents Nehemiah 
and Joanna (Barbour) Porter, the family being 
of old Colonial stock. 

Nehemiah Porter, the grandfather, was a de- 
scendant in the direct line of Richard Porter, 
who settled in Weymouth, Mass., in 1635. 
He was born in Scituate, Mass., December 
14, 1758, and served as a private in the Con- 
tinental army during the war of indc[)cn- 
dence. After the war he settled in \'armouth. 
Me., where he became quite prominent in 
town and county affairs, and as a member of 
the Congregational church. His wife, Joanna, 
who was a native of Gray, Me., bore him 
thirteen children, all of whom attained 
maturit}-, and all of whom, except one. 
married. 

Charles Porter, who was a native of Yar- 
mouth, born June 10, 1794, son of Nehemiah 
and Joanna Porter, came to South Paris in 
1 8 16, and bought three hundred acres of wild 
land. I'inding it heavily timbered, he availed 
himself of his brother's assistance in clearing- 
it, compensating him for services with half the 
property after marriage. While engaged in 
this work, they were able, owing to the presence 
of a saw-mill in the town, to do some profit- 
able limibering. Later in life Charles Porter 
bought the house now the property of his son, 
Charles N., and on th? adjoining lot erected 
another house, which he afterward let for rent. 
Yielding to a need for rest in his declining 
years, he retired from active occupation some 
time before his death, which occurred April 
3, 1 86 1, in the si.xty-seventh year of his age. 
His wife, Rachel, who was born July ig, 
1794, survived him until January i, 1877, 
when she died in her eighty-third year. She 
was a daughter of William and Rachel (Luf- 
kin) Hamilton, of North Yarmouth. They 
reared eight children: namely, Mary Ann, 



William II., Samuel N., Alvan II., Lucy ll., 
Rachel L., Charles N., and Granville. 

Charles N. I'orter, the fourth son as here 
named, received a good education in the dis- 
trict and high school of his native town. 
Early in life he bought the R. S. Stowell 
farm, on which he resided for fwc years. At 
the end of that time he sold it, and then pur- 
chased the farm where his father's last days 
were spent. This estate contains about one 
hundred and fifty acres of valley land, situated 
on the outskirts of the village. In 1S70 Mi'. 
Porter began to sell milk, at first carrying it 
to his customers by hand. Since then the 
business has grown to such dimensions that 
now he keeps twenty fine cows, and supplies 
the whole village of South Paiis with milk. 
The secret'of his success consists in the fact 
that he is careful to make his milk give satis- 
faction both in quantity and tiualit)'. 

On March 24, 1852, he was uniteil in matri- 
mony with Maria L. Millett, who was born in 
Norway, Me., December 20, 1830, daughter 
of Nathan and Mercy (Sampson) Millett. Of 
their eight children, a daughter, Hattie L., 
died at the age of six months. The others 
are: Nathan Millett, born October 7, 1853; 
P'rank Lester, born June 29, 1855: (Ininville 
H., born June 3, 1857; William Alton, born 
April 7, 1S63; p:ilen Millett, born August 
26, 1866; Hiram Newell, born October 31, 
1870; and Harriet Louise, born November i, 
1872. Nathan, who is a doctor and a drug- 
gist in Chicago, married Helen Duffy. 
Frank, who is in the drug business in 
Chicago, married Mariann I". ;\(lams, and 
has one child, Lester W., liorn June 21, 1S84. 
Granville, a produce dealer and a manufactuix'r 
of cider in .South Paris, married Ida M. Rob- 
bins, and has two children — .Susie E., born 
August I, 1881; and Ray IL, born November 
II, 1883. William A., the jiniprietor of a 
confectioner)' and tobacco store in South 
Paris, married Lena A. Pratt. Ellen M. is 
the wife of L. L. Powers, a mechanic of South 
Paris. Hiram N., who is associated with his 
father in the milk business, married Hattie 
Bennett, and has one child, Alton M,, born 
September 24, 1894; while Harriet L. is the 
wife of I-'red Douglass, of Boston, Mass. 
Both parents are members of the Congrega- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



tioiKil church. In politics Mr. Charles N. 
Porter is a Republican. Mis connection with 
fraternal societies is limited to membership 
in the ortranization of the Golden Cross. 



CjlTas U 



II. YEATON, one of the suc- 
p! cessful pioneer gold miners of Cali- 
'^^* -^ fornia, who is now living in retire- 
ment at West I'^amiington, Me., was born in 
New Vineyard, Me., August 22, 1833, son of 
Jonathan and Polly (Watson) Yeaton. His 
grandfather, Jonathan Yeaton, -Sr., in the lat- 
ter part of last century bought a large tract 
of land in Kennebec County, consisting of 
the townshij) of Portsmouth, now called liel- 
grade. He sold the major portion of this 
purchase to settlers for farm sites, retaining 
cpiite an extensive tract, which he cleareil 
and improved into a good farm ; and he lived 
to see the town develop into a prosperous and 
exceedingly thrifty farming community. His 
children were: John, Ichal)od, Jonathan, Han- 
nah, Mary, and Comfort. 

Jonathan Yeaton was born in Belgrade, 
P'ebruary 20, 1797. In early manhood he 
settled in New Vineyard, where he purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of cleared land, 
which he improved by erecting a new set of 
buildings; and then selling the property he 
removeii to New Portland, where he bought 
another farm, most of which was still in a 
wild state. He cleared the land and brought 
it to a state of productiveness; and he contin- 
ued to follow general farming until the death 
of his wife, when he retired from active labor. 
He died July 3, 1878. Politically, he acted 
with the Republican party; and he was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
His wife, who was before marriage Polly Wat- 
son, became the mother of six children, 
namely: George; Joel S. ; Ward S. ; Mary; 
IClias H., the subject of this sketch; and 
ICmily C. Mrs. Polly W' . Yeaton lived to be 
seventy-two years old. 

After leaving school P'.lias H. Yeaton en- 
gaged in tilling the soil as a general farmer; 
and he continue<l thus employed for some 
time. In 1856 he went to California, and 
taking u\) a claim in the n]d Rich Gulch, 
Calaveras County, he applied himself energet- 



ically to its development. Although pre- 
vented by the scarcity of water from working 
steadily, being obliged to pay ten dollars per 
day for it when available, he made the best of 
his opportunities, and was successful. When 
washing was impossible he worked in a saw- 
mill, thus keeping himself busy; and after 
three years of hard work he returned Ivast, 
having acquired a handsome capital with 
which to start in life. Soon after his arrival 
from California he bought a nice farm in the 
town of Industry, where he resided four years, 
at the expiration of which time he sold it, and 
bought another farm in New Sharon, where he 
resided for the same length of time. Selling 
that property, he bought the old Porter farm, 
situated on Porter Hill, and carried on gen- 
eral farming for the succeeding six years. 
His next move was back to the town of In- 
dustry, where he purchased the Elbert Shaw 
farm, consisting of seven hundred and fifty 
acres, which, after owning ami occupying for 
eight years, he sold to J. H. Sayer, of Au- 
gusta; and in all of these transactions he real- 
ized good profits. He then went to Logan 
valley, Nebraska, where he bought and im- 
proved one hundred and sixty acres, which he 
sold a short time later, and moved to the 
Omaha Reservation to a place now called 
I'ender, Thurston County. He invested in a 
tract of two hundred and seventy-eight acres 
in Pender, Thurston County, land, which he 
improved, erecting buildings, putting one 
hundred and fifty acres under the plough, 
and, then renting this to good advantage, en- 
gaged for a time as a stock dealer. 

In March, 1S96, he again returned to 
Maine; and, deciding to settle in West h'arm- 
ington, he bought of E. Thurston the old Mar- 
vin property, consisting of a fine residence and 
twenty-five acres of land. Having retired 
from active labor, he is now enjoying a well- 
earned rest. As a self-made man, who ob- 
tained a start in life through the rough and 
somewhat dangerous experience of a miner in 
California, he has not only maintained his 
footing, but through natural business ability 
and rare judgment has steadily advanced in 
prosperity, being at the present time one of 
the most wealthy residents of this locality. 
He is highly respected and esteemed by his 



RIOGR APHICAI. REVIEW 



333 



many friijnds and acquaintancL's here, who 
regard his somewhat phenomenal success as 
well merited; and he is a welcome addition to 
the society of the numerous residents of 
Farmington whose easy circumstances enable 
them to enjoy a life of leisure. 

Shortly after his return from California Mr. 
Yeaton wedded for his first wife Sarah Stod- 
dard. She was a daughter of Samuel S. 
Stoddard, late of h'armington, who repre- 
sentetl a highly reputable family of this local- 
ity. She died in i.Sgj, at the age of fifty-six 
years, leaving six children, who may be briefly 
named as follows: .Samuel .S. , a mechanic 
and one of the owners of the Russell Mills in 
West Farmington, who married Nellie Wing, 
and has one daughter, Sadie; Almous ]•!., 
who is in the fruit business at Grand Junction, 
Col., married Hattie Wright, and has two 
children — Gladys and Oracle; Augustus R., 
who married Nellie Seymour, and is now the 
proprietor of a hotel in Cedarville, Kan. ; 
Charles H., a prosperous farmer of Santa 
Monica, Cal., who married Jennie ]'"oIsom, 
and has one daughter, Olive; Verton W. , a 
successful farmer of Pender, Neb., who mar- 
ried Georgia Gower, and has one son, Arthur; 
and Lee FI., who is also engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits in Pender. P'or his second wife 
Mr. Yeaton married Lula O. Hosmer, daugh- 
ter of Ira and Diana (Kinney) Hosmer, the 
former of whom was a jjrogressive farmer of 
Weld, this county. By this union there are 
two children, namely: Gertrude L. , who was 
born May i, 1S94; and Walter IF, who was 
born July 23, 1895. 

In politics Mr. Yeaton supports the Repub- 
lican party. He has never aspired to political 
prominence, as his business activity has 
always absorbed his entire time and attention. 
He is connected with the Knights of Pythias, 
and is liberal in his religious views ; and Mrs. 
Yeaton is a member of the Baptist church. 
The family occupy a lu-ominent social [losi- 
tion. 



RED O. WALKER, a prosperous hard- 
ware merchant of Rumford Falls, was 
born in West Peru, Oxford County, 
Me., June 6, 1863, son of W. S. and Hattie 



F. (Tucker) Walker. His parents are natives 
of Peru, and his father has been engaged in 
mercantile business in West Peru for over 
thirty years. The subject of this sketch 
began his education in the common schools, 
and was subsecpiently graduated from the 
Bridgton Academy. At tlie age of twenty-one 
he engaged in trade with his father, and after 
remaining in business for eight years he s(dd 
his interest to the elder Walker. lie then 
became agent for the Portland & Rumford 
l'"alls Railroad Com])any, which position he 
held for a year. Having in the mean time 
erected a fine three-story building in Rumford 
Falls, he in 1893 established himself in busi- 
ness here, being the sixth nierehant to embark 
in trade in this new and rising town. As he 
carries a firll line of hartlware, tinware, and 
kindred articles, he is doing a flourishing 
business. 

On June 6, 1S84, Mr. Walker was imited in 
marriage to Sadie Hall, of Peru; and they are 
the parents of one daughter, Lela C. Pcditi- 
cally, Mr. Walker is a firm supporter of the 
Republican party; and for several years he 
act(xl as Town 'Freasurer of Peru, lie is con- 
nected with Blazing Star Lodge, A. V. & 
A. M.; Metalluc Lodge, Knigh'ts of Pythias; 
and is a charter member of Penacook Lodge, 
No. 130, Independent OnJer of ( )(]d h'ellows, 
of which he was the first Noble (jrand. Ik- 
is also connected with the h'oresters. He 
stanils in the front rank of tlie enterprising- 
merchants of this tr)wn, and is highly re- 
spected by the entire eonuuunity. He is a 
member of the P'ree Baptist chiircli. 



fsTTAMES C. STEARNS, a member of one 
of the leading families of Oxford 
County, is prosperously eng.aged in 
farming and dairying in Lovell, his 
n;iti\e town. He was born .September 10, 
1S40, a son of Stephen and Mary (Russell) 
Stearns. His grandfather, David Stearns, 
who was originally from the vicinitv of Bos- 
ton, Mass., located in Lovell at an early date. 
Stephen Stearns, son of David, was a native 
and lifelong resident of Lovell. He was for 
some time in the limiber business, engaged in 
the manufacture of shook and staves, but sub- 



334 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



sequciitly gave his whole attention to the 
pursuit of agrieulture. His death occurred 
January 15, 1863. His first wife, Mary Rus- 
sell, was born in Boston, Mass., and reared in 
Lovell, her parents moving to this town when 
she was quite young, and settling on a farm, 
where they spent the remainder of their 
earthly lives. Mrs. Mary R. Stearns died 
July 31, 1849. She was the mother of nine 
children. Of these Sarah R., who was born 
December J9, 1834, is the wife of Josiah H. 
Stearns, a farmer and proprietor of a summer 
boarding-house; George R., who was born 
September 30, 1836, resides in Pennsylvania; 
James C. is the subject of this sketch; Theo- 
dore, who was born March 25, 1842, died 
February 5, 1843;- Caroline M., now deceased, 
born October 30, 1S43, was the wife of 
George W. Leighton, who is now living in 
Indiana; Henry W. , born January 4, 1S46, 
is engaged in farming in Iowa, and is married 
to an Iowa lady; Mary A., born November 20, 
1847, is the wife of VV. S. Gilman, of South 
Berwick, Me; Stephen, the youngest, who 
was born July 23, 1849, 'S married and lives 
in Colorado. Miss Mary Gordon, of Frye- 
burg, this county, who became the second wife 
of Stephen Stearns, was a daughter of Dr. 
Gordon, a popular physician of Frycburg. 
She is no longer living. 

James C. Stearns was the third child born 
to his parents. He received a common-school 
education in his native town, and remained a 
member of the paternal household until the 
year of his majority, leaving home then to 
join the troops gathering for the conflict in 
the South. On November 15, 1861, he en- 
listed in Company E, Twelfth Maine Regi- 
ment, under Colonel George Shepley and Cap- 
tain Enoch Knight, and was soon in active 
service. His company participated in the 
siege of Port Hudson and the engagement at 
Irish Bend, La., and were under Sheridan in 
the Shenandoah Valley, fighting at Fisher's 
Hill, Cedar Creek, and Winchester. Receiv- 
ing his discharge at Portland, Me., December 
7, 1864, Mr. Stearns remained in Lovell three 
months with a sister; and on March i, 1865, 
he enlisted again, joining Company B, FLighth 
Regiment of United States Veterans. He re- 
ceived his final discharge at Washington, 



D.C., March 13, 1866. Returning to Lovell 
he worked some time for wages, and then pur- 
chased a tract of wild land, which he sold 
after partly clearing it; and he next went into 
the meat business in Yarmouth. In this oc- 
cupation, however, he was not content; and 
six months later he returned to farm work in 
Lovell. He subsequently managed the town 
farm for three years; and at the end of that 
time, purchasing the old family estate, he set- 
tled permanently in the home of his boyhood. 
He has a well-improved farm of one hundred 
and twenty acres, and raises general crops 
and has a large dairy business. 

He was married November 28, 1 867, to 
Miss Sarah A. Hatch, a native of Eaton, 
N.H., who was born May 30, 1839, daughter 
of Israel and Rebecca (Lawrence) Hatch. 
Mr. Hatch, who is a New Hampshire man and 
has devoted most of his life to farming, is 
now living with his daughter and son-in-law in 
Lovell. Though ninety-two years of age and 
the oldest man in the town, he has never 
known a sick day, and is now bright and ac- 
tive, and does some work every day on the 
farm. His wife died July 23, 1874. Mr. 
and Mrs. Stearns have welcomed four children 
to their home, namely: Mildred D. , b<n-n June 
23, 1869; Mabel E.,'born February 14, 1872: 
Mary R., born April i, 1S73, all at home; 
antl George A., born September 19, 1877, who 
died November g, 1881. 

Mr. Stearns is actively interested in poli- 
tics, voting the Republican ticket, but is not 
an office-seeker. He is a member of Delta 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Lovell village; 
and of Parker Post, No. 151, Grand Army of 
the Republic, of Lovell Centre. He and his 
wife are members of the Congregational 
church at the Centre. 




DWARD K. HITCHCOCK, a promi- 
nent resident of Strong, I'lanklin 
County, who is engaged in the real 
estate business, was born August 28, 181 7, in 
Nobleboro, Lincoln County, son of Benjamin 
and Violet (Eastman) Hitchcock. Captain 
William Hitchcock, his grandfather, belonged 
to Bristol, Me., where he was engaged in 
ship-building with the rest of his family. In 



BIOGRAl'HICAL KF.Vl K\V 



3.35 



I "88 the captain came to Strong, anil settled 
near Sus|ien.sion Hridge, within the ])resent 
village limits, where he engaged in farming. 
He married lumice Day, ol J?ristol, and be- 
came the father of ten children; namely, 
lietsy, Jane, Henjamin, rnll)', Daniel, ]mios, 
lumice, Elias, James, and Martha. His wife 
died in 1830; while he lived until June, 1852. 

lienjamin Hitchcock, son of Captain Hitch- 
cock, was a native of Bristol. He accpiiretl 
his education in Strong, and worked until he 
attained his majority. He then returned to 
Noblehoro, now Damariscotta. I'jigaging in 
ship-building there, he remaineil until 1822, 
when he came to Strong. Here he bought a 
farm on which he resided for the rest of his 
life. He married Violet I^astman, a native of 
Mount Vernon, Me., and became the father of 
seven children — Eunice, I'xlward K., Alfred 
M., Violet K., Jane, Mary, and Anna. Eu- 
nice, born May 8, 181 5, married H. O. Read, 
of this village, and died in Bostfjn in Febru- 
ary, 1S86. Alfred M., born August 29, 1819, 
married successively Abbie Somerby, who 
died, and Delia Dudley, of Lowell, Mass., 
who now li\-es in Maine. He died November 
13, 1889. \'iolet E., boiii October 13, 1821, 
became Mrs. Lloyd Glover, and she and her 
husband both are deceased. She passed away 
in Philadelphia, January 6, 1859. Jane, 
born November 22, 1823, was united in mar- 
riage with William H. Waldron, of Lewiston, 
now deceased, and died May 11, 1886. Mary, 
born April 19, 1826, is the widow of Adam 
Hunter, who died in 1894. .She now lesides 
in this towai. Anna, born August 13, 1828, 
married Loren E. Tyler, who died May 8, 
1894. -She is a resident of Boston. The 
father, who was a proniinent man in this lo- 
cality, died October 8, 1865; while the 
mother, after living to the age of ninety years, 
died May 11, 1881. 

Edward K. Hitchcock had excellent educa- 
tional advantages, attending i'"armington Acad- 
emy and Kent's Hill Seminary after the ele- 
mentary course. At the age of nineteen, hav- 
ing completed his studies at Kent's Hill he 
returned home, and was for five years in the 
employ of the government. He then started 
a general merchandise store in this \illage, 
near the Corners, and conducted it for a num- 



ber of years. .Subsciiuentl}', he built a new 
store near his home, which he successfully 
managed until 1861. Then he sold out and 
engaged in farming, which he still follows. 
He owns at the present time si.x good farms. 
He also deals largely in real estate. In |u)li- 
tics he does not affiliate with any party, voting 
as he thinks best. He has served as County 
Commissioner for three years, and County 
Treasurer one )'ear. He has also been I'ost- 
master and Chairman of the J^oard of Select- 
men. The ALasonic fraternity, with which he 
is affiliated through Blue IMountain Lodge fif 
I'hillips, is the only secret (}rganization in 
which he has membershipi. 

On Eebruary 14, 1854, Mr. Hitchcock was 
united in marriage with Miss Clarinda M. 
Towle, who was born in Avon, Oitober 19, 
1834. Her parents were Daniid and b'.lecta M. 
(Higgins) Towle, respectively natives of Avon 
and Turner, Me. Her father was a farmer in 
the town of Avon until he died .August 3, 
1874. Her mother is still li\ing in Red 
Wing, Minn., being now eight\'-si.\ years of 
age. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock have one child 
— Dr. Alfred, who was born on August 5, 
1859. He was a medical piractitioner in 
Strong for five \-ears, but now practises in 
I'^armington, Me. He marrietl Miss Mabel ]■". 
IMake of that town. Personally, Mr. Hitch- 
cock is well-known and uni\-ersally liked. 
His perseverance and assiduity sint'c early life 
have won for him a well-merited degree of suc- 
cess and prominence. 




IMl'.O.X B. CURTIS, an influential 
citizen and prominent farmer of 
Woodstock. Oxford County, Me., 
was born September 17, 1832, (Hi 
the old family homestead in this town, where 
his father, Seth Curtis, second, son of Seth 
Curtis, first, was born in 1813. His grand- 
father was one of the ])ioneer settlers of this 
section of Maine. He owned a tract of land 
containing one hundred and fifty acres of wild 
forest growth, from which he felled the first 
tree, and, by his energetic continued efforts, 
converted a [Kirtion of the wooded wilderness 
into a well-cleared and jiroductive farm. 

Seth Curtis, the younger, acipured his edu- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



cation in the common schools of Woodstociv, 
which he attended in his boyhood; and he 
sjicnt his entire life on the old estate, with 
his own hands plonghing, [ilanting, and har- 
vesting. He married Matilda Lur\ey, a 
daughter of Job Lur\e\-, of Woodstock. Both 
he and his wife died in West Paris, he pass- 
ing away in 1S70, and Mrs. Curtis in 1879, 
ha\ing survived him nine years. They were 
the parents of four children, three of whom are 
stilt living, namely: Holland L. , who married 
Miss Eliza Walker, of Paris, and is now a 
resident of West Paris; Benjamin C, who 
married Miss Pollen Crawford, of Paris, and 
is now a witlower residing at Snow's P'alls, 
Paris; and .Simeon P., of Woodstock. 

The farm of Benjamin C. Curtis was greatly 
injured during the freshet of March 25, 1896, 
by a phenomenal agency acres of meadow land 
being swept down and deposited two or three 
hundred \ards from their original position. 
The earth lifted in this curious fashion covered 
the tracks of the Grand Trunk Railroad and 
all of the roads leading into Snow's P'alls to a 
de]5th of from four to five feet, and days of 
energetic labor were consumed in clearing the 
way for public travel. 

Simeon B. Curtis, whose birth occurred at 
the parental homestead, as has been men- 
tioned, sjient his early life on the old farm, 
attending the public schools of Woodstock. 
At twenty-one years of age he began to main- 
tain himself, securing w^ork on the neighboring 
farms. In the year of his marriage Mr. Curtis 
|)urchased the farm upon which he now resides, 
and which he has improved by new buildings 
and by the addition of forty acres of pa.sture 
land, which he has put umler cidtivation. His 
home is beautifully situated, and is one of the 
most attractive in the vicinitv of Bryant's 
Pond. 

Siniemi B. Curtis and Miss Betsy P'ickctt, a 
daughter of Simon P^ickett, of Woodstock, were 
united in marriage on the 17th f)f April, 1857. 
Though no child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Curtis, they have reared a ward, who has taken 
the place of a daughter of the house. Before 
her marriage she was Miss Lottie H. Lurvey. 
.She is now doubly allied to them, having 
become in 189;; the wife of their nephew, 
Solon C. Curtis, a son of Holland L. and 



Kliza Curtis. The yoimg couple have one 
child, a daughter bearing the name Ruth 
Marion. She was born December 7, 1894. 
They make their home with Mr. Curtis, whose 
family circle is happily contented and as yet 
unbroken. 

Simeon B. Curtis is a man of wide and 
varied interests, and has served the citizens 
of Woodstock in several capacities. PVom 
1883 to 1885 he was Selectman of the town, 
and for a number of years Highway Surveyor. 
He is a member of P'ranklin Grange, 124, of 
Bryant's Pond, Patrons of Husbandry, and be- 
longs to Lodge No. 15, Independent Order of 
Odd P^eliows, of West Paris, and to Rebekah 
Lodge of the same place. Mr. Curtis is a rep- 
resentative of the best type of Maine farmers 
— industrious, intelligent, and progressive — 
the sort of man who makes a trustworthy 
friend, a good neighbor, and a loyal citizen. 
In political belief he is a stanch Re])ublican, 
as was his father before him. His religious 
views arc broad and liberal, untrammelled by 
narrow dogma or formal creed. In re\iewing 
his life one feels that his success has been well 
deserved and that the popularity he enjoys is 
justly his. 




IXGMAN CHURCHILL, a substantial 
representative of the farming interests 
)f the tt)wn of Paris, O.vford County, 
Me., was born June 18, 1823, on the home- 
stead where he now resides. 

Mr. Churchill's father, Sprague Churchill, 
a lifelong resident of Paris, son of Joseph of 
this tow^n, formerly of Middleboro, Mass., re- 
deemed his farm from the wilderness, having 
bought the land while it was yet covered with 
timber. He worked with the ]iersistent 
energy of the pioneer in the establishment 
of a home for his family, in the course of time 
meeting with a due measure of success. Here 
he engaged in general husbandry until the 
time of his death, August 9, 1850. His wife, 
Harriet Holmes, who was a daughter of Cap- 
tain Lemuel Holmes, survived him some years, 
dying in January, 1857. Both were liberal in 
their religious belief, and in politics the 
father w^as an earnest advocate of the ])rinciples 
of the Democratic party. They became the 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



337 



parents of six children, of wimni five - Will- 
iam, Asaph, Polly, Clara, antl Mrs. Harriet 
Chase — have passed from earth. Kinsman 
being the only surviving member ol the 
family. 

Kingman Churchill grew to manhnod on the 
home farm, obtaining his early knowledge of 
books in the district school; and with the ex- 
cei)tion of the few seasons that he worked on 
neighboring farms has spent his years on the 
homestead. lie has two lunulretl acres of land, 
in the care of which he is assisted by his son. 
A man of strict moral i^rinciples and abstem- 
ious habits, having never used tobacco or stim- 
ulating drinks, Mr. Churchill occupies an 
assured position among the respected citizens 
of his native town, and is well known as one 
of its most enterjirising farmers. Politically, 
he is a faitliful adherent of the Republican 
])arty, and religiously he is of the liberal type 
of believers. 

On July 20, 1 85 1, Mr. Churchill married 
Miss Loretta Andrews, who was born in this 
town, May 2cj, 1S31, a daughter of Daviil An- 
drews. .Mr. and Mrs. Churchill have five 
children, the following being their record: 
Fannie is the wife of Calvin 15isbee, of ]5ethel 
Hill, Me. ; I-Imma married William W. Berry, 
of Paris; Abbie is the wife of David How, of 
Old Town; Charles Henry lives at home; and 
Nellie is the wife of William l^lood, of South 
I'aris. Charles Henry Churchill, born No- 
vember 5, 1 868, w^as educated in the ]niblic 
schools of his native town, and since attaining: 
man's estate has continued his residence on the 
homestead, rendering his father valuable 
assistance in the management of the farm. He 
has remained faithful to the piditical party and 
the religious belief in which he was reared by 
his good parents, and is numbered among the 
rising young men of the community. He is a 
Trustee of the District Librarw 



^KZr:R ]5. HARVP:Y, .second Select- 
^^ man of Strong, w-as born April i i, 




1837, in New Vineyard, Me., which 
locality is now included within the 
limits of the town of Industry. He is a son 
of Columbus and listher (Safford) Harvey. 
Mr. Harvey's father, a native of Leeds, Me., 



when a young man adopted the calling of 
farmer. He was ever on the alert for opjjor- 
tunities to advance himself. During his active 
period he cultivated farms at different times in 
Anson, Industry, New I'ortland, Strong, and 
X'ieniia, Me. JMnally he returned to New 
Portlaiul, where he resided until his death, 
which occurred in 1879. His wife, l^sthcr, 
wdio was a native of Greene, .Me., became the 
mother of nine children, as follows: Colum- 
bus, who is no longei" living: Ann, who is 
married and resides in .\'el)raska ; Pethiah, 
who died in December, 1842; Mar\- Jane, who 
is no longer living; Charles, who resides in 
Whitticr, Cal. ; Hezer P., the subject of this 
sketch; Harlow ]•'.., a horse dealer of New 
Portland; J<ihn, wIk) is now residing in I\lin 
nesota ; and. Pdleu, who lives in Whittier, Cal. 
The mother died in ,\ew \'inev:ird, (uly 2^, 

>873- 

Bezer B. Har\ey was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and resided at home until he 
was twenty years (jUI. He then went to I'ox- 
boro, Mass., where he was engaged in teaming, 
and remained there for two years. From l*"o.\- 
boro he went to Boston, where he entered the 
street-car service, in which he was engaged 
successively as drivei' and conductor for four 
years, and then icturncd to New Portland. 
After culti\-ating a farm in that town for two 
years he moved to .Strong, where he was occu- 
pied in the same way for the s:nne length of 
time. I'rom .Strong he removed to h'reeman, 
and was there engaged as a farmer and cattle 
dealer for the following ten years. He now 
relinquished agricultural ])ursuits, and, once 
more settling in Strong, has since resided in 
this village, chiefly occupied as a dealer in 
cattle, sheeji, and horses. He is widely 
known throughout this section as an excellent 
judge of horses and a reliable man. 

On January 7, 1862, in Boston, Mr. llarvc\- 
wedded Julia True, who was born in .New 
Portland, daughter of Zebulon and -Sophronia 
True, prosperous farming [jcople. Her father 
died March 12, 1870; and her mother, Octo- 
ber 15, 1865. Klla Ivsther, the only child of 
this union, married P'rederick N. J^cal, of 
Phillips, Me., and died at the age of thirty 
years, leaving two children. 'I'hese are : Her- 
mia, who was born in 1889; and VAlu listher, 



33S 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Ixini in iSij:;, whcise husband is now a railroad 
official in I'hillips, ]\Ie. In politics Mr. Har- 
vey is a Republican. lie has been a member 
ot'the Hoard of Selectmen in Strong for six- 
teen years, acting for ten years of the time a.s 
Chairman of that body. He has always 
abstained from the use of stimulants or 
tobacco, and is looiced upon as mie of Strong's 
most upright, conscientious, and useful men. 




INT WORTH V. LANDER, of the 
firm of Lander & Bisbee, hardware 
dealers of Kumford Falls, is one of 
the brisk and enterprising young business men 
(if this city. A son of Charles P. and Martha 
(Berry) Lander, both natives of Kingfield, 
I'ranklin County, Me., he was born in that 
town, June 9, 1867. His parents are still 
living in Kingfield, Charles P. Lander being 
a well-to-do farmer. 

Wintworth V. Lander was given the advan- 
tages of a common-school education. At the 
age of fifteen he began to learn the tinsmith's 
trade at Bingham, Me., and was employed in 
that town some six years. He then formed a 
partnership with Ab'ram Kimball, and was in 
the hardware lousiness in Jackman, Me., about 
two years, returning at the end of that time to 
Kingfield, where he was in business for a sim- 
ilar term of two years. In October, 1892, he 
formed a partnership with Charles P. Bryant, 
and npened a hardware store in Rumford Falls. 
This connection lasted about six months, Mr. 
Lander then purchasing his associate's interest. 
For something over two years he managed an 
independent business, building up a good 
trade. In April, 1895, Mr. Bisbee bought a 
half interest in his store. Their establish- 
ment is now one of the leading hardware stores 
in the county, comprising two large rooms and 
a basement, well stocked with a variety of re- 
liable goods. Mr. Lander was the first hard- 
ware merchant in the town, there being but 
three stmes in the place when he opened his 
establishment; and his remarkable success is 
undoubtedly due to his ability and "push." 
On June 16, 1889, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Abbie A. Hackett, of Freeman, 
P'ranklin County, Me., and one daughter has 
blessed their union, Nellie A. Politically, 



Mr. Lander favors the Democratic party. He 
is a member of Davis Lodge, No. 95, A. V. & 
A. M., of Strong, Me., and I-lureka Lodge, 
No. 48, Knights of Pythias, of Auburn, Me., 
and is very popular in social circles. On re- 
ligious subjects he holds libei'al views. 



M 



ANIFL VV. COLLINS, now living 
in retirement, and whose portrait is 
here presented, was formerly a car- 
[lenter and real estate dealer of 
He was born in Ikdfast, Me., July 
son of Barnabas A. and Nabby 
Mr. Coll ins' s grandparents. 



Temple. 

7. 1834. 
(Pratt) Collin.s. 
Daniel and Thankful (Ashley) Collins, who 
were both natives of Massachusetts, moved 
from that State to Maine, and were the second 
family to settle in the town of Industry. 
There Daniel Collins accpiired a tract of wild 
land, built a log house upon it, and began the 
work of clearing it for farming purposes. l-'or 
several years after, he went to market and car- 
ried his grist to the mill over a bridle-path 
through the wilderness. In time, however, 
roads were made, and his pioneer abode was 
replaced by substantial frame buildings. By 
patient industry he succeeded in extracting a 
comfortable living from his farm, upon which 
he resided until his death, which occurred 
when he was about eighty-eight years old. 
His wife died in middle age. Of his children, 
Barnabas A., Daniel and Thankful attained 
matni'ity. 

Barnabas A. Collins, Mr. Collins's father, 
worked at the carpenter's trade in his early 
manhood. After succeeding to the homestead 
he sold it, and later bought a farm in New 
Vineyard, Me., where he lived for a few years. 
F"rom New Vinyard he moved to Farming- 
ton, where he bought another farm. This he 
sold in 1852, and removed to Rangeley, this 
county, where he owned and cultivated a good 
farm until his death, which happened in 1879, 
at the age of eighty-two year.s. He was a 
member of the first Board' of Selectmen of 
Rangeley, and also served as a Justice of the 
Peace for several years. In politics he suc- 
cessively supported the Whigs and Republi- 
cans, and he was a member of the Methodist 
p:piscopal church. His wife, Nabby, who was 




DANIEL W. COLLINS. 



BIOGR.M'HICAI. RRVIFAV 



341 



a daughter of Jesse Pratt, became the nmtlier 
of ten children, namely: (ieorge II., Adeline, 
George, William W.,' Daniel W., James L., 
Henry C, Harrison, John M., and Helen M. 
She died in her seventy-seventh year. 

Daniel W. Collins attended the conimun 
schools and resided at home until he was 
twenty-two years old. For the next eleven 
years he was employed in the lumber camps, 
and then engaged in carpenter's work and 
farming. At first his farming was done on an 
estate ])urchased by him in Rangeley, and 
which he conducted for three years. In 18S1, 
after selling his property, he went to Cr\'stal, 
Pembina County, X. Dak., where he bought 
one hundred and sixty acres of land. Erecting 
suitable buildings upon this place, he let it for 
rent, and worked at his trade until 1889. 
Then failing health cau.sed him to visit Maine, 
where he rapidly recovered. Returning again 
to Dakota he was once more engaged in busi- 
ness, when his health again began to fail. In 
consequence of this he sold his property in 
1895, and returned to his native State with 
the intention of residing here permanently. 
While casting about for a suitable residence 
he came to Temple, and, being favorably im- 
pressed with the Olin Stephen jilace, bought 
it and has since resided here with much advan- 
tage to his health. The property consists of 
a pleasantly located dwelling and twenty acres 
of land. A large part of the latter is covered 
with fruit trees, the rest being devoted to 
farming. 

On January 15, 1864, Mr. Collins wedded 
Rhoda Frazier, daughter of Joseph and Rhoda 
(Hutterfield) Frazier, of Wilton, Me. Mrs. 
Collins's grandparents, Thomas and Abigail 
(Knight) Frazier, resided in Peru, Oxford 
County, where they were prosperous farming 
|jeople. Thomas Frazier li\-ed to be about 
eighty years old, having survived his wife. 
Joseph Frazier's father, who was born in 
Peru, first settled in Wilton. Subsequently, 
selling his property there he moved to Strong, 
and afterward to Rangeley, where he resided 
for the rest of his life. He died at the age of 
eighty, and his wife lived to be seventy-eight 
years. Their children were: Abigail, Lucy 
B. , Hannah, Gustavus and Augustus (twins), 
Rhoda, Thomas, Joseph, and Olive. Mr. and 



Mrs. Collins ha\'ing had no offspring, ha\e 
rendered much kintlly assistance to the chil- 
dren of others, who were in need of aid. In 
politics Mr. Collins supjiorts the Democratic 
party, and in his religious views he is liberal. 




I'lllI.Il' 11. .STlTiHS, Attor- 
cy-at-law, Justice of the Peace and 
Notar\- Public, also Treasurer of the 
I'ranklin ils: Megantic Railroad, and 
an ex-Senator, was born April 7, 1838, in the 
village of .Strong, P'ranklin County, Maine, 
where he now resides. His parents were 
Judge Philip M. and Julia (I'.astman) Stuhbs. 
The father was a native of I'"ayette, Me., 
and came to this county in 1830, settling in 
this village; where he practised law the rest of 
his life. He was Judge of Probate, one of the 
builders of the Leeds & Farmington Railroad, 
and was also connected with the Androscoggin 
Railroad ("omi)any. While living in Strong 
he also dealt in real estate. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Julia Eastman, was a daugh- 
ter of the Hon. Samuel P'astman and a native 
of this village. She was the mother of four 
children — lunma J., Philip II., George E.. 
and John V. I'.mma J. died in i860, at the 
age of twent\-four. Philip H. is the subject 
of this biography. Dr. George K. Stubbs, the 
third child, married Miss Annie Bell, of Blair 
County, Pennsylvania, and they now reside in 
Philadelphia, where he is a successful medical 
practitioner. John F. , the youngest born, 
died at the age of three years. Judge Stubbs 
died August 26, 1876, and his wife November 
3, 1887.' 

Philip H. .Stubbs, having attended the com- 
mon schools and P'armington Academy in his 
bo)-hood and youth, entered Bowdoin College, 
and was graduated in the class of i860. He 
began the study of law in his father's office in 
Strong, was graduated at the Harvard Law 
School in 1863, and was admitted to the bar 
in the same year. He then commenced prac- 
tice in this village, where he has since re- 
mained. In politics he is actively interested, 
affiliating with the Republican party. He has 
served two terms as County Attorney, from 
1870-76, and also two terms as State Senator, 
1883-86. Since 1S84 he has held the office 



342 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



of Treasurer of the Franklin & Megantic Rail- 
road, which runs between Strong and King- 
field, Me. ; and he is also one of the Directors. 
Mr. Stubbs was formerly a Director of the 
Sandy River Railroad, which was built in 
1878. Besides having a large law jiracticc, 
he deals in real estate. Fraternally, he is a 
member and Master Mason of Blue Mountain 
Lodge, A. I'". & A. M., of Phillips, Me. 

On June 2, 1868, Mr. Stubbs was united in 
marriage with Miss Julia Augusta Gofif, of 
Auburn, Me. She was born March 10, 1844, 
a daughter of Dana and Abby S. (Baker) Goff. 
Her father has been a railroad man most of his 
life, but is now retired, residing in Auburn. 
Her mother died January 6, 1S46. Mr. and 
I\Irs. Stubbs have five children — Emma A., 
Annie li, Philip D., Richard H., and Robert 
G. Philip D. Stubbs, a graduate of Bowdoin 
College, is now studying law with his father. 
Richard H. will graduate from Bowdoin Col- 
lege in the class of 1898. Mr. Stubbs and 
family attend the Congregational church in 
Strong. Mr. Stubbs is a man of prominence 
in social, political, and business circles. 




RANK R. GLOVER, an enterprising 
M merchant of Hebron, Me., proprietor of 
the Ik'Ilville Hotel and Postmaster, was 
born in this town, October 15, 1852, son of 
Robert and jMiranda (Marshall) Glover. 

Robert Glover was born in Hebron, Septem- 
ber 2, 1 8 17. When a young man he estab- 
lished himself in trade here, subsequently be- 
coming a successful merchant. He died in 
.April, 1S69. His wife, Miranda, was a native 
of Paris, Me., born January 18, 18 18. She 
became the mother of nine children, seven of 
whom are living. She now resides in Hebron. 
Frank R. Glover attended the common 
schools and was graduated from the Hebron 
Academy with the class of 1872. He then 
went to I'ramingham, Mass., where he was 
employed as a clerk in a grocer}', fioiu", and 
grain business for twelve years. Returning to 
Hebron he bought out the business formerly 
carried on by E. S. Dunham, and has since 
conducted a large and flourishing country store, 
which is well stocked with a varied assortment 
of general merchandise. He possesses both 



the personal temperament and the reipiisite 
amount of business ability to succeed in mer- 
cantile pursuits; and he is very popukir with 
his patrons, which term includes the greater 
portion of the general jiublic here, his trade 
being constantly on the increase. In i 890 he 
erected and opened the lielleville Hotel, which 
is finely furnished and equipped with all mod- 
ern improvements and has thirty pleasant and 
well ventilated rooms. 

On October 15, 1877, Mr. Glover married 
F.llen V. French, a native of Framingham, 
Mass., and daughter of Captain Leonard 
French, of Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Glover have 
two sons: Robert Leonard, born August g, 
1879; '>"'! ^Valter Lewis, born July 4, iS8i, 
both ot whom are now attending the Hebron 
Acadeni}'. Mr. Glover is a Republican in 
politics, and has been Postmaster since 1888. 
He is a member of South Paris Lodge, No. 
94, A. F. & A. M., and both he and Mrs. 
Glover attend the Baiitist church. 




HARLES C. .\Ni) SAMUEL S. 
ROWfc;, two of the most prominent 
and successful farmers of Oxford, 
Me., sons of Nathaniel E. and 
Esther Lane (Chipman) Rowe, are natives of 
this town. Charles C. Rowe was born on the 
17th of July, 1856; and his brother, Samuel 
S. Rowe, was born on the 3d of September, 

1859- 

Nathaniel Rowe was a native of New 
Gloucester, Me., where he was born on tlie 
19th of January, 1818. He was a farmer, and 
he also carried on shoemaking to some e.Ntent. 
Early in life he removed to O.xford, and spent 
the rest of his days here, dying at the age of 
fifty-six years. His wife, who was formerly 
Esther Lane Chipman, still lives in her native 
town of Oxford, where her sons are situated. 
She is a member of the Congregational church, 
to which her husband also belonged. In poli- 
tics he was a stanch Rei)ublican. They were 
the parents of three children, who are all alive 
to-day; namely, Charles C, Samuel S., and 
Allura P. Rowe. 

Charles C. Rowe was brought up and edu- 
cated in Oxford. He is a practical farmer, 
and devotes himself entirelv to agriculture. 



BIOGRAl'MKAL REVIKW 



343 



He manicd first r^niiia K. I'aiiic, and luul 
three children — I^enjamin V.., Annie L., and 
Charles \V. Mrs. Emma Paine Rowe died on 
Julv i6, I Syo ; and he married for his seccind 
wife, Mrs. I'^mily A. Cooper, widmv of Albert 
M. Coo])er, of Paris, Me. ]^y this union he 
has one son, Klmer A. Mrs. Rowe has also 
one chilli by her first marriage, a daughter, 
Kva M. Cooper. 

.Samuel S. Rowe, like his brother, received 
his early education in the public schools of the 
town. He then turned his attention to farm- 
ing, and has continued thus engaged ever since. 
He married Rose A. Paine, antl is the father 
of four children — Alice K., l{va L. , Walter 
.S. , and Willie E. He is liberal in his relig- 
ious views, and in politics is a Democrat. 

The Rowe brothers are connected in the 
business of farming, applying successfully the 
economic principle of co-operation. They 
own their land together, in all about four hun- 
dred acres, of which two hundred and si.xty 
acres compose a fine farm right in the town of 
O.xford, the rest of the land l)'ing outside. 
Here they carry on one of the first and largest 
dairy businesses of the town of (").\ford, keep- 
ing a herd of fine cattle. The Rowe brothers 
are very energetic and hard-working men, and 
certainly deserve all the success they have 
acquired. 

^iCjLIAS W. GOULD, of Jay, is numbered 
Pi among the patriotic sons oi Maine who 
-■ -^ honored their State by their gallant 
defence of the Union during the Rebellion. 
He was born in Greene, Me., February 26, 
1S37, son of William and Petsey (Whitney) 
Gould. 

William (lould, first, Mr. Gould's grand- 
father, who was born in Tyngsboro, Mass., in 
1762, settled upon a farm in the southern part 
of Farmington, Me., in 1782. He served in 
the War of 181 2, and was commissioned Brig- 
adier-general of the First Brigade, Eighth 
Division of State militia of Massachusetts on 
February 7, 1814. He took an active interest 
in town and county affairs, and was elected by 
his townsmen to various places of trust. He 
was the first Representative from F"armington 
who refused to send out a barrel of rum to 



treat the \'oters on the da_\' of his election, but 
dejjosited the ])rice of the rum with the Town 
Clerk to be used for i)reaching or schooling as 
the town should choose. He was in the legis- 
lature in 1823. The maiden name of his wife 
was Elizabeth Coburn. .She was born in 1766, 
in Dracut, Mass. 

Their son, William, Mr. Illias W. (Jould's 
father, was born in l-'ai'mington, January 3, 
1796. He was a soldier in the War of 1S12, 
and his widow many years after received a [len- 
sion. Like his father he was a strong tem- 
perance man. He was engaged in agricultiu'al 
pursuits in his native town until 1836, when 
he went to (jreene. Me., and five years later 
he came to Jay. P'rom this town he removcil 
to Carthage; and he afterward tilled the soil 
in Jay and-Wilton, where he died September 
13, 1876. His wife, Betsey Whitney, who 
was born in I'"reeport, .Sejiteniber ig, 1796, 
was a daughter of Timothy and Martha (Wells) 
Whitney. Her parents were originally resi- 
dents of New (jloucester, Me., but removed 
from that town to Chesterville, where their 
last years were spent upon a farm. William 
and Betsey (Whitney) Gould IkuI twelve chil- 
dren, as follows: P^theline, witlow of P^rancis 
Campbell, late of Utica, Minn. ; Melinda, who 
died December 25, 1827, aged si.\ years; Se- 
bastian, who married Mary Plilton, and is now 
a farmer of Turner, Me. ; Betsey, who died at 
the age of nineteen years; Martha A., who 
married Warren Leland, of Jay, and died in 
1894; Olive, who was born December 27, 
1827, and resides with her brother, P^lias W. ; 
Mary Jane, who married for her first husband 
Henry Clarke, and for her second Clark Hall, 
and neither is living; William A., who died 
at the age of three years; William, third, who 
served in the Twenty-eighth Regiment, Maine 
Volunteer Infantry, was mustered out of his 
company, but died six weeks after from dis- 
ease contracted in the serx'ice, and is sur- 
vived by his widow, formerly Martha A. Bean, 
now residing in Embden, Me. ; Sarah, widow 
of Dr. J. R. I'"aton, late of Wilton; Elias W. 
the subject of this sketch; and John H., who 
died at the age of nineteen years. Mrs. Ik't- 
sey W. Gould died March 12, 18S4. 

Elias W. Gould obtained a common-school 
education in his boyhood and youth, and when 



344 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



eighteen years old he began life for himself as 
a farm laborer. Two years later he went to 
Ishuul l-'alls, Me., where he settled on wild 
land and commenced clearing and building. 
He lived there three years. When the Rebell- 
ion began he let his place to enter the army; 
but not having an opportunity to go from there 
he came to Jay; and on September 7, 1S61, he 
enlisted as a private in Company A, Mighth 
Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry. He 
participated in several decisive battles, and at 
the expiration of his first term of service he 
re-enlisted in the same company. On May 
23, 1864, he was wounded in the thigh by an 
accidental discharge of a gun, and in conse- 
quence was confined in the hospital four 
months, after which he returned to his regi- 
ment. He continued in active service until 
the close of the war, and was discharged and 
mustered out at Augusta, January 26, 1866. 
He subsequently bought his present farm in 
Jay, and has since been engaged in general 
farming, making a specialty of fruit culture, 
and also raising some excellent stock. 

Mr. Gould is unmarried, and his household 
is presided over by his sister. Miss Olive 
Gould. In |)olitics he is a stanch supporter of 
the Republican party; and he is a comrade of 
Post E. W. Woodman, No. 18, Grand Army 
of the Republic, of East Wilton. 




.\N.SOM COLK is prominently identi- 
tied with the agricultural and intlus- 
tiial interests of O.xford County, 
having a large farm and a saw-mill 
in Greenwood, where he is carrying on an 
extensive business. He was born in this tinvn, 
January 12, 1S42, a son of Klbridge and Ara- 
belle (Cole) Cole. His paternal grandfather, 
Calvin Cole, a native of Maioe, was the first 
member of the family to locate in this part of 
the county. He bought a tract of wild land 
near the present home of his grandson Ran- 
som, and was thereafter engaged in tilling 
the soil. 

Elbridgc Cole was a lifelong resident of 
Greenwood, the date of his birth being Janu- 
ary II, 1813, and his death occurring in Au- 
gust, 1869. He continued engaged in the 
hereditary occu]iation to which he was reared, 



laboring on the land with unwearied intlustry 
throughout his years of activity. He married 
Miss Arabelle Cole, a native <if Worcester, 
Mass., where she was born in 18 14. She out- 
lived him a few months, dying in April, 1870. 
They had eleven children, as follows: Kings 
bury, deceased; Mary, born June 9, 1836, who 
is the wife of Adoniram C. Swan of this town ; 
lunma, born July 20, 1834, who married 
Charles Judkins, of Greenwood, Me. ; Calvin, 
who was born October 20, 1840, married 
Ophelia Cornel, and is a resident of this town- 
ship; Ransom, the direct subject of this 
sketch; Sarah, born July 22, 1846, who fiist 
married Joseph Stearns, and after his death 
became the wife of Ephraim Fennel, of West- 
brook, Me. ; Esther, born May 22, 1847, who 
is the wife of David Morgan, of Greenwootl ; 
Sylvester, also residing in his iiati\e town, 
who married Jennie Tucker; Lorenzo, de- 
ceased, who was born in 1851, and married 
Jennie Swan, who is now living at Manches- 
ter, N. H. ; Lucinda, deceased; and W'esley, 
born in 1855, who married Betsey Cummings 
and lives in Greenwood. 

Ransom Cole acquired his education in the 
common schools of his native town, and on the 
home farm became thoroughly initiated into 
the mysteries of agriculture, his early experi- 
ences in this industry being of practical bene- 
fit to him in after years. At the age of twenty 
years he began work on his own account in the 
adjacent town of Woodstock, where he was en- 
gaged in farm labor for two and one-half years. 
Returning to Greenwood Mr. Cole bought a 
farm near his present home, where he engaged 
in his chosen occupation for seventeen years. 
He subsequently bought the large farm of nine 
hundred acres on which he has since been 
prosperously engaged in dairying, stock-rais- 
ing, sheep-raising, and other branches of agri- 
culture, etc. He also owns a large saw-mill, 
and manufactures lumber of all kinds, doing a 
very large and profitable business, in which he 
is ably assisted by his sons. 

Mr. Cole was married in 1863 to Miss Al- 
\'ira J. Cole, who was born in Greenwood, May 
12, 1836, a daughter of the late Daniel ami 
Diana Cole, her father having been a lifelong 
farmer of this place. Mr. and Mis. Cole are 
the parents of seven children, namely: Mary, 



BIOGRAPHICAI, RF,VIE\V 



345 



the wife of l'"iank licnnctt, of l^ciston, Mass. ; 
Alma K. ; Alfonso; Daniel, also livin,L( at 
home, who married liertha A. Swan ; Stanton ; 
Nellie ; and I.ueretia. 

Mr. Cnle is a liberal-minded, public- 
spirited citizen, ever ready to forward the 
interests of his native toivn and county; and 
has held varions town offices, ha\ing lieen 
liquor ai;ent, and, since 1.S92, a member of the 
]?oard of Selectmen. He is independent in 
politics, voting for the candidates he deems 
most worthy and capable. He belongs to 
various social organizations of Bryant I'ond, 
being a member of Jefferson Lodge, No. 100, 
A. l'. & A. M. ; of Golden Cross Lodge; and 
of the Grange. 




ARRLSON G. O. PERKINS, an en- 
terprising general farmer of O.xford, 

lc5 I and a veteran of the Civil War, was 

born in this town, Ajjril 26, 1838, 
son of Harrison G. and Hannah (Megquier) 
Perkins. His grandfather, Oliver Perkins, 
settled in this part of Maine when it was a 
wilderness, anil, becoming the owner of a large 
tract of land, was one of the prosperous 
farmers of those early days. After a long life 
of industry and toil, diu'ing which he wit- 
nessed and aided in the development of O.xford 
County, Oliver died in Poland, Androscoggin 
County, at the age of eighty-nine years. He 
reared a family of nine children, si.\ sons and 
three daughters, of whom Harrison G., Mr. 
Perkins's father, was the second in the ortler 
of birth. 

Harrison G. Perkins, who was a native of 
O.xford, born in 1809, succeeding to his father's 
farm, made many improvements in the prop- 
erty, and prospered with the progress of the 
town. He was chiefly occupied in farming 
during his [leriod of activity, and he died July 
10, 1 888. He was a member of the Methodist 
Lpiscopal church. Originally a Whig in poli- 
tics, he later joined the Republican party. 
His wife, Hannah, a native of Poland, had five 
children, as follows: Sarah Jane and Julia li. , 
who have de|iaited this life; Augustus M., 
who li\x's in Cambridgeport, Mass. ; Charles 
I'., wh(j occu|iies the old homestead; and 
Harrison G. O. , the subject of this sketch. 



who is the \oLmgest. The motliei' is still 
living, antl resiiles at the homestead. 

Harrison (i. O. Perkins was educated in the 
schools of his native town. P'rom earl_\' man- 
hood, farming has been his chief occupation. 
On April 26, 1861, he enlisted as a [irivate in 
ConiiKui)' K, J'"ifth Regiment, Maine Volun- 
teers, and served in the Civil War until its 
close. He was jiresent at the first battle of 
Pull Run, ami shared in the actions of the 
Peninsula campaign, including the battles of 
P'rcderieksburg, Antietam, .South Mountain, 
and Gettysburg. In the .Shenandoah X'allcv 
untler General .Sheridan he took part with his 
regiment in the battles of Winchester, Cedar 
Creek, and P'ishei- Hill, and was wounded in 
front of Petersburg in March, 1865. In Jul\-, 
1865, he was honorably discharged and duly 
mustered out of service. Upon his return 
home he resumed farming, in which he has 
since continued with ini:reasing prosjierit)'. 
At the present time he owns two hundred and 
fifty acres of fertile land. He is one of the 
most able and industrious general fairners in 
Oxford. 

In 1868 Mr. Perkins wedded (jcorgia A. 
Keene, a native of Poland. .She died in 18S3, 
leaving six children ; namely, Lena G., Annie 
P;., Wilfred, Edith L., Mearl M., and Ida I'. 
Ida V. died in April, 1893. In ])olitics Mr. 
Perkins su[)ports the Republican ])art\'. His 
religious [jrinciples are broadly liberal. He 
is connected with the Patrons of llusbandr)- in 
West Pojantl, and is a comiade of 'P. A. Rob- 
erts Post, No. 49, Grand Army of the Rei>ub- 
lic of Oxford. 



/3)e(^)RGE W. MILLS, a veteran of the 
y '•) I Ci\'il War, wbo owns one of the best 
^ — farms in the town of .Salem, was 
born in Kingfield, Me., January 23, 1830, son 
of Moses and P:iizabeth (Norton) Mills. 'I'he 
family is of ICnglish origin. Mr. Mills's 
grandfather, although but sixteen years old, 
joined the [jatriots of the Revolution, and 
served through the War for Indeiiendence. 
After working for a long time at his trade of 
weaver in Peru, Oxford County, he spent his 
last days in Pennsylvania. His grandson, 
George W. , once visited the house in which he 



34^' 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



lived, and saw his uld loom standing as he had 
left it. He reared a family of seven children, 
no one of whom is living. 

Moses Mills was born in Li verm ore, Me., 
in the year iS'oo. He became prominent' in 
local affairs, served as Town Treasurer and in 
other offices, and died in 1S77. He was a 
member of the Baptist church, and in politics 
he su]iported the Republican party. His wife, 
Elizabeth, a native of Martha's Vineyard, was 
a descendant of Tristram Norton, the founder 
of the family in America, who settled in Mar- 
tha's Vineyard in early days, and erected sev- 
eral houses, which are still standing there. 
She bore her husband three children, two of 
whom are li\ing, namely: George \V., the 
subject of this sketch; and Sarah N. . who is 
now Mrs. Wentworth, of Sanford Me., 

George W. Mills was educated in the schools 
of Kingfield and New Portland, Me. After 
finishing his studies he settled upon his pres- 
ent farm in Salem ; and there since he has 
tilled the soil with success. In 1861 he en- 
listed as a private in Company G, Twelfth 
Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, first 
under Colonel Shepleigh and later under 
Colonel Kimball and Captain Robson of Port- 
land. He served in the late war on the lower 
Mississippi under General Butler, participat- 
ing in the capture of New Orleans; was on 
duty in that city, in Carollton, and in Baton 
Rouge, and was wounded at New Orleans in 
September, 1862. After being confined in the 
hospital for a time he was discharged. He 
owns about three hundred acres of land, of 
which one hundred and twenty-five lie within 
the limits of the village, and one-third is 
under cultivation. In July, 1877, he had the 
misfortune of losing his buildings by fire; but 
he rebuilt, and now has one of the finest resi- 
dences in .Salem. He raises some fine stock 
for dair\' purposes, and as a general farmer he 
takes rank with the leading agriculturists of 
this section. 

In 1S55, November 17, Mr. Mills wedded 
Mariah Heath, of Salem, who made him the 
father of five children, four of whom are 
living. These are: Fred G., Ardell, Lizzie 
A., and Clara B. Fred G., resides in Worces- 
ter, Mass. ; Lizzie A. is the wife of M. Waltz 
of W'orcester ; and Clara B. resides at home. 



Mr. Mills is a member of the Free Will Bap- 
tist church, and shares in the work of the Good 
Templars. In politics he is a Republican. 
He was Postmaster in .Salem from 1866 to 
1888; and he filled the office of Town Treas- 
urer for two terms. 




ARLAND SAMUEL FLINT, an 
energetic and enterprising agricult- 
urist of Norway, Oxford County, 
was born here, November 14, 1844. 
His paternal grandfather, I-'lijah Flint, was 
one of the earlier settlers of this part of the 
county, coming here from Manchester, Mass., 
where he was born and reared. The grand- 
father bought a tract of land in its primeval 
wildness, and from it cleared the homestead 
now owned and occupied by his grandson, 
Harland S. To him and his wife, whose 
maiden name was Dolly Pingree, four children 
were born; namely, Elijah, Dolly, Ruth, and 
Samuel, all now deceased. 

Samuel P'lint, the father of Harland S. , 
when old enough, assisted in clearing the land 
on which his parents had settled, and at their 
death succeeded to the propertv. Here he 
carried on general farming during his life, antl 
died there in August, 1878. He was twice 
married. His first wife, Hannah (Frost) 
Flint, was born in Norway, and died on the 
Flint homestead in 1865. She bore her hus- 
band nine children, as follows: Susan Ellen, 
deceased; David, deceased, who married l{lla 
Shaw; Mary Ann, deceased; Adelia Louesa, 
deceased, who married Matthew Collins; Han- 
nah, the wife of V. F. Stearns, of Milan, 
N. H.; Hattie, the wife of Appleton Blake, 
also residing in Milan; Gustavus, deceased; 
Harland S. , the subject of this sketch; and 
Joshua Frost, a resident of Andover, Mass. 
After the death of his first wife the father mar- 
ried Emily Nichols, of Saco, Me., who died 
in August, 1893. 

Harland Samuel Flint remained with his 
parents until he attained his majority, attend- 
ing the district schools and rendering such 
assistance as he was able on the farm. The 
following two years he spent away from home, 
employed in a soap factor}- at Lawrence, 
Mass., during the first year, and working in 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



347 



Albany, Mo., the fullciwing year. He then 
returned to the olil homestead, where he ha.s 
since been industriously and ijros|ierously 
ciigat^ed in agriculture. After his maniage 
he purchased the entire property of one hun- 
dred and twelve acres. He carries on general 
fanning, dairying, and stock-raising, meeting 
with remarkable success. He has made sub- 
stantial improvements on the place, which, as 
the result of his management, comjjares favor- 
ably with any of the homestead farms of this 
locality. Mr. Flint has been actively inter- 
ested in many enterjirises conducive to the 
welfare of the town. ]?esides serving as 
Selectman in 1S91 and 1892, he has at differ- 
ent times filled vaiious minor offices most 
acceptably. His }xilitical jirinciples aie those 
of a sound Republican. 

On July 2^, 1S71, Mr. Flint married Mary 
I'llla Pingree, who was born July 2, 1854, in 
Norway, which was also the birthplace of her 
parents, William S. and Laurana (Poole) Pin- 
gree. Mr. Pingree worked at brick-making 
in Massachusetts for several years, but was 
afterward engaged in shipbuilding, mason 
work, and carpentry. He is now living in 
Norway, having retired to some extent from 
active pursuits. Mrs. Pingree died October 
28, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. P'lint have seven 
children, namely: Hannah Belle, who died at 
the age of two years; Delia May, who is the 
wife of Johnson Haskell, of l-:ast Waterford, 
this county; Leslie Harland ; Asa Poole; Guy 
Irving; Katherina Laurana; and Elyn Lois. 

Mrs. P'lint is a member of the First Congre- 
srational church at Norway Centre. 




JAM GREEN, a well-to-do farmer 
id a highly respected citizen of 
Waterford, was born here, December 
24, 1820, son of J(.)seph and Catherine (Will- 
iard) Green. His grandfather, Thomas Green, 
who was born in Boston, Mass., served in the 
French War, and was a Lieutenant in the Rev- 
olutionary War. At the close of the latter 
conflict Thomas removed to Rowley, Iisse.x 
County, ALtss. , where he lived until 1789. 
Coming then to Waterford, he settled on a 
farm near that now owned and occupied by his 
grandson. He cleared the land and lived here 



until his death, which occurred about the year 
1825. His son Joseph, whose birtli occurred 
in Rowle\', Mass., carried on farm ing success- 
fully until his death in 1828, when he was 
killed by the fall ol a tree upon him. His 
wife, Catherine, who was a nati\e of Harvard, 
Mass., died about the \ear 1860. Tliey were 
the parents of ten children, namely: Samuel 
Warren and .Soj)hia, both deceased; Sarah, 
living in Waterford; Dolla, who died when 
four years of age; William, the subject nf this 
sketch; Cyrus, residing in Manchester, 111.; 
Joseph, a resident of ]?edford, Mass. ; Daniel, 
also deceased; and two who died in infancy. 

At the early age of seven years William 
Green went to li\e with a neighboring farmer. 
Thereafter he worked out on farms until thirty- 
one years old, receiving in the mean time a 
pi'actical common-school education. After his 
marriage he located near his present home, 
living there from 1852 to 1888. He then 
came to what is known as the Hale homestead, 
on which he now lives. It contains about one 
hundred antl twent\--fi\-e acres of fertile land. 
He also owns one hundred acres in the old 
homestead, besides other land in the count}'. 
He carries on general farming, conducts a 
small dairy business, and raises some stock. 
Mr. Green is known throughout Oxforil 
County as an unostentatious man, attentive to 
his home duties, and a successful man of 
affairs. Like his father, who was alleged to 
have been the strongest man in the township, 
he had tpiite a reputation for [ihysical strength, 
having made a record at weight lifting. 

On June 22, 1852, Mr. (ireen was married 
to Miss Mary Carter, who was born in Bridg- 
ton. Me., May 10, 1825, daughter of Henry 
and Hannah (Cochran) Carter, both natives of 
Massachusetts. Mr. Carter and his wife lived 
for many years in Bridgton, where he was 
profitably engaged in farming until his death 
in 1875. Mrs. Carter died October 22, 1884. 
Besides Mary, they had sixteen other children, 
as follows: Henry, Jr., born January 25, 1823, 
now deceased; Samuel, born February 12, 
1824, also deceased; James, born December 
20, 1826; Charles, iDorn March 20, 1828, 
deceased; John, born Sei^tember 20, 1S29; 
Abigail, born April 20, 1831; Emily, bt)rn 
September 13, 1832; Nanc\', born Ma)' 21, 



34^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



1834; Margaret, born October 27, 1836; 
Henry W., born January 9, 1838, deceased; 
\Vesle_\-, born July 7, 1839; Austin I*". , born 
February 23, 1841; Edwin, born August 15, 
1842, deceased; I\lizabeth M., born March 30, 
1844; William S. , bmn Januar\- 24, 1846; 
and Horatio L., born June 30. 1847. Mr. 
and Mrs. Green have four children, namely: 
Sarah, born March 15, 1S53, who, with her 
husband, Ci. I. Hamlin, is residing with her 
father on the okl homestead; Mary I., born 
January 6, 1855, who died in 1892; Henry 
W. , born .September 15, 1S58, who married 
Ella Whitcomb, and resides on a farm near by; 
and Charles E., born January 15, 1862, who 
married Hattie ^lerrill, and is a blacksmith at 
North Bridgton, Me. 

Mr. Green has always been a supporter anti 
a strong advocate of the principles of the Dem- 
ocratic party. Although not a seeker for 
ofificial honors, he has served in several of the 
minor offices of the town. He is one of the 
charter members of the Waterford Grange 
Societ}'. He was drafted for service in the 
expected war with Great Britain over the 
north-east boundary in 1839, being out four 
weeks; and also during tiic Ci\'il War in 1864. 




L\'IN E. HARDY, a .skilful farmer of 
West Earmington, I-'ranklin County, is 
one of the few Northern soldiers who 
survived the horrors of Eibby Prison. 
He was born in Wilton, Me., July 6, 1839, 
the son of Simeon and Damaris (Howe) 
Hartly. His grandparents were William and 
Cynthia (Flanders) Hardy. William Hardy, 
a native of Dublin, N. H., was one of the most 
successful farmers in the town of Wilton, and 
died there at the age of si.\ty-four. His wife 
attained the advanced age of eight)'-eight. 
This couple reared five children — John, Sim- 
eon, Lucinda, Sarah, and David. 

Simeon Hardy was born in Wilton, and 
there spent his life. He w-as one of the most 
progressive farmers of his day, and was a 
shrewd and successful dealer in real estate. 
Starting in life with a small farm he gradually 
added to his property until he owned two hun- 
dred and forty acres of good land-. In the 
course of his life he bought and sold several 



farms, being always ready for a bargain, and 
seldom making a mistake. He died at the age 
of si.\ty-two. In politics he was a Republican, 
in religious belief a Baptist. His wife lived 
to be seventy-si.x years of age. Their children 
were: Martha L. , Adeliza, Alvin F., Cynthia, 
John (). , William, and Charles K. 

Alvin F. Hard)- received his education in 
the public schools of Wilton. He assisted his 
father about the farm until 1S61, when, with 
the purpose of fighting for the Union, he en- 
listed in Company A, Eighth Maine Regiment, 
and started for the seat of war. At the battle 
of Petersburg, April 2, 1864, he was struck in 
the leg by a niinie ball, making a wound that 
made it necessary to amputate the limb above 
the knee. On IVIav 16, following, he was taken 
by the Confederates and cast into Libby 
Prison, where he was obliged to care for his 
wounded limb himself. His sufferings dur- 
ing the three months of his incarceration are 
indescribable. Out of the eighty-four men 
among whom he was captured, but one other 
lived to see home again. Mr. Hardy was 
finally released on parole, and at the close of 
the war returned home. As soon as he was 
able to work a little he learned the shoe- 
maker's trade, which he followed for five 
years. Poinding the work unsuitable, he then 
turned his attention to agriculture. In this 
occupation, though laboring under great physi- 
cal disadvantages, he has been very successful. 
He first bought the Mrs. Trask and later the 
John Lowell farm in West Earmington, mak- 
ing an estate of si.xty acres, and managed the 
two. Failing health subsequently compelled 
him to dispose of one. He still retains the 
other, on which he has remodelled and re- 
paired the buildings, set out a fine orchard, 
and converted rough pastures into valuable 
meadow land. He raises general crops and 
fruit, and has a choice dairv, which adds 
materially to his income. 

Mr. Hardy married Miss Julia C. Pease, 
daughter of Captain Jeremiah and Julia 
(Chaney) Pease, of Wilton, Me. Captain 
Pease, who was a wealthy farmer, died at the 
age of seventy-eight. His wife passed away 
in her forty-fourth year. They had five other 
children — Sarah P., Benjamin ¥., Daniel, 
John, and Emily. Four children have blessed 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



?49 



the unidii of Mr. and Mrs. llarcl)-, name])- : 
I'raiik, born February 1 8, 1869, nt)w a me- 
chanic; Mabel J., born March 3, 1872, the 
wife of V. S. Newell, of Wilton; Ma)-narcl A., 
i)orn June 27, 1874, a farmer and mechanic; 
and Dai.sy 1{. , born May 30, 1877. Mr. Hardy 
votes the Republican ticket. He belongs to 
one organization, the E. W. Woodman Post, 
No. 18, Grand Arm\' of the Republic, of East 
Wilton. On religious subjects he holds lib- 
eral views. 




S;RV F. MORTON, of South Paris, 
.Me., superintendent and agent of the 
Paris Manufacturing Comiiany, was 
born in Corinna, Penobscot County, 
Me., December 5, 1839, and is a great-grand- 
son of Thomas Morton, who came from luig- 
land and settled in Ph-mouth, Mass. 

William Mortini, his grandfather, was born 
in Portland, Me. Choosing the occupation of a 
farmer he settled in Gorham, Me., where, on 
March 27, 1S12, William S. Morton was born. 
On leaving home this son settled in Belmont, 
whence he afterward removed to Corinna, Me., 
and purchased a farm that he carried on until 
his death. May 3, 1842. He was a Deacon in 
the P'ree Will Baptist church. Prudence S. 
Bates Morton, his wife, bore him three chil- 
dren, namely: Helen J., born July 29, 1838, 
married Dr. A. E. Bessey ; Henry V. ; and 
Benjamin R., born December 16, 1841, who 
died on October 15, 1864, from wounds re- 
ceived at Ale.xandria, Ya. , while performing 
his duties as Sergeant of Company D, Twenti- 
eth Maine Regiment. He left a widow, Lucy 
Chase Morton. Mrs. Prudence S. B. Morton 
married a second time, becoming the wife of 
Martin Crockett. She lived to be seventy 
}'ears okl. 

When four years of age, Henry V. Morton 
went to live with an uncle at Auburn. He 
was educated at Hebron Academy and Maine 
Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. He 
engaged in teaching at eighteen years of age, 
and fitted for Harvard College, but, on account 
of failure of eyes, caused by overwork, he was 
unable to continue his studies. As soon as 
his eyes were strong enough to resume work, 
and after his marriage, he settled at North 



Paris and began on a small scale tiie manufact- 
ure of children's sleds, using the basement of 
the house in which he lived and employing a 
little help. His goods were fa\drablv recei\ed 
on the market, and he soon removeil to West 
Sumner, where he obtained water-i)ower and 
erected a factory, adding to tlie 'manufacture of 
sleds that of bal)\' carriages and childrens' 
carts. The firm was then known as Morton & 
Bates, and still later as Moiton, ]<"orbes & 
Crockett. 

In 1870 the citizens of Paiis Hill induced 
them to move thither. Thev purchased a 
steam-engine, and in 1871 erected a factory; 
and after a time a stock company was formed, 
known as the Paris Hill Manufacturing Com- 
pany, whicli has become well known through- 
out the L'i>ited States, Mr. Morton acting as 
superintendent and agent. The distance from 
the railroad ])roved a great ilisad\-antagc, as 
well as an added expense; anil, the citizens of 
.South Paris offering substantial inducements, 
the stock was bought up and the plant moved 
to this jjlace in 1884, and a large and wcll- 
ec[uipped building elected. Two yeais later 
the entire plant was (lestro)ed liy fire; but it 
was soon rebuilt, and to-da}' the factory covers 
an area of thirty-nine thousand square feet 
besides large storehouses in the \illage near 
tiie depot. The\- now manufacture sletls, 
carts, children's carriages and wagons, stcii 
ladders, tables and school furniture, and the 
firm has a reputation for finely finished goods 
of superior C|uality. They em[)loy about two 
hundred hands, In 1889 Mr. Mort(jn held the 
position of su|)erintendent and agent with the 
Winton Manufacturing Company of ]?iiigham- 
ton, N. \'. , but returned here in 1892, and 
accepted his present j^osition of superintendent, 
agent, and manager. 

On September 22, 1861, Mr. Morton was 
united in marriage with Miss Lucelia C. 
Forbes, a daughter of P'lhridge and Julia 
(Prentiss) P"orbes. She is a descendant of 
Captain Miles Standish in the seventh genera- 
tion. Mr. and Mrs. Morton ha\e si.\ children, 
namely: William P., born June 24, 1862, a 
decorator and ])ainter, who married Mrs. 
Jennie Whitney; Julia P., born March i, 
1 866, who is a teacher in the South Paris 
Academy; Walter E., born Jinie 5, 1867, who 



^^o 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ilied at twenty-tlircc years f)t age, leaving a 
widiiw, Elizabeth Whitman Morton, and two 
children — Isabel and Katherine; George R., 
born August 17, 1X68, the receiver of the 
West luid Railroad at Allston ; Harry A., 
born June 2, 1876, now attending the Hryant 
& Stratton Business College; Clarence G., 
born August 2, 18S1. On coming to South 
Paris, Mr. Morton purchased the Morgan 
House, 30 High Street, which he has remod- 
elled, and they have a pleasant, attractive 
home. In politics he is a Republican. He 
was elected on the first Board of Deacons after 
the erection of the Baptist church here in 
South Paris. 



'OHN WVMAN, a thriving agriculturist 
of O.xford County, and an esteemed resi- 
dent of Norway township, was born 
June 23, 1838, in the town of Weld, 
iManklin County, Me., a son of Daniel 
Wyman. He comes of patriotic stock, his 
paternal great-grandfather, Captain Daniel 
Wyman, having been an officer in the Revolu- 
tionary War. He lived for many years in that 
part of Maine then known as Wyman planta- 
tion, but now called Chesterfield, where his 
son John, grandfather of John Wyman, the 
subject of this sketch, was born. 

The grandfather was an industrious, hard- 
working man, engaged as a tiller of the soil 
during most of his life. He removed from 
the place of his nativity to Livermore, An- 
droscoggin County, where lie carried on farm- 
ing until his death in 1862. To him and his 
wife, whose maiden name was Susan Peterson, 
were born eight children, namely: John, de- 
ceased; Daniel, father of John; Sylvanu.s, 
deceased; Abram, now living in Livermore; 
Alvin, deceased; Louisa, widow of James 
Lane, residing at Livermore Falls; Rhoda and 
Susan, both deceased. 

Daniel Wyman lived on the homestead in 
Livermore until attaining mature years, when 
he removed to the town of Weld, this State, 
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, be- 
coming one of the most prosperous farmers in 
llie vicinity. In 1842 he removed to Mount 
X'ernon, continuing his residence there until 
his demise in April. 1S72. He married Miss 



Esther Coding, of Jay, Me., a daughter of 
Jonas Coding, who moved from Ro.xbury, 
Mass., to that town when a young man, and 
was thereafter engaged in tilling the soil until 
called to depart this life in 1855. Into the 
parental household were born nine children, 
brieHy mentioned as follows: Elizabeth, 
deceased; Susan, widow of Peter Albee, 
living in Auburn, Me. ; Emeline, the wife of 
George Carr, of De.xter, this State; Charles, 
who married Diantha Carr, and lives in Mount 
Vernon, Me.; Daniel, in California; Ivsther, 
the wife of Jonathan Ralph, of California; 
John, the special subject of this sketch; Par- 
ker, a resident of Canton, Me., who married 
Vilanti Rollins; and Uro.xa, of Auburn, Me. 
The mother died in the prime of life in July, 
1856. 

John Wyman attended the district schools 
and assisted his father in the manual labors of 
the farm until twenty years of age, when he 
went to Nevada County, California, where he 
had a brother and sister living. For nine 
years he engaged in mining and lumbering in 
that locality, and then returned to the scenes 
of his childhood. Settling in Mount Vernon, 
he operated a saw-mill for three years. Com- 
ing thence to O.xford County, Mr. Wyman 
bought a saw-mill in the town of Newry, 
where for ten years he was engaged in the 
manufacture of lumber. Having the misfort- 
une to be burned out, he next came to Norway; 
and here, on November 16, 1885, he bought 
the farm which he now owns and occupies. 
He has one hundred and forty acres' of good 
land, which he is managing with profitable 
results, carrying on general farming, and keep- 
ing a choice dairy of fourteen cows. 

On December 28, 1S70, Mr. Wyman mar- 
ried Miss Ann D. Trask, the daughter of 
Nathaniel Trask, a well-known farmer of 
Mount Vernon. She died September 27, 
1883, leaving one child — Alfred L., who was 
born October 24, 1871, and is now engaged in 
the insurance business, making his home with 
his father, and occupying a prominent position 
among the leading young men of the town. 
On September 14, 1884, Mr. Wyman was 
united in matrimony with Miss Plldora H. 
Barker, who was born December 10, 1864, in 
the town of Albany, this county, where her 




JAIRUS K. HAMMOND, 




SMITH DUDLEY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



p.irents, Anins and Hets}' Uarkci", arc imw li\-^ 
ing, licr father Ijcing a pro.s[)crmis farmer. Of 
this union three children ha\c been Ixjrn, 
namely: Louisa, who died in infancy; Mabel 
Louisa, born September 3, 1S86; and J. Mur- 
phy, born April 27, 1890. Mr. Wyman has 
also an adopted daughter — Jennie Patterson, 
who has been a memlier of his household since 
she was eleven years old. 

Politically, Mr. Wyman is a very active and 
prominent member of the Republican [larty in 
this section, which he has served during the 
past si.v years as one of the Town Committee. 
He takes great interest in local ])ublic affairs, 
and was a member of the Board of Selectmen 
of Norway in 1891. He is a member of Ver- 
non Valley Lodge, No. 97, A. F. Sr A. M., 
of Mount Vernon ; and of Ik-thel Chapter, 
Royal Arch Masons, of Jkthel ; also of Bethel 
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd P'ellows; 
and of the Norwa)' Grange, Patrons of Hus- 
bandry. Mrs. Wyman is a member of the 
Congregational church. 



'AIRUS Kl'MTH HAMMOND was a 
lifelong resident of Pari.-;, O.vford 
County, the date of his birth being Oc- 
tober 26, 1822, and that of his death 
February i, 1892. He was of pioneer stock, 
his grandfather, Benjamin Hammond having 
been among the earliest settlers of this town; 
and his father, Moses Hammond, was born in 
the log cabin in which the grandfather first 
lived. Moses Hammond was a well-known 
and influential business man of Paris, Me. 
He married Mehitable Keith, a native of 
l^ridgewater, Mass., who bore him eight chil- 
dren, five of whom grew to matuiity, namely : 
Mrs. Klizabeth S. Prince; Jairus Keith; Mrs. 
Juliet II. Brown, widow of Dr. Thomas H. 
Ikown, in whose sketch, which will be found 
on another page of this volume, a more ex- 
tended ancestral history of the Hammond fam- 
ily appears; Albert M. ; and Frances A. 

Jairus K. Hammond obtained a good educa- 
tion in his youth, pursuing his elementary 
studies in the common schools of his native 
town, and afterward attending the academies 
at Bridgton and Hebron. He early chose 
farming as his life work, and in addition had 



an interest Ini- sevcial wars in his lallicr's 
milling ojierations. lie was an intelligent 
and skilful agriculturist, thoroughly conver- 
sant with the various branches of his inilustrv, 
and had a large portion of his valuable farm in 
a good state of cultivation. He enjoN'cd in a 
marked degree the confidence of his fellow- 
men, whom he served in positions of trust and 
responsibility. He held various town offices, 
including that of .Selectman; was a iircjniinent 
member of the Norway Grange, No. 45, 
Patrons of Husbandry; belonged to the Maine 
Board of Agriculture three years; and was a 
Trustee of the O.xford County Agricultural 
Society several terms. At the time of his 
decease Mr. Hammond was serving as a Di- 
rector of the Norway National Bank, as a 
Trustee of the South Paris Savings Bank, and 
a Trustee of the Paris Hill Acadeni}'. 

Mr. ILunmond was three times married. 
]5y his first wife, Kliza Hooper, he had three 
sons, only one of whom survi\'ed the mother, 
namely: Herbeit P., who was born J-"ebruary 
7, 1855, and is now a faiiner at Paris Hill. 
The others were: Charlie A., who died at the 
age of ten years; and Fred, who died when 
only eight years old. ]>y his second wife, 
Sarah L. Dunham, he had a daughter — Helen, 
born June 24, 1879, who lives at the home of 
her childhood. On October 25, 1S87, Mr. 
Hammond married Mrs. Lydia H. Steains 
Dudley, the widow of Smith Dudley. Mrs. 
Hammond was born in Paris, Me., June 2, 
1835, a daughter of William and Joanna (I'or- 
ter) Stearns. She is now living at Paris Hill, 
where she has a very pleasant home in wliich 
she hospitably entertains her many friciuls. 
She is held in high regard throughout the 
community in which her life has been spent, 
being an important factor of social and relig- 
ious circles, and a faithful member of the liap- 
tist church. Her father was born in Waltham, 
Mas.s., November 8, 1790, antl after his mar- 
riage with Miss Porter, of North Yarmouth, 
he had a happy wedded life of si.\t_\'-one )ears. 
He was a son of William Stearns, Sr. , a 
pioneer farmer of this town, and was a gen- 
erous, public-spirited man, a strong Whig in 
his early days, and afterward an ardent Repub- 
lican. Religiously, he was an active member 
of the Baptist church, and fraternally was the 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



oldest Imcc Mason in Oxford Connty, having 
joined the order as early as 1816. He died 
March 20, 1877, aged eighty-six years; while 
his wife, who was an unnsually bright and 
intelligent old lady, lived until October, 
1894, dying at the advanced age of ninety-six 
vears and three months. They were the par- 
ents of eight children, two of whom, William 
1'. ami James, are dead. The others are as 
follows:' Charles; George; Mrs. Lucy Wood- 
man; Sylvanus I'orter Stearns, of whom a 
brief sketch may be found elsewhere in thi.s 
work; Mrs. I.ydia II. Hammond; and Mrs. 
Mary Howe. 

Mrs. Hammond's fir.st husband. Smith Dud- 
ley, was a native of Woodstock, Me., born 
Mav S, 1827. He was reared and educated 
ill this town, whither his parents came when 
he was two years old. He was an energetic 
and progressive farmer, and a very highly es- 
teemed citizen. In politics he was a firm 
advocate of the principles of the Democratic 
party, and in his religious belief was liberal. 
He died I'ebruary 19, 1S83. To him and his 
wife four children were born, namely: Ella L., 
who married Henry D. Hammond, of whom 
a brief sketch appears on another page of this 
volume, and died at the age of twenty-two 
years; Charles S., of Paris, Me.; James S., 
also of Paris; and Gertrude, the present wife 
(if Henry D. Hammond. 

A jiortrait of Mr. Smith Dudley, and also 
one of Mr. J. K. Hammond, are published in 
connection with this sketch. 



■OHN DUNSMOOR]', formerly a well- 
known resident of Temple, and an ex- 
tensive dealer in horses, was born in 
Temple, January 10, 1817, son of 
James and Olive (Dresser) Dunsmoore. His 
l)arents, who were natives of New Hampshire, 
settled in Temple when the country was new. 
Here James Dunsmoore cleared a tract of land 
now known as the Woods farm, spent the rest 
of his active period working at his trade of 
blacksmith and tilling the soil, and died at the 
age of eighty-seven years. His children were: 
James, John, and Olive. 

John Dunsmoore learned the blacksmith's 
tnide, but, after working at it with his father 



for a time, he engaged in stone-cutting. In 
1849 he went to California by way of Cape 
Horn, being one of the first in this section to 
start for the gold mines. Arriving there 
during the wet season, he was so unfavorably 
impressed with the country and climate th:it 
he returned after six months. Subsequently, 
he purchased a farm in the northern part of 
Temple, and resided there for a time. Later 
he bought another estate, containing seventy- 
five acres of land, located near the village, and 
there engaged in general farming. Peing an 
excellent judge of horses, he devoted his prin- 
cipal attention to the purchase and sale of 
these animals, becoming widely and favorably 
known as a reliable dealer, and doing a profit- 
able business for a number of years. In poli- 
tics he supported the Democratic party. He 
was a Unitarian in his religious belief. At 
his death, which occurred at his home in 
Temple, March 7, 1S82, in his sixty-sixth 
year, he was mourned by a large circle of 
friends and acquaintances as an honorable, 
upright man, and a worthy citizen. 

Mr. Dunsmoore was united in marriage to 
Martha A. Dresser, who survives him. She 
is a daughter of Oliver and Dorcas (Mitchell) 
Dresser. Her paternal grandparents were 
Rufus and p:iizabeth (Lawes) Dresser, the 
forme'r of whom came from New Hampshire to 
Temple among the early settlers; and he died 
when his son Oliver was three years old. 
Oliver Dresser was the owner of two farms 
located in the western part of Temple. He 
was engaged in farming until his death, which 
happened at the age of fifty-nine years. His 
wife lived to be eighty-four years old. Their 
children were: Martha A., who is now the 
widow of John Dunsmoore; Pamelia; and 
Abbie. Mrs. Dunsmoore has had three chil- 
tlien— John D., Martha F., and Oliver M. 
John D., who was born December 20, 1855, ■ 
died in 1S57. Martha F., born October 13, 
1854, married Hannibal Russell, an extensive 
wood manufacturer of Farmington, and died 
January 12, 1887. She gave birth to three 
children, namely: Donald, who died young; 
Mattie F. ; and'Pernice M. Oliver M., who 
was born December 22, 1859, now resides 
with his mother. 

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Duns- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



moore continued to occupy the homestead 
until the residence was destroyed by fire. She 
then sold the estate, and in iScSq bought the 
Walton place, containing twenty-three acres of 
land, situated near West Farniington, where 
she has since resided. Hy remodelling the 
buildings and effecting other impro\emcnts in 
the property, she has made a \x-ry pleasant 
home. 




RI'l) W. SANBORN, of the Oxford 
County Advt-r/isci\ was born in Loudon, 
N. II., February lo, 1S55. He is a 
son of John Shaw Sanborn, who married Dor- 
cas A. ISrown, a daughter of Ephraim Brown, 
of Norway, Me., and a sister of Ephraim 
Heald Brown of that town. The subject of 
this sketch was graduated in 1876 from the 
New Hampton Literary Institution of New 
Hampton, N. H. ; and he also took a course of 
commercial training at Eastman's Business 
College at Poiighkeepsie, N. Y. During the 
school year of 1877 and 1878 Mr. Sanborn was 
assistant teacher in the New Hampton (N.H.) 
Business College, resigning that position in 
July, 1878, to engage in newspaper business 
at Laconia, N.H. Previous to his graduation 
he had learned the printer's trade in the print- 
ing offices at Laconia and Lake Village, N.H. 
and was well fitted to embark in journalism on 
his own account. In company with Colonel 
E. C. Lewis, who furnished the capital, he 
b(Hight the Laconia (N.H.) Democrat, and 
they conducted it for nearly four years, Mr. 
Lewis being its editor and Mr. .Sanborn its 
business manager. Diu'ing this time, by 
means of the same push and enterprise that he 
has displayed in conducting the Advertiser, 
the circulation" of the Democrat was more than 
doubled. In April, 1882. Mr. Sanborn re- 
tired from the firm, and in the following month 
came to Norway, Me. Not long afterward, or 
on December 31, 1882, he became the owner 
and manager of the O.xford County Advertiser, 
which was temporarily suspended — the estab- 
lishment, then conducted by S. Drake & Co., 
having been burned out two or three months 
previously. Mr. Sanborn has since retained 
his control and ownership of the paper. He 
takes a great interest in the enterprise, to 



which he is well adaiited, and is thoroughlv 
alive to the advantages of what he ajitly 
describes as, "A little affair carefully looked 
after in a thriving town filled with g<iod [leople 
who want to know what their neighbors are 
doing and are willing to buy and pay for a 
paper that contains that news." The paper 
ranks among the best of its class in New I'Jig- 
land, and Mr. Sanborn's success in the field of 
local journalism is forcibly demonstrated by 
its circulation during the past fourteen years. 

I-'ebruarv 4, 1879, Mr. Sanborn married 
Laura A. 'llill, of Strafford, N.H. She was 
born in Strafford, November 2, 1S56, and is 
a graduate of the New Hampton Institution, 
having been a member of the class of 1877. 
They have no children. Mrs. .Saidiorn is a 
lady of rare- literary attainments and business 
sagacity, and is besides a practical [jrinter. 
Much of the success of the O.xford County Ad- 
vertiser is due to her untiring energy and 
ability. 

Mr. Sanborn is largely engaged in business 
outside his newspaper enter[)rise, being inter- 
ested in the management of several .successful 
financial institutions and business corjiorations 
in this and other States. He has been largely 
successful in his outside ventures, but it is in 
local journalism that he takes the greatest 
pride. 



<^* » > 



•(^IIN riKb:, a leading merchant of Wil- 
ton, was born in P'reenian, b'ranklin 
County, P'ebruarv I, 1828, son of Jacol) 
and Laurana (Cummings) Pike. His 
grandfather was John Pike, a native of New 
Hampshire, who in early life moved to Nor- 
way, Me., cleared a large farm located just 
west of that village, upon a hill which has 
since borne his name, and several of his 
descendants are residing there now. He mar- 
ried a Miss Tarbo.x, who was also a native of 
New Hampshire, and she reared several 
children. 

Jacob Pike bought a farm in Norway when 
a young man. A short time later he sold it, 
and, moving to Freeman, settled upon one 
hundred acres of unimproved land, which he 
jiartially cleared. .'-Celling this ])roperty after- 
ward, he bought another farm of one hundred 



3SS 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



acres, in the Uiwii nf Kinghcld, this county, 
where he resided until 1S38. This property 
he liien sold, removed to .Siront;-, and ])urchased 
an estate of one hundred and thirt)'-five acres. 
Here, with his health impaired, he was en- 
gaged in fanning until his death from con- 
sumptiiin in }^47. at the age of fifty-two 
years. He snjiported the Whig party in poli- 
tics, and was a member of the Universalist 
church. Mis wife, Laurana, became the 
mother of seven children, one of whom died in 
infancy. The others were: Mary Ann, Jane, 
Martha,. John, Lucinda, and Henry. Henry 
resides at the homestead in .Strong. The 
mother, who lived to the age of seventy-seven 
years, died in 1 87 i. 

John Pike obtained a good, practical educa- 
tion by atteiuling the district school and jjer- 
sonal study afterward. He resided at home, 
and, with his brother, carried on the home- 
stead farm until he reached the age of twenty- 
eight. Then he ]nnchased a farm for him- 
self, and lived 011 it about ten years. After 
this he engaged in a general mercantile busi- 
ness with Anson Mosman in Wilton. The 
firm had carried on a large and profitable busi- 
ness at the old stand for twenty-seven years, 
when the fire of 1893 swept away his building, 
with all others in the business portion of the 
village. Immediately rebuilding he erected a 
three-story structure with basement, the whole 
of which, except a portion of the second floor, 
rented to Dr. Rowell, the dentist, he now 
occupies. He deals in groceries, dry goods, 
crockery ware, drugs, medicines, paints and 
oils, harilware, wall jJaper, etc., keeping a 
large stock constantly on hand. He has also 
dealt e.xtensively and successfully in real 
estate. At the jn-esent time he owns the John 
Gould place, located on I'lospect Street, which 
he has completely rebuilt; also a double house 
on Main Street, another at the lower end of 
the \illage, together with a farm and some 
wood lots. He formerly owned the hotel prop- 
ert)' which he managed at different times, and 
rebuilt the stables destroyed in the conflagra- 
tion of 1 SqT,. 

Mr. Pike wedded Sarah IL Mosman, daugh- 
tei- of ("icorge Mosman, of P'armington, who 
fcirnicrly resided in Newton, Mass. Mrs. 
Pike has hatl two children, namely: Charles 



who died at the age of fourteen months; and 
Laurana, who was born November 29, 1876. 
Mr. Pike is an earnest and influential sup- 
porter of the Republican party. He served as 
Deputy Sheriff here for twelve years. The 
fraternities in which he has membership are : 
Wilton Lodge, No. 156, A. F. & A. M. ; and 
Williamson Lodge, No. 20, Independent Order 
of Odd PY'llows, being Past Chief Patriarch of 
the encampment. Plis prominence here, and 
the high esteem in which he is held, are the 
result of his fair dealing in all relations. He 
is a member of the Congregational church, and 
contributes generously toward its support. 




ARCUS MORTON SMART, one 
of the' stirring and progressive 
farmers of P'ryeburg, Oxford 
Count}', Me., and a scarred vet- 
eran of the Civil War, is a native of this town. 
He was born January 10, iiS4i, son of Ira and 
PLsther (Mclntire) Smart. His grandfather, 
Daniel Smart, who was the first of the family 
to settle in P'ryeburg, was a native of Ossipee, 
N.H., and came here about the year 181 2. 
He bought a farm located in the eastern part 
of the town, and resided thereon until his 
death, which took place December 7, 1870. 
He served as a soldier in the Continental army 
during the Revolutionary War, and in his 
declining years received a pension from the 
government. Pie married Rhoda Davis, who 
was born in Nottingham, N.IL, September 25, 
1787, and had a family of elesen children, 
namely: Moses D. ; Daniel ; Ira; Rebecca L. ; 
Rhoda' D. ; Noah D, ; Susan D. ; Daniel, 
second; Winthrop; I^phraim K. ; and Sarah 
H. Mr. .Smart's grandmother died September 
6, 1867. 

Ira Smart, son of Daniel Smart, was born in 
Prospect, Me., May 11, 1813. In early man- 
hood he settled upon a farm situated on what 
is known as Smart's Hill, where he resided 
until 1866, when he bought the projierty where 
his son, Marcus M., now lives; and his last 
days were jiassed ujjon this farm. He was one 
of the most able farmers and useful citizens of 
his day, always manifesting a lively interest in 
the welfare and progress of the community; 
and his death, which took place December 14, 



BlOGKAl'IUCAL REVIEW 



18S7, w;is (Icci)ly regretted by his felldw- 
towii.siiien. His wife, Esther Mclntire, who 
was born in Chatham, N.H., July <S, 1820, was 
the mother of ten children, as follows: Marcus 
Morton, the direct subject, of whom see fur- 
ther mention in next paragrajih ; William T., 
formerly Postmaster and now Collector of 
Lewiston, l\Ie. , who was born October 6, 1S42, 
and married Sarah Fuller; Laura A., who was 
born January 20, 1S45, antl is residing with 
her brother at the homestead; Daniel, who 
was born February 2, 1848, and died in May, 
1868, in Montana; Esther E., who was born 
December 31, 1849, and died December 27, 
1853; twins, who died in infanc}-; Ira C, 
who was born November 14, 1851, married 
Martha Plummer, and is now a practising 
physician of Blue Earth, Minn. ; John W. , 
who was born April 15, 1858, married Fanny 
Wyman, and is now engaged in the meat 
business in Boston; and Esther J., who was 
born November 28, 1S62, and died on the 15th 
of August, 1882. The children all acquired 
a good practical education, and two of them 
became teachers. Mrs. Esther M. Smart died 
February 5, 1894. 

Marcus Morton Smart, the first-born of the 
ten, was a pupil in the crnnmon schools in his 
boyhood, and he resided at home until he was 
twenty years old. At the breaking out of the 
Rebellion his patriotism was aroused, and on 
October 15, 1861, he enlisted as a private in 
Company E, Twelfth Regiment, Maine Vol- 
unteer Infantry. The officers nf the regiment 
were Colonel She[dey, Lieutenant-colonel 
William K. Kimball, and Major D. K. Mas- 
tings; and Captain Enoch Knight commanded 
Company E. The Twelfth was first attached 
to the department of the Gulf, under General 
Butler, and participated in the capture of New 
Orleans, the battle of Irish Bend, the siege 
and capture of Port Hudson, and other engage- 
ments upon the lower Mississippi; afterward 
it took part in the Shenandoah \'alley cam- 
paign under General Sheridan, rendering 
valiant service at the battles of Winchester, 
Cedar Creek, and Fisher's Hill ; and later, 
joining the army of the Potomac, it assisted 
in the important operations which resulted in 
the fall of Richmond. After the comi)letion 
of his first term of enlistment Mr. Smart re- 



enlisted in Company C, of the same regi^ 
ment, Januar\' i, 1864; and, serving until 
A|)ril 18, 1866, was discharged at Sa\'annah, 
(ja. During his long period of service he saw 
a great deal of hard lighting, but fortunately 
escaped serious injury; and the only mishap 
wdiich occurred to incapacitate him frimi ai'tive 
duty was caused by a wound from a spent ball 
at the battle of Cedar Creek, the scar of wliich 
is still visible. Immediately after his return 
from the army he bought a farm in the town of 
Sweden, where he resided for fourteen years, 
and he then moved to I-'ryeburg village, where 
he was engaged in jobbing for some seven 
years. In March, 1887, he bought his present 
pro|)erty, which is known as the Uncle Barnes 
Walker farm. This estate consists of one 
hundred and' twenty acres of well improved 
land, which he devotes principally to the cul- 
tivation of hay, corn, ami potatoes; and he 
also owns some outlying woodlantl. 

In May, 1863, ]M'evious to his re-enlistment 
in the army, Mr. Smart was united in marriage 
w'ith Ruth K. Charles, his first wife, who was 
born in Lo\-el], Me., daughter of Carltmi 
Charles, a prosperous farmer of that town ; 
and by this union there were two children, 
namely: Nellie G., who was born in Septem- 
ber, 1865, and is now the wife of William I'". 
Scruton, a book-keeper and salesman in a 
clothing store in Lewiston; and Ruth, who 
died at the age of eighteen months. Mr. 
Smart's first wife died May 28, i86y; and on 
January 17, 1871, he weddetl Pollen V. (Juincy, 
his present wife, who is a native of Denmark, 
Me. Her parents were Joseph and Mary C. 
(Haley) Ouincy. Her father, who was a 
prominent farmer of that town, died when 
Mrs. .Smart was quite young. 

In public affairs Mr. .Smart has lieen 
actively interested for several years, having 
served as a member of the Board of Selectmen 
for two terms wiiile residing in Sweden; and 
he has rendered valuable service to the town 
of I'ryeburg in a like capacity for the same 
length of time. In politics he is an earnest 
supjiorter of the Republican party. He is a 
member of Pythagorean Lodge, No. 11, A. V. 
& A. M. ; Fryeburg Lodge, No. 49, Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd P'ellows; and the Knights 
of Pythias, No. 34; and is a comrade of Grovcr 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



]'(ist, No. 126, Grainl Army <if the RepiUjlic, 
of this town. lie is an industrious and suc- 
cessful farmer who has taken advantage of 
ever)' avaihible opportunity for advancement; 
and, while his many estimable qualities make 
him [lersonally popular, his long and honor- 
able war record is looked upon by his fellow- 
citi/ens with jiride and admiration. 



"ir~N i:.\coN josiAii t. stetson 

1=1 is one of the old residents of Sum- 
^rS7 ncr, (.)\ford Coimty, Me., his pres- 
ent home ha\ing sheltered him for 
three-quarters of a century. He was born in 
this house, January 4, 1821, a son of Hezekiah 
Jr., and Rebecca (Gowell) Stetson. 

His grandfather, Hezekiah Stetson, was 
born in Pembroke, Mass., December 2, 1752, 
and settled in West Butterfield (now Sumner), 
in the District of Maine, November 7, 1782, 
about the time of the close of the Revolution- 
ary War, in which he had taken an active part. 
He was one of the pioneers of this town, mak- 
ing a clearing first and erecting a log cabin. 
He owned one lumdred and si. \ty acres of land, 
which he worked hard to clear and devclo|); 
and the house now occupied by his grandson 
was built by him in 1796. (Irandfather Stet- 
son was one of the leading farmers of his day, 
and his judgment of live stock, of o.\en espe- 
cially, was deemed infallible. In ]3olitics he 
was a Whig, in religious belief a Congrega- 
tionalist. He died in Sumner in 1833, aged 
eighty-one years. His wife, whose maiden 
name was IClizabeth Tilson, was born in Hali- 
la\, Mass., November 12, 1753, and died at 
the age of seventy-five. They were the par- 
ents of eight children, all of whom married 
and reared families, namely: Elisha, born in 
Pembroke, Mass., November 7, 1781; Zenas, 
born in Pembroke, Mass., August 4, 1782; 
Abel, born in West Butterfield, Me., Novem- 
ber 4, 1784, the third child born in the plan- 
tation; Tilson, born in .Sumner, Me., October 
26, 1786; Hezekiah, Se|itember 16, 1788; 
Lydia, January 7, 1790; l^phraim, August 24, 
1794; and Mary, December 17, 1799. 

Hezekiah Stetson, the younger, succeeded 
his father as owner of the homestead in Sum- 
ner, and tlevoted his life to the pursuit of asi'ri- 



culture. He was acti\ely interested in public 
affairs, and was for some time the commander 
of a militia company, being commonly calletl 
Captain Stetson. A Republican in political 
preference, he was Selectman of Sumner for 
a number of years^ He died July 14, 1873, 
aged eighty-five years. His wife, Mrs. Re- 
becca (Gowell) Stetson, who was born in Tops- 
ham, Me., August II, 1790, died September 
27, 1868, aged seventy-eight years. Captain 
and Mrs. Stetson were members of the Congre- 
gational church. They were the parents of 
four children, namely: Charles, born March 
25, 1813, who died at the age of seventy-si.x ; 
Solomon M., who was born October 25, 181 7, 
and died at the age of seventy-three; J<isiah 
T. , the subject of this sketch; and Jane, wlio 
was born August 10, 1S23, and married John 
R. Bonney, whom she survi\es. Mrs. Bonne)- 
makes her home in Sumner with her son, 
Charles H., who was born January i, 1861, 
and who married ^liss Ida J. Newell. 

Josiah T. , the third and youngest born son 
of Captain Stetson, was reared and educated 
in his native town. Having become accus- 
tomed to farm work in early boyhood, he has 
continuously followed the pursuit of agricult- 
ure, working at shoemaking for a short time 
only in his early manhood in Massachusetts. 
Diligent in business and faithful to his trusts, 
he has met with well-earned success, and has 
won the respect of the community in which he 
dwells. He was married May 18, 1845, to 
Cynthia A., daughter of Ezra and Maria (Her- 
sey) Cobb. She was born in Sumner, Me., 
December 15, 1822, and died here February 
12, 1888. She was a member of the C'ongre- 
gational church at Itast Sumner, of which her 
husband has been a Deacon for many years. 

Deacon Stetson has se\en children and six- 
teen grandchildren. His children are: Ma- 
tilda J., born November 3, 1846, wife of Free- 
man C. Merrill, a manufacturer of agricultural 
implements of South Paris, Me. ; J. Walter, 
born October ig, 1848, Treasurer of the .Me- 
chanics .Savings Bank of Auburn, Me. ; Ezra 
H., born November 23, 1850, a shoe manu- 
facturer of South Weymouth, Mass., unmar- 
ried; Herbert E., born October 6, 1852, Prin- 
cipal of City Schools, F^arlville, la. ; Charles 
H., born (X-toher 4, 1854, Principal of High 



BIOGRAl'IIliAI. REVIEW 



-/,, 



School, Iidiilon, Oh in; Rachel W. , born April 
13, 1857, wife of \\'. H. liastman, President 
and Treasurer of Eastman Seed Company of 
Kast Sumner, Me. ; and Lilla ]•'., horn August 
29, 1S63, wife of Fred S. I'alniei', a farmer 
and box-maker,, residing with her father. 

The Stetson children attended the public 
schools of the town with an occasional term at 
the. High .School at Buckfield ur at Hebron 
Academy; and all but Ezra, who early de- 
veloped a taste for manufacturing, taught 
school. Walter and Herbert took the course 
at the State Normal School at Earmington, 
Me. J. Walter .Stetson taught in the schools 
of Maine and New Hami^shire for about 
twent)^ years, and was Principal of the Ash 
Street Grammar School at Manchester when 
called to his present position. He married 
Miss Agnes Halliday, a native of Calais, Me., 
and has five children — Mary I.., Lilla A., 
Everett H., Agnes G., and Harold T. Iizra 
Stetson, the second son, went to .Snuth Wey- 
mouth, Mass., to work in the shoe business, 
first with E. Heald, and later with H. B. 
Reed & Co. Eaithfully attending to his 
duties, he soon became superintendent of 
Reed's large factor}', which position he held 
until he engaged in business for himself as 
senior partner of the firm of E. H. .Stetson & 
Co., shoe manufacturers. 

After graduation Herbert E. Stetson taught 
for a time in Maine, then accepted the Princi- 
palship of Earlville, la., High School. He 
later engaged for some years in mercantile 
business, but at the urgent solicitation of the 
school officials has resumed teaching. He 
married Miss fLittie E. Smith, and has had 
si,\ children — Eugene J., Ralph H., Ruth A., 
Edna E., Lsetta M., and Gladys E. 

Charles H. Stetson was graduated at Bow- 
doin College in 1883. He subsequently 
taught in the Eewiston High School, employ- 
ing his spare moments in the study of medi- 
cine; but owing to poor health he was obliged 
to give up his chosen profession and seek 
relief in a milder climate. He has since had 
charge of high schools in Nashville, Tenn. , 
and Ironton, Ohio. He and his wife, whose 
maiden name was I-Llla Bothwell, have had two 
children: a son who died in infancy, and 
John Hersev. Rachel W. Stetson, Mrs. East- 



man, has three childien — Eeona, h'sther H., 
and Augusta T. ; and Lilla ]•". , Mrs. Palmer, 
has two children —Richard R. and Muriel E. 
Politically, Deacon Stetson is a stanch Re- 
publican. .Some time ago, for six or eight 
years, he filled the office of Town Clerk of 
Sumner. A friend of education and social 
progress, he is a member of L'nion Grange, 
No. 80, Patrons of Husbandiv' at luist Sumner. 




H.LIAM P. KNIGHTIA', a pros- 
])erous farmer and stock-raiser of 
Waterford, Me., is one of the self- 
made men of Oxford County. He was born 
in County Kerry, Ireland, March 17, 1830. 
the son of Thomas I), and Mary (Pa}ne) 
Knightly. His parents were natives of the 
County Kerry and spent their li\es there, the 
father being a prominent farmer. Sexeral chil- 
dren were born to them, nameh' : Catherine, 
wife of John l']vans, living on the homestead 
in h'eland ; John, now deceased; William P., 
the subject of this sketch; Ann (deceased), 
who was the wife of Daniel Green, a farmer of 
Norway village. Me., now retired; P'mily, 
deceased; Thomas D., Jr., living in Norway, 
Me., who married for his first wife Plllen 
Brown, and for his second Mrs. Georgie Doe. 
Mr. Thomas D. Knightly died in September, 
1846, and his wife in 1847, the years of the 
great famine. 

William P. Knightly in his early years 
received but a limited common-school educa- 
tion in his nati\-e land. He left Iieland at 
the age of eighteen, not long after the death 
of his mother, and, with his cousin, Robert 
Knightly, came to this country, taking passage 
on the "Arcadia," which was five weeks and 
three days making the voyage. Landing in 
Boston he 'went from there to Portland, Me., 
where he obtained work on the Grand Trunk 
Railroad, and was made head man of the sec- 
tion between Portland and \'armouth. The 
railroad work lasted until October, 1848, and 
the following winter he hired himself out by 
the day in Portland, engaging in different 
kinds of labor. In the spring he went to work 
as section hand at New Gloucester, Me., re- 
maining three months, and in the summer he 
carried water to the help on the section. He 



iGi 



lilOGRAl'HICAL REVIEW 



next let himsL']f as farm hand to James Deei- 
ing. of Taris, this county, and when the busy 
harvest season was over began to attend school, 
studying through the winter. The next sum- 
mer he was employed as farm hand by Mr. 
John Parsons, of Paris, Me., and the following 
winter also he attended school. In this way 
for three vears he worked during the growing 
season and studied in the winter, acquiring 
a very good etlucation. 

]\Ir. Knightly was subsequently employed 
on a farm in Norway village one summer, and 
for the next three years he was engaged in 
running a circular saw in a furniture manufac- 
tory in that town for T. G. Barnard. In 1856 
he went to Bath, Me., where he was employed 
in a cabinet-shop for a year, at the end of that 
time again taking up the pursuit of agriculture, 
which he has followed since. He was en- 
gaged in farming in Oxford village for a 
season, in the town of Oxford for a year ; and 
he then purchased a small farm in the latter 
place, which he tilled for seven years. Ex- 
changing that property for a farm in the north- 
ern part of Norway, he lived there some three 
years, — moving next to P'ast Oxford, where also 
he lived three years. In i.S/i he settled on 
the farm where he now lives in Waterford. 
He is one of the leading agricultural men of 
these parts, owning some two hundred acres of 
land, a well-improved farm, some good stock, 
and a choice dairy. 

While working in the furniture manufactory 
in Norway village he met his fate in the shape 
of Miss Lucinda Rowe, the daughter of Zebu- 
Ion and Abigail (Rowe) Rowe. Mr. Rowe, 
who died some time since, was connected with 
a saw-mill in Norway; and his wife is still 
living in that town. Their daughter Lticinda 
was born in Ajnil, 1841, and was married to 
Mr. Knightly, November 18, 1855. She 
died March 30, 1884, aged forty-three years, 
leaving seven children: Mary A., born July 
24, 1857, wife of Horace Cole, of Norway 
village; William H., l)orn July 16, 1859, 
who married Miss Ella Swett, and resides in 
the town of Paris; Charles C, born May 30, 
1861, who lives with his father and is engaged 
in farming; James A., born June 5, 1863, a 
trader at Cascade Locks, Ore.; Lucinda 1^. , 
born March 3, 1866, wife of Ludwig Gerhard, 



a resident of Allston, Mass., superintendent 
of the J{stes & Lauriat printing establishment, 
196 Summer Street, Boston; Fred, born No- 
\ember 8, 1868, li\ing with his father; and 
Emma, born P'ebruary i, 1871, wife of Austin 
Kellogg, of North Warren, Me. Mr. Knightly 
was again married on Januar\' ig, 1887, to 
Miss Jane M. Keough, of Quebec, Can., who 
was born January 7, 1847. Her jjarents, 
James O. and Mary (Cox) Keough, were born 
in England. Emigrating to this country, Mr. 
Keough was engaged in farming in Canada for 
a while, and later moved to Paris, Me., where 
both he and his wife died. 

Mr. Knightly has worked very hard to edu- 
cate himself and to attain his present pros- 
perity, and has justly won the respect of his 
fellow-men. He votes the Democratic ticket, 
and has held several political offices in the 
town. Mr. Knightlv and his wife are es- 
teemed members of the Advent church at 
North Norwav. 




EXRY K. STEARNS, a successful 
dairy farmer of Hebron, and one of 
the leading young men of the town, 
was born in Paris, Me., November 
20, 1862. son of S. Porter and Ruth Stearns. 
A sketch of his father, with some account of 
the family ancestry, appears elsewhere in this 
work. The subject of this article passed his 
boyhood and youth in his native town, and 
after being graduated from the Hebron Acad- 
emy with the class of 1883 he taught school 
for four w'inter terms. Subsequently, settling 
upon a large farm in Hebron, he at once en- 
gaged in agriculture, which he still continues; 
and he also carries on a good business as con- 
tractor for the building of public highways 
and the furnishing of stone work. He owns 
three hundred acres of well located land, which 
he devotes to general farming, fruit-raising, 
and dairying; and he keeps forty head of 
cattle, including twenty milch cows. His 
buildings are new and substantial, the resi- 
dence being finely furnished, and the barn and 
other out-buildings well stocked with agricult- 
ural im])lements of the latest improved pat- 
tern. An energetic, progressive, and intelli- 
gent )oung man, he has become prominent in 



BIOGRAPIUCAL REV[1A\' 



363 



local [Hiblic affairs, having served as a member 
of the Hoard of Selectmen for three years, as 
Collector and Constable, and in other town 
offices. Mis i^olitical opinions affiliate him 
with the Republican party. 

On January i, 1885, Mr. Stearns married 
Ik'rtha 1{. Kverett, daughter of Hiram M. 
I'^verett, late of Hebron. She died June ly, 
1SS8, leaving one child — Ora B. , who was 
born January 20, 1887. On November 20, 
1890, Mr. .Stearns marrieil for his seconti 
wife, Fannie A. Dunham, who was born in 
Livermore, Me., June 30, 1872, daughter of 
Dr. J. C. Dunham, of Hebron. Mr. Stearns 
is connected with Hebron Grange, No. 43, 
Patrons of Husbandry; and he is a member of 
the Baptist church. The success which ha.s 
already attended his efforts, both as a business 
man and a farnier, is indicati\-e of still greater 
prosperity in the future, and it is safe to 
assume that his enterjirising sjiirit and good 
judgment will enable him to suimouiit all 
ol)stacles in his path. 




RRIN S. TURNKR, a successful in- 
ventor and manufacturer, of New^ \'ine- 
-' I yard, Franklin County, was born here 
November 14, 1831, son of the Rev. 
David and Jane (Merchant) Turner. His 
grandfather. Captain ' David Turner, at an 
early day came from Martha's \'ineyard, 
Mass., and settled on a farm near the village of 
New Vineyard. Besides carrying on farming. 
Captain Turner worked at the trades of car- 
penter and wheelwright. During the Revolu- 
tionary War he served as a Captain. His son, 
the Rev. David Turner, a native of Martha's 
Vineyard, was at first engaged in farming. 
He .subsequently became a minister, and 
helped to build the church and organize the 
society of Congregationalists in this village, 
ofificiating as pa.stor for about thirty years. 
He married Jane Merchant, a native of Mar- 
tha's Vineyard, who had si.x children by him; 
namely, Priscilla, Hannah, Mary Jane, Solo- 
mon, David, and Orrin. Priscilla is deceased. 
Hannah, now the widow of Otis Corbett, lives 
in North Paris, Me. Mary Jane, the widow 
of Solomon Luce, lives in this village. Solo- 
mon died at the age of nineteen years. David 



has also passed away. The father died in 
1858, and the mother some years later. 

Orrin S. Turner acquired his education in 
the common schools. At the age of seventeen 
he left home to teach in Anson, Me., where 
he remained two years. He then took em- 
ployment as a lal)orer in the Shovel Handle 
Manufactory in this village. Three years after 
he started in ihe same business tor himself. 
Later he began the manufacture of wooden 
bo-xes, and continued it for ten years. He 
then went into the dowel, trmik, and cleat 
business, and the manufacture of novelties, 
which he also followed for ten years. Hav- 
ing leisure, and a large stock of dowels on 
hand, which he could not sell, he tried to 
make a chair for himself with a reclining back. 
This proved such a success that he at once had 
it patented, and it is now known as the self- 
adjusting back and reclining rocker. He has 
made large sales of this chair, and still runs a 
wason selling sixty chairs a week to the trade. 
Mr. Turner now intends to sell the patent 
right. His chair shop is kept running only 
through the winter. He also conducts a farm 
of twenty-five acres, upon which he spends 
most of his tiTiie. In politics, since casting 
his first vote, he has affiliated with the Demo- 
cratic party. He has served as Township 
Clerk for the past thirty-seven years. Com- 
mercially, he has met several losses by fire. 
On one occasion, when his factory was burned, 
he lost seven thousand dollars. At another 
time his house was .struck by lightning and 
destroyed. Lie has, however, done well with 
his invention, which has. enabled him to cope 
successfully with the difficulties in his path. 
Mr. Turner has been twice married. On 
November 20, 1856, he first wedded Rebecca 
E. Luce, a native of New Vineyard, and a 
daughter of Solomon Luce. She died June i", 
1873, having become the mother of four chil- 
dren — Llerbert, Albion D., Annie L., and 
Susia L. Herbert married Allie Stone, and 
lives in this village. Albion D. married 
Nellie Johnson, and they are also residents 
of this place. Annie L., who is a milliner, 
resides at home. Susia L. is the wife of 
Frank Russell, and they reside near Boston. 
On September 20, 1875, Mr. Turner con- 
tracted his second marriage with Miss Luc)' 



364 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



]•;. Hixb}', a native (if Anson, Me., whose par- 
ents arc both deceasccl. By this marriage 
there is one child — Frank R., horn in 1S76, 
who still resides at home. Mrs. Turner is 
a member of the Congregational church. 




"OX. ALl^lON r. GORDON, one of 
the most prominent residents of 
l'"rveburg, and a member of the 
Maine Senate, was born May 20, 
1836, upon the farm he now owns and occu- 
pies, siiii of Henry and I-^liza (15arker) Gordon. 
Mr. Gordon's great-grandfather, Menr)- Gor- 
don, first, was a native of Irelanil, and a 
weaver b\' tiaile. llis grandfathei", also named 
Henry, was born in ]*"r\'eburg, and settled 
upon the old l^uzzell farm in this town. 

Henry Gordon, the third (if the name, father 
of Albion P., was burn in 1^'rveburg, and was 
a lifelong resident of this town. In young 
manhood he took up his abode on the farm 
where his son now resides, and industriousl)' 
tilled the soil until the lime df his death, 
which took place in P^ebruary, i<S,Sj. He mar- 
ried Kliza I^arker, a native of p"r_\eburg, and 
she became the mother of seven children, only 
two of whom grew to maturit\', namely: Al- 
bion P., the subject of this sketch; and Maria 
]■]., who is now the widow of l-ldgar G. Adams, 
and lives in ]""ryeburg Centie. Mrs. ]{liza B. 
Gordon, who is now eighty-five years old, 
resides with her son at the homestead. 

Albion P. Gordon's early education was lim- 
ited to the simple branches of study taught in 
the (.(inimon schools of his day; but, being 
naturally intelligent and [irogressive, he has 
through his own personal efforts accumulated 
a large amount of practical knowledge and gen- 
eral information. He began at an early age to 
assist his father in attendins; to the regular 
duties of the farm; and after his marriage he 
took entire charge of the jiroperty, which 
eventually fell to his possession. He owns 
about two hundred acres, which constitute the 
homestead farm, the tillage portion being 
under excellent cultivation; and in connection 
with farming he has for several years past been 
engaged in carrying on lumbering operations, 
p-or over thirty years he has been a practical 
land surveyor in this county, and some years 



since he was employed l:)y the State to locate 
the exact boundary line betw^een Maine and 
New Hampshire from the sea-coast to the 
Canadian frontier. 

On November 16, 1.S63, Mr. Gordon was 
united in marriage with Harriet Wiley, of 
Fryeburg, daughter of the late PInoch Wiley, 
who formerly carried on a farm in this town, 
and whose wife is still residing at the home- 
stead. Mrs. Gordon has had one .son — P'rcd, 
who was born December 30, 1864, and died 
January 7, 1878. 

As an earnest and exceedingly actix'e sup- 
porter of the Republican party, Mr. Gordon 
has long been a [xitent factor in the political 
affairs of the town and connt\'. He has serxcd 
as a member of the Board of Selectmen and 
upon the .School Board, was County Commis- 
sioner from 1871 to 1877, and is at the present 
time a member of the State Senate. His dis- 
tinguished public services, it is not too much 
to say, have given him an honorable reputation 
throughout the State. He is connected with 
Pythagorean Lodge, A. P". & A. M., P^ryebuig; 
Oriental Chapter, Bridgton ; and .St. Alban 
Commandery, Portland ; also with l'>yeburg 
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd P'ellows, 
and with the Grange at P'ryeburg Centre. 
Mrs. Gordon is a mendier of the Congrega- 
tional church. 




AS'PM.'XN J. ROSS, a |)rominent farmer 
and fruit-grower of Phillips, was born 
in Rangeley, this county, l-'ebruary 
13; I'^.iO' ^'"1 "f ^^'illiam and lumice (Hoar) 
Ross. The family descends from an early 
explorer named John Ross, who was its 
founder in America. Its early representa- 
ti\'es were mostly seafaring men. .Several 
generations of the Rosses li\'ed in Bowdoin- 
ham. Me. The first representative to appear 
there was John Ross, who was a mariner. 
His son, Joseph, the great-grandfather of East- 
man J., with several of his brothers, was en- 
gaged in the fishing industry and the merchant 
marine. Josejjh Ross was twice married, had 
twenty-one sons and two daughters, and lived 
to the age of ninety-eight years. Fben Ross, 
the grandfather, who was born in Bowdoinham, 
became a sea captain, jiassed his last years 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IFAV 



^('- 



with his .son, and was ninety-six \ears ok! 
when he died. He married Mercy Tooth- 
acker, and had a family of eight children, 
none of whom are living. 

William Ross, Mr. Ross's father, was horn 
in Bowdoinham in 1816. At the age of nine- 
teen he went to Rangeley, where he was en- 
gaged in farming and lumbering. After re- 
siding there for about si.x years he came to 
Phillips, folU)wed the same occupation here for 
the rest of his life, and died at the age of fifty- 
seven years. While he took no active interest 
in politics beyond casting his vote, he gave 
much of his spare time to religious work, and 
was a prominent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. His wife, Eunice, a 
native of Phillips, was still an infant when her 
parents moved to Rangeley. In making this 
journey they followed a trail through the woods, 
marked by blazed trees, hauling their effects 
and their daughter on a hand sled. That occa- 
sion was well impressed on the minds of both 
parents by the shock they received when, on 
the way, they suddenly missed the child from 
the sled. She had fallen off a short time be- 
fore, and was recovered a little distance back. 
They endured much hardshiiJ during their first 
winter in Rangeley on account of the Indians, 
who robbed them of their supplies, oblig- 
ing them to subsist for some time upon such 
fish and game as the father could catch. A 
younger sister of Mrs. Ross's mother is said 
to have been the first white female child born 
in Rangeley. Mrs. William Ross became the 
mother of eleven children, eight of whom are 
living, namely: Eastman J., the subject of 
this sketch; Sarah, who married Joseph 
Brackett, and lives on Peak's Island; Annis, 
the wife of B. D. W'hitney, of Gardiner, Me. ; 
William J., Raymond C, Charles F., Leland 
D. , and Fred M., all residents of Phillips. 
The others were: Margie S., who died in 
1862, aged twenty years; Luther J., who died 
at the age of twenty-three; and Nellie M., 
who married John Z. Everett, of Phillips, and 
died at the age of forty-four years. 

Plastman J. Ross came to Phillips when he 
was eleven months old. He acquired his edu- 
cation in the common schools of this town. 
When a young man he went to California, 
returning after four years spent in mining and 



farming. In 1.S71 he erecteil a mill, which 
he operated for about twenty years. LI is pres- 
ent farm contains two hundred acres of excel- 
lent land, which he culti\'ates to good advan- 
tage. He has an orchard of eight hundred 
trees, and makes a specialty of fruit-growing, 
which is the source of considerable profit. 
He also keeps grailed stock td the a\'erage 
number of twenty head. 

On November <S, 1866, Mr. Ross wedded 
\'aIora Beal, of Avon, Me., and is now the 
father of three children. They are : Margie 
L. , Montieze, and Lee E. J. Margie L. is 
the wife of William Schofield, Jr., of Phillips, 
and has one child, Margie Wilhelmine. The 
others are at home with their parcrjts. In 
politics Mr. Ross is a Republican. He is a 
member of -the Methodist lipiscopal church, 
with which he is officially connected as Trus- 
tee and -Steward. 




-in P:NRY R. DASCOMB, who conducts 
a flourishing general mercantile busi- 
ness in Wilton, and has one of the 
best ajjpointed stores in this section, 
was born in Wilton, November 26, 1848, son 
of I-fenry A. and Cynthia (Perr_\') Dascomb. 
Mr. Dascomb is of French origin. His great- 
grandfather, 'Lhomas Dascomb, when a young 
man moved from Needham, Mass., to the town 
of Jay in this county, carrying with him such 
articles of domestic and agricultural utility as 
he could conveniently take. Making his way 
by the aid of marked trees to his destination, 
Thomas bought a large tract of wild land. 
Upon this he built a log cabin, and in due time 
had cleared sufficient ground for the planting 
of his first crop. At this early ilate Hallo- 
well, which was se\eral days' journey away, 
had the nearest mill. In spite of this, and 
other inconveniences incident to pioneer life 
in tliis region, he became prosperous, and was 
able to erect frame buildings. The farm so 
laboriously acquired is now owned by George 
H. Dascomb. Thomas Dascomb reared a large 
family of children. His sons were: Thomas, 
Alexander, John, Timothy, and P^lbridge. 

Alexander Dascomb, Mr. .Dascomb's grand- 
father, is believed to have been the first male 
child born in law In voung manhood he 



366 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



sottlcil in tlic town nf Wilton, where he re- 
sided for the rest of his life. He was one of 
the most |irosperous farmers and progressive 
citizens of his day. His last years were spent 
in retirement, and he died May 20, 1873, aged 
eighty-three years. In politics he acted with 
the Democratic ])arty, and in his religious 
creed he was a 15aptist. He married Susan 
Pike, who died I'\>hruary 14, 1877, when 
eightv-si.\ years old. Her children were: 
Miranda, Sarah, Ellison, Hannah, Lovica, and 
Henry A. Henry A. Dascomb remained at 
home with his parents, and during his father's 
declining years took charge of the homestead 
farm of one hundred and fifty acres. He car- 
ried it on industriously until his death from 
heart disease, which happened April 22, 1872, 
at the age of foity-nine )oars. He was a 
Democrat in politics, and a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Cyn- 
thia, who survives him, is a daughter of Josejjh 
Perry, of Temple. .She was the mother of 
four children — Henry R., Eeander A., Will- 
iam M., and Effie C. 

Henry K. Dascomb was educated in the 
public schools and at the Wilton Academy. 
After teaching school anti working upon the 
farm for two years he became a clerk in the 
store of R. H. Puller. In 1874 he bought an 
interest in the business, and was associated 
with Mr. I'uller for seventeen years. At the 
end of that time C. J. Richards bought Mr. 
P'uller's interest, and two years later sold it to 
Mr. Dascomb, who has since been the sole 
proprietor. After the lapse of some time his 
increasing trade obliged him to erect his pres- 
ent three-story building. Si.xty-three by 
thirty feet, it is not only one of the most spa- 
cious stores in this part of the county, but is 
handsomely finished and convenicnth' furnished 
throughout. The basement is used for paints, 
oils, rubber goods, etc. ; the first floor is 
devoted to drugs, boots, shoes, and gentlemen's 
furnishings; the second floor accommodates 
the custom and ready-made clothing depart- 
ment; while the to]3 story is set a[)art for 
storage purposes. He carries a large and 
varied stock of a superior qualit}'. He makes 
it a jjoint to have always on hand a full line in 
each department, so as to be able to supply his 
customers at all times with just w'hat they 



want. . liy so doing he maintains his estab- 
lished trade while securing new patrons daily. 
Able, energetic, and popular, his future pros- 
perity is assured. 

On January ig, 1875, Mr. Dascomb was 
united in marriage to Martha P. Keyes. She 
was born in Jay, January 3, 1857, daughter of 
Lorenzo and Lucy (Powers) Keyes. Her pa- 
ternal grandparents were Ebenezer and Je- 
mimah Keyes, who came from Massachusetts 
to this county among the early pioneers. Mrs. 
Dascomb's mother belonged to one of the old- 
est families here, being a descendant of Henry 
Powers, who came to America in 1720, and 
settled at Harvard, Mass. Mrs. Dascomb died 
March 15, 1894, leaving three children, as fol- 
low\s : Edna ¥., born March 6, 1876, who is now 
attentling Colbv Ihiiversity; Colin IL, born 
August 3, 187S, who is a student at the same 
university; and Otho Lee, born (October 5, 
1880, who is still at home. Mr. Dascomb is 
a member of the Methodist P'piscopal ciiurch. 
In politics he is a Republican, and he has 
filled with ability the important position of 
Superintendent of Schools. Pie is a Past 
Master of Wilton Lodge, Xo. 156, A. 1". & 
A. M., and a member of P'ranklin Cha])ter, 
Ro\al Arch Masons. Some years ago he 
bought the John Bass homestead on Main 
Street, which he has since greatly improved, 
and occupies as a residence. 



/3)e()KGE a. ALLEN, M.D., a prom- 
V '*) I inent physician and surgeon of Erye- 
— biug, making a specialty of difficult 
surgical ojierations, is a native of East Stone- 
ham, this county, born November 21, 1857. 
PI is parents were George F. and Lucy Ann 
(Stewart) Allen, natives respectively of Nor- 
way, Me., and P^reedom, N. PI. George P". 
Allen accompanied his jiarents to the town of 
East Stoneham when a mere boy. P'rom his 
youth until he came of age he was engaged 
in hunting, which he found very profitable. 
He subsequenth' w-orked for some time at 
stone-cutting. P'inally he settled upon a farm 
in East Stoneham, which he- carried on pros-" 
perously for the rest of his active period, and 
died November 22, 1881. His wife, who sur- 
vives him, and lesides at the old homestead in 




GEORGE A. ALLEN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



569 



Stiincliam, became the iiiotliei- nf ele\-en chil- 
clien, as follows: ICchvin, who died in iiSfji; 
Josephine, who married llenr\' A. Hickford, 
and lives in East Stoneham ; Charlotte, who 
is the wife of \V. S. Butters, and conducts a 
restaurant in Kumford Falls, Me. ; Ida May, 
the wife of A. C. Holt, of Lynchville, this 
county; George A., the subject of this sketch; 
Emma J., who married J. 1''. Hawkins, and 
resides in Minnesota; Leon, who is now en- 
gaged in the shoe business in Keene, N. H. ; 
John S. , who is carrying on a meat market in 
Newry, Me. ; Lizzie Maria, who died July 31, 
1879; Melvin !•",., a resident of East Stoneham ; 
and Ernest C, who resides with his mother at 
the homestead. 

George A. Allen acquired his early educa- 
tion in the common schools and in the North 
Kridgton Academy. He then entered the 
Medical Department of the LIniversity of Ver- 
mont, from which he graduated July 14, i8c)0. 
Shortly after he began j^ractice in Acton, 
York County, . where he remained two and a 
half years. Subsequently, he spent a little 
more than two years at Milton Mills, N. H., 
made a short stay at Conway, N. H., and came 
to Fryeburg in September, 1895. In the brief 
time that has since elapsed he has acquired a 
high reputation as a surgeon, in consequence 
of which he has already a practice embracing 
a wide circuit in this part of the county. He 
occupies a pleasant residence situated on Main 
Street, near the post-office, a most favorable 
location for his office; and he owns two large 
farms in the town of Stoneham, which his pro- 
fessional duties leave him no time to cultivate. 

On I'ebruary 10, 1882, Dr. Allen was 
united in marriage with Linnie A. McKeen. 
She was born in Pittsfield, N.H., May 10, 
1862, daughter nf Frank \V. and Martha 
(Saunders) McKeen. Her parents moved to 
Lovell, Me., when Mrs. Allen was a \-oung 
girl, and there Mr. McKeen followed the corn- 
age making business; there also both parents 
died. Dr. and Mrs. Allen have one daughter 
— Linnie Marguerite, who was born May 9, 
1892. In politics Dr. .Allen is a Republi- 
can; and while residing in Acton he was 
prominent in public affairs, having served as 
Chairman and Secretary of the Board of 
Health. He is connected with Mount Tire'm 



Lodge, No. i;,2, A. V. & A. M., of Water- 
ford, and with Hiawatha Lodge, .\o. 49, 
Knights of l'\thias of East Stoneham. He 
and Mrs. Allen attentl the Congregational 
church, anil are very jiopular in social circles. 
A portrait of the iloctor illustrates this lirief 
sketch of his career. 



's^AMICS M. SHAW, a representative 
farmer ot Waterford, ( ).\ford County, 
where he has lived since his birth on 
October 20, 18 17, is a son of the Hon. 
Josiah and Hetsy (Haskell) .Shaw. The father, 
who was born in .Standish, Me., October 3, 
1773, and lived there until his marriage, came 
to Waterford about the year 1800, and settled 
on land a mile and a half south of his son's 
present farm, near the village of -South Water- 
ford. After residing there a few years he 
bought the farm now owned by his son, and 
lived on it until his death, January i, 1842. 
He was a cooper by trade and a local ])reacher 
of the Methodist l^piscopal church of Water- 
ford. He served as Justice of the Peace, was 
a delegate to tlie first .State convention of 
Maine held in Portland, and often rendered 
good service to the town. Lie was twice mar- 
ried, on the first occasion to Miss Sarah Poore, 
of Brownfield, this county. She was born 
January 21, 1777, and died November 23, 
1813. Of this union there were seven chil- 
dren, as follows: Polly, born January 3, 1 79C), 
who died Jime 15, 1833; Josiah, born Novem- 
ber 25, 1797, who died August 9, 1S42; 
John, born February 12, 1800, who was a 
Methodist P'piscopal minister, and died y\ngust 
20, 1825; Sallie, born July 28, i8oi,whodied 
September 30, 1828; Ann, also deceased, 
born May 15, 1804; Joseph, horn .August 12, 
1807, who died aged fifty-six years; and 
Rachel, also deceased, born Jul}- 21, 1810. 
The father's second union was contracted with 
Miss Betsy Haskell, who has borne him one 
son, James M. 

James M. Shaw, who was very studious in 
his boyhood, made the most of his o])]ior- 
tunities for acquiring an education, although 
unable to pursue his studies beyond the com- 
mon schools. After his marriage he contin- 
ued to live with his parents, working on the 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVaKW 



old farm. At their death he succeeded to the 
projiertv, and has since conducted it with good 
judgment. It contains about one iiundred and 
twentv acres, in a good state of cultivation. 
Mr. Shaw carries on general farming, rai.se.s 
some stock, and keeps a small dairy. He was 
injured in a runaway accident January 2, 1896, 
and is now about to retire. He was a cooper 
bv trade, and in his younger days taught school 
in the winter season. He has a collection of 
about fifteen hundred minerals and shells, 
the larger ])art of which he has collected by 
himself, and which he values at several hun- 
dred dollars. 

Mr. Shaw has been thrice married. The 
first time was October 22, 1.S39, when he was 
united to Elvira Noble, of Norway. She died 
July 17, 1847, leaving two daughters, both 
living with their father. They are: Ophelia 
M., born September 5, 1840; and L(}uella 
Amanda, born December 5, 1841, now the 
wMdow of David F. ITint, of Norway, who 
died May 26, 1890. Mr. Shaw's second mar- 
riage w'as contracted in March, 1848, with 
Esther Hall, of Norway, who died some time 
after, leaving no children. On December 14, 
1870, he married ^liss Harriet U. Stone, of 
Waterford. who died October 26, 1889. The 
only child born of this union died in infancy. 
In ]ioliticaI affiliation Mr. Shaw is now a Re- 
jniljlican. h'or eight years he was Superin- 
tendent of Schools in Waterford. He is a 
charter mendjer and I^ast Master of the Water- 
ford Grange. Both he and his younger daugh- 
ter, Mrs. l-'lint, are communicants of the 
Methodist I-Ipiscopal church; while Ojihelia 
M. is a member of the Baptist church. 




)EANDER P. ROWE, carriage manu- 
facturer and rejiairer, Waterford, Me., 
was born in ik-thel, this State, De- 
cember 25, . 1833. His parents 
were Caleb and Abigail (Plummer) Rowe; and 
his grandparents, Ephraim and Martha Twitch- 
ell Rowe, the former a farmer of Bethel, the 
latter the daughter of one of the ])ioneer set- 
tlers of that place. 

Caleb Rowe died in 187S. His wife, who 
was a daughter of Josiah P. Plummer, of 
Waterford, died in 1S91. I'heir children 



were eleven in number, namely: Irene, de- 
ceased; Erancena, living in Boston, Mass.; 
Harriet I., widow of Sheldon W'alker, residing 
in Brownfield, Me. ; Leander P. ; Almon T., 
dealer in wines and teas, Boston, Mass., who 
married Miss Carrie Noyes of that city; Cey- 
lon, who married Miss Malvina Grover, of 
Bethel, Me., where he is a prosperous mer- 
chant; Octavia, who died in childhood; 
Abhie, who also died young; Octavia, wife of 
Dana Bartlett, living on the old Rowe home- 
stead in Bethel, Me. ; Edwin and Calvin E., 
twins. Edwin Rowe, who is an extensive 
trader in Bethel, Me., married Miss Ella 
(iodwin. Calvin K. died at the age of si.xteen. 
All of these children who attained years of 
discretion were well educated, attending 
Gould's Academy at Bethel. 

Leander P. Rowe, the fourth child in the 
group, is the direct subject of this biographical 
notice. He remained at home until the winter 
of his majority, when he entered on a two 
years' apprenticeship to the trade of carriage- 
making at Bethel. At the close of his term 
of service he removed to South Waterford and 
opened a shop, and since that time he has 
made all kinds of carriages, wagons, and 
sleighs. At present he makes vehicles to 
order, but his principal \vork is repairing and 
painting. He owns some land and raises 
crops for his own use; and, being interested 
in farming matters, he is a member of the 
Waterford Grange. He has been very suc- 
cessful in his business, and is widel_\- known 
and esteemed. 

On December 16, 1861, he was married in 
Bethel, Me., to Maria A., daughter of Ichabod 
and Sarah (Legro) Hayes. Airs. Rowe was 
born in Waterford, August 29, 1840. Her 
father, Ichabod Hayes, was born September 
12, 1803, in P'armington, N. H. He was a 
carriage-maker, and worked at his trade in 
South Waterford for some time, dying there 
October 26, 1857. His wife, who was born 
in Lebanon, Me., in 1842, ])assed away Sep- 
tember 3, 1 88-1. This couple reared three 
children, Maria A., Mrs. Rowe, being the 
third. The eldest, Ichabod, was born August 
12, 1830, and died December 3, 1891. The 
second. Martha A., born October 21, 1833, 
was twice married. By her first husband, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



William Hamlin, (if SwciIlmi, Mc. , .she hail 
three children, namely: Ella M., born July 26, 
1855, now wife of Samuel I.e Broke, of 
Waterford, who was born January 28, 1855, 
the son of Daniel and Nancy (Cole) Le Broke; 
Annie F. (deceased), born in May, 1857; and 
John Henry, born May 29, i860, a grocer in 
Norway village, Me., who married Miss Carrie 
Bennett, and has one child. The second hus- 
band of Martha A. Hayes was David P. ]?is- 
bee. By him she had one son, Scott, a mill 
man, who married Miss Ida Andrew. 

Mrs. Rowe is the mother of four children : 
Bertie A., born June 22, 1862, who died June 
12, 1870; Annie ¥., born August 28, 1871, 
who died December 27, 1872; Harry L., born 
March 10, 1874, a graduate of Bridgton Acad- 
emy in the class of 1892, now a conductor on 
the electric road in Boston, Mass. ; and Sadie 
M., born January 25, 1884, who still brightens 
her parents' home and is attending school in 
Waterford. Mr. Rowe is a strong believer in 
the temperance cause, and an active woiker for 
its advancement. 




£J.M1-:RV PARSONS, a well-to-do farmer 
and infhiential citizen of Hartford, Ox- 
ford County, was born Januar\' 3, 
1837, on the farm where he now lives, his 
parents being Daniel and Harriet (lunery) 
Parsons. His father's birth occurred in Hart- 
ford in 179s, and his mother's in Gorham, 
Me., in 1804. 

Davis Parsons, the fatlicr of Daniel, was 
the second or third settler of Hartford, locating 
in the south part of the town on the farm now 
occupied by Ezra Keen. He was industrious 
and enterprising, winning the respect of all in 
the community in which he lived. At the 
time of his death he was eight\-seven years 
old. He was thrice married, and by the three 
wives had seven children that grew to maturity. 
Of these may be named — Annie, Daniel, 
William, Henry, Olive, and Mary. 

Daniel Parsons, the eldest son, like his 
father engaged in general farming, at which 
he was very successful. He settled in the 
northern part of the town, where he cleared 
a good farm and brought it under cultivation. 
He served in the War of 1812, and he was 



known in after \ears as Colonel Parsons, hav- 
ing been promoted to that rank. He died on 
the farm where his son resides, May 20, 1S76. 
Harriet, his wife, died June 15, 1885. In his 
younger days Colonel Daniel Parsons was a 
Democrat; but he was aftciwartl itlentificd 
with the Republican party, of which he was 
one of the early and standi supporters. He 
served a number of terms in the offices of 
Selectman and Town Treasurer. He was a 
religious man, and was a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. He was married three 
times, and by the different unions had fourteen 
children altogether; namel}-, Cyius, .Alnieda, 
Merritt, Betsey, William, Daniel, Addison, 
Lydia, Emery, Martha, Harriet, IIenr\', Syl- 
via, and Julia. The six now living are: Mer- 
ritt Parsons, of Buckfield ; Betsey, the wife of 
Isaac Pulsifer, of Poland, Me.; Addison B, , 
of Rumford P'alls; Iimery ; Hairiet, wife of 
(i. H. P'uUer, of Lewiston ; ami Henr}', who 
lives in Buckfield, Me. 

It is now, November, 1896, very nearly sixty 
full years since the birth of limery Parsons, 
which took place in Hartford, as above notetl, 
about the beginning of January', 1837. Grow- 
ing to manhood in his native town he acciuircd 
his education in the public schools, and then 
took up the hereditary occupation of farniing, 
in which he has been \ery successful. He has 
thriven through his own efforts, and is to-day 
the owner of over two hundred acres of land, 
besides other property, being one of the largest 
tax-payers of the towri. 

On January 15, 1S70, Mr. Parsons was 
joined in marriage with Miss /Xbhie Mitchell, 
who was born in Waterfoicl, Me., Ma\' 19, 
1846, a tiaughter of Zenas and Eliza (Bard) 
Mitchell. Her maternal gi'cat grandfather, 
William Bard, was the first white settler in 
the town of Hartford. Zenas Mitchell, her 
father, was a farmer of Hartford, where he 
was born and spent the greater part of his life. 
He died here aged eighty-three years; and his 
widow, who is a member of the I'ree Will 
Bajjtist church, now makes her home with 
her children. She is the mother of seven, 
of whom five are living, namel\' : William 
Mitchell, of Hartford; Abbie, Mrs. Parsons; 
Wallace, residing in Auburn, Me. ; Lois 
Mitchell, who li\'es in North Wevmouth, 



572 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



I 



Mass. ; :in(l Robert, ui Hartford. :\Ir. and 
.Mrs. Parsons have lost two children: Hertha 
E., who died December 17, 1891, aged 
twenty-one, and an infant who died July 2<S, 
1878, aged seven months; and have three 
living,— namely, Edith M., Addie L., and 
Harold K. , all at home. The family are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church of 
Hartford. In politics Mr. Parsons is a Re- 
publican. Eraternally, he is connected with 
Anasagunticook Lodge, No. 32, Independent 
Order of Odd Eellows, of Canton; al.so with 
the Patrons of Husbandry, No. no, of Canton. 



'OSEPH B. DOW, one of Earmington"s 
most prominent citizens, now retired 
from active business, was born in 
Vienna, Me., on the i Sth of April, 
1825, the son of Daniel E. and Sophronia 
(Eaton) Dow. 

His grandfather was Benjamin Dow, who 
was born in Concord, N.H., and came to 
Maine, settling in Clinton, Kennebec County. 
He married a Miss Robbinson, of Cornville, 
Me., and they had seven children, of whom 
two died very young. The five who attained 
the age of maturity were : Joseph R. , Daniel 
L. , Rice, Mrs. Smart, and Mrs. Sarah Currier. 
Benjamin Dow died at the age of seventy-si.x 
years, and his wife at sixty-eight years. He 
was a Free Will Baptist in religion and a 
Democrat in his political ]3rinciples. 

Daniel L. Dow, son of Benjamin, started in 
life as a farmer, like his father, and did very 
little else all his life. For some time he had 
charge of the Langdon Hill estate. After 
his marriage he took charge of the farm pre- 
viously conducted by his wife's father, at the 
same time taking care of the old folks. He 
did a large lumbering business here. Some 
time later, after his parents were dead, he 
sold the old homestead, and bought a new 
farm near Clinton, on the Kennebec River, 
a farm consisting of about one hundred and 
fifty acres of land. 

He married Miss Sojihronia P2aton, the 
daughter of Deacon Daniel liaton. They had 
eight children, who were: Langdon H., Jo- 
seph H.. l^lake T. , Rice, Daniel E. , Martha 
1.. Adrith. and Catherine. Daniel L. Dow- 



was in early days a Whig in his political affil- 
iations, and when that party went out of 
existence he naturally became a Republican. 
He was a Deacon of the Free Will Baptist 
church. He died at the age of eighty-seven 
years, and his vv'ife died at the age of eighty- 
four. 

Joseph 11, the second son of Daniel L. and 
Sophronia Dow, is the special subject of this 
sketch. In early life he applied himself to 
learning the trade of a cabinet-maker and 
later that of a house carpenter, going to 
Boston and working at these trades for a 
period of three years. Then he became a con- 
tractor. One of his first pieces of work was 
a block for the medical college, which he 
erected at a cost of twenty-three thousand 
dollars; and, this proving a great success, he 
then went to Lawrence, Mass., where he 
worked on some of the famous mills. He was 
also employed on the locomotive works in 
Lowell. 

In 1841 he came to Farmington, Me., 
where he met and married Mary B. Craig, the 
daughter of Moses and Lois (Thomas) Craig. 
She was born on the 31st of July, 1822; and 
she died on the 21st of March, 1882, at the 
age of sixty years, having been the mother 
of four children, namely: Mary L. ; Lizzie 
D. ,who married Captain E. H. Marwick and 
has three children — Edward E.. Lillian M., 
and Dwight D. ; Melvin, who died at the age 
of three years; and Charles, who died when 
five years old. Mary L. is married to Nelson 
Gould, son of David and Hannah (French) 
Gould. He is a resident of Farmington, is a 
farmer and a real estate owner of some promi- 
nence, and is a large manufacturer of potash. 
He has also served as Dejiuty Sheriff. The\' 
have one child, Wallace J., born on the ir)th 
of October, 1884. 

After his marriage Mr. Dow went to Lewis- 
ton, where he purchased twelve lots of land 
on College Street, and built a house with the 
intention of living there. His wife, however, 
became so homesick that Mr. Dow, in defer- 
ence to her wishes, moved back to F'arming- 
ton, buying a farm, on which he lived for four 
years. Selling that place, he then bought the 
Bailey estate, and built a new house. This 
was in i860. Two vears later, when it be- 




JOSEPH B. DOW. 



DIOCIRAPHICAL RFA'IF.W 



came evident that the war was ,t;oiiij;- to be 
very serious, ami that more men were needed, 
he enlisted in his country's service, was ap- 
pointed to tiie responsible office of iiospital 
steward to the Sixteenth Maine Regiment, 
and went down Soutii, where he remained 
until the end of the war in 1865. He then 
went to Louisiana with J. Baldwin, engaged in 
sugar refining for three years. Later he went 
to St. Paul, and engaged in the tiling busi- 
ness, laying tilnigs for walks and floors for a 
period of two years; and from St. Paul he 
moved to Kansas City, where he erected a 
building in which he carried on the same 
business for some three years more. At the 
end of this time he rented his business there, 
and returned home to Farmington, retiring 
from active life entirely, although he man- 
ages his own property. 

Mr. Dow is a Republican in politics anil a 
member of the Congregational church, and is 
also a member of F"ranklin Lodge, Independent 
Order of Odd P"ellows, of this town. He is 
much respected and deeply admired among all 
his friends and acquaintances for his energy, 
probity, and success. 




i^-,P:NJAM1X F. MAKEPKACIC, 
M.D., a rising young physician of 
^J New Sharon, Franklin County, Me., 
was born in Carthage, in the same 
State, on the 8th of February, 1 S60, the son 
of Alansi)n and Mercy Jane (Gilson) Make- 
peace. 

His father, Alanson Makepeace, was born 
in Norton, Bristol County, Mass., in 1808. 
He came to Maine in 1859, bought a farm of 
one hundred and twenty-five acres in Carthage, 
cleared a part of it, and improved the old 
buildings that stood upon it. He had been 
married in Norton, Mass. He was the father 
of eleven children — Jane J., deceased; Sarah 
E., who married Uriah Moss, and lives in 
Chesterville; Martha M., deceased; Charles 
O., who is also married, and who lives in 
Chesterville; Silas A. and Leander E., both 
deceased; Josephine; Laura A., deceased; 
Josiah, who died young; another son of the 
same name, who died also; and Benjamin F., 
of whose life this is a slight sketch. 



Benjamin !•'. Makepeace receix'cd his earl}' 
education at the common schools of Chester- 
ville; and later he attended Wilton Academy, 
a college preparatory school, paying his own 
way. Mr. Makepeace was twenty-four years 
old when he went into the employ of the l^os- 
ton & Lowell Railroad, gradually working 
himself into the position of station master at 
Bleachery station, even though Mr. Charles 1{. 
Page, the superintendent, told him he was not 
wanted, and that he wouUl by no means draw 
any pay for his offered services. He, never- 
theless, remained at his self-appointed post, 
and at the end of the month, presenting him- 
self at headquarters, found that he had been 
on the pay-roll all the time. After winning 
his position in this extraordinary manner, he 
lieUl it for -a year and a half, until he was 
forceil to return home, much to the regret of 
his employers, who had come to ailmire him 
for his pluck and determination, in order to 
take care of his mother, who was far from 
well. 

In the mean time he hati been conscien- 
tiously pursuing the study of medicine by 
himself, antl in the year 1886 he was gradu- 
ated from the medical department of the L'ni- 
versity of the City of New York. 

Dr. Makepeace began to practise in Chester- 
ville immediately upon his graduation, and 
built up quite a little practice there, remain- 
ing until April, 1892, when he removed to 
New Sharon, where he has stayed ever since. 
His mother had died in 1S88; and in 1892 his 
father followed hei' to the other side, these 
deaths being the piincipal causes of the break- 
ing up of the family life in Chesterville. 

During his long preliminai'y period of hard 
labor and study Mr. Makepeace earned con- 
siderable money by teaching school, being 
thus occupied for twenty-three terms. In 
1884 he was called to Dennysville to become 
the principal of the school in that place; and 
while there he met fvliss Julia A. lulgecomb, 
the daughter of Groves Edgecomb, of Hollis. 
This lady he married on the 25th of Octo- 
ber, 1888. They have one child. True p]., 
born April 4, 1891. 

Although still a young man. Dr. Makepeace 
is now the leading physician of New .Sharon, 
and by his al)ility and steady application com- 



M(> 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



nianiis the respect and good will of the com- 
munity. A proof of his prosperity is the fact 
that he has sa\ed up money enough to purchase 
two acres of land in Chesterville village, with 
the house that stands u])on it, by renting 
which ])iece of property he is enabled to add 
substantially to his income. 




,yH I.ni':Rr W. walker, a prosperous 
ice and granite dealer of South Paris, 
was born in Portland, Me., April 
6, 1S53, son of Charles L. and 
Mary ("S'ork) Walker. His grandfather, 
I".[)hraini Walker, a shoemaker, who settled 
in Portland, later in life purchased a small 
farm in l^aldwin, Cumberland County, where 
he followed farming in the summer, and in 
the winter worked at his trade. Charles L. 
Walker was born in Maine, August 20, 1825. 
He was engaged in farming until December 
12, 1863, when he enlisted in Company I of 
the Thirtieth INIaine Regiment, which was 
sent to the .South. In the spring of the fol- 
lowing year he was taken sick and died at 
Morganza, June 19. He had married on No- 
vember II, 185 I, Miss Mary York, a daughter 
of David York, who was a representative 
farmer of Naples. Three sons live to bless 
their union — Albert W. : William M., a 
farmer of Prownfield, with whom the mother 
is living; and Charles J., an engineer at St. 
Louis, Mo. 

When eighteen years of age Albert W. 
Walker went to Boston, where he was succes- 
sively employed throughout the summer season 
by the Boston Ice Com])any and the South 
Boston Ice Company, and taught school in the 
winter. In 1881 he purchased a farm in Den- 
mark, Me., and was there engage^l in general 
farming until 1887. He then came to South 
Paris, and bought out the Paris Ice Company. 
Five years later, in 1892, he bought out the 
Norway Ice Coni])any. He now supplies both 
Norway and Paris, running two wagons, and 
jnitting up about seventeen luindred tons of 
ice ]>er annum. During the winter he en- 
gages in teaming. In 1892 he bought out 
J. H. Linscott, a granite dealer, and has since 
carried on a large business in monumental 
work and building, also tlealing in brick. 



Among the several contracts he has since 
filled was that for the granite and brick work 
of the Billings Block. Scon after coming to 
South Paris, Mr. Walker purchased a piece of 
land at the west end of Pleasant Street. This 
he cleared, and in 1S88 erected a fine house, 
subsequently grading the grounds, and setting 
out fruit and shade trees, so that the place is 
now a very attractive estate. 

On P^ebruary 9, 1876, Mr. Walker was 
united in marriage with Miss Jennie Lord, a 
daughter of Albion and Olive (Wentworth) 
Lord. Her father, a successful farmer of 
Denmark, Me., died in 1872, fifty-six years of 
age. Her mother lived until 1891, after at- 
taining the age of seventy-one years. Their 
other children were: Lizzie A., Edson A., 
Abby C, Ada C, Louisa I. (deceased), and 
Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have four chil- 
dren, namely: Percy M., born December 2, 
1876, who is a graduate of the South Paris 
High School, also of Shaw's Business Col- 
lege, where he completed the course in May, 
1896, and is now in business with his father; 
Eva E. , born August 23, 1878; Mertie G., 
born November 30, 1880; and Alta C, born 
August 18, 1882. 

Mr. Walker casts his vote with the Repub- 
lican party. During his residence in Den- 
mark he served as superintendent of schools. 
He is a member and Past Master of Paris 
Lodge, No. 94, A. E. & A. M., in which he 
has filled the different chairs; a charter mem- 
ber and Past Grand of Denmark Lodge, No. 
50, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having 
joined at its organization in 1877; a member 
of the Odd Fellows liincampment : a charter 
member of Hamilton Lodge, Kniglits of Pyth- 
ias, in which he is Past Chancellor; ami a 
member of the United Order of the GoUlen 
Cross, and of the Good Templars. 



0I':L S. PLUMMER, a prosperous 
farmer and dairyman of Waterford, and 
a member of the family for whom the 
Plummer neighborhood in this town 
takes its name, was born in Waterford, Novem- 
ber 28, 1832, son of Daniel and Amy (Stone) 
Plummer. His grandfather, Samuel Plum- 
mer, was born in Rowley, Mass., in 1769, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



377 



settleti in W'aterford about the year 1790. 
While liviiin' there Samuel divided his time 
between ear|)entry, to which he had served an 
ajiprenticeshi]!, and farming. By his thrift, 
industry, and strong character he won the 
respect of his townsmen, who elected him to a 
number of offices of trust. 'i'lie I'lummer 
neighborhood was so named as a mark of 
respect to him. Me married Mli/.abeth Jewett 
of W'aterlord, who was born in iJ/cS. She was 
the mother of the follow'ing children, all of 
whom have long since passed away: Daniel, 
the father of Joel .S. ; I-lben, born in 1801, who 
successively married I^liza ]5ryant, Julia liil- 
lings, and Mary Knight; .Samuel, born in 
1803, who married Jane Kimball; Cyrus, born 
in 1805, who married Harriet Barker; .Sophia, 
born in [811, who became the wife of Dr. 
Jotham ("rooclenow; George W. , born in 181.4, 
who married Mary Houghton; and Mclwin, 
born in 1816, who died young. 

Daniel I'lummer was a native and a lifelong 
resident of Waterford. Like hisjather he was 
a carpenter and a farmer, and was widely 
known and cjuite prominent. He died Febru- 
ary 5, 1861. His wife, who w-as also a native 
of W'aterford, survived him until 1894. This 
couple were the parents of eight children. 
Amanda, the eldest daughter, married e.\-. Sen- 
ator John G. Hamblen, of Lnvell, Me., a 
prominent farmer and lumberman, and a mem- 
ber of the State legislatine for several terms. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hamblen died some time 
since. l<"rances Plummer, who is unmarried, 
lives with her lirother, the subject of this 
sketch. Thomas, now deceased, was a baker, 
and he mairied Miss Georgie Bolster, of Nor- 
way, Me., who also has passed away. Edwin 
tlied on the ship "Ida Handy " while the Civil 
War was waging. Nancy became the second 
wife of the Hon. John G. Hamblen, of Lovell, 
after the death of her sister Amanda. She 
died in May, 1896. Daniel Lewis died 
young. Mellen, who is a prominent citizen of 
Bridgton, and the Treasurer of the Bridgton 
Savings l^ank, married Miss Clara Murphy. 

Joel S. I'lummer acquired a fair education 
in the common schools near his home. After 
his father's death he took charge of the old 
Plummer estate, which has been his home 
since infancy. The property contains two 



hundred acres, and is laigel)' under cultivation. 
Mr. I'lummer has made manv improvements, 
and has been very successful in raising farm 
products. He has a small dair\', from whith 
he sells C|uantities of cream. A hard-working 
and conscientious man, of unswerving inte<r- 
ritv, he has won general respect. 

On May 31, 1859, he was unitetl in marriage 
with I-'rances A. Wheeler, who was born in 
Waterford, September 18, 1835. .She is a 
daughter of Frank anti Caroline (Billings) 
Wheeler, both likewise of Waterford, and now 
resting in the cemetery. Mr. Wheeler was a 
carpenter and farmer. Mr. and Mrs. I'lummer 
have two children, namely: Agnes K., born 
June 16, 1863, who is a graduate of (jorham 
Normal School, and has taught school lor 
several terms in Waterford; and Carrie, born 
June 8, 1869, a graduate of the Douglas .Semi- 
nary, who is now teaching. Mr. I'lummer is 
a stanch Republican, who never neglects his 
duties as a citizen, while he has no desire 
for ])ublic office. He is a membei' of Mmmt 
Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, A. b". K: A. M., of 
Waterford. I^oth jiarents and children are 
members of the P'irst CoULriey-ational Church 
of W'aterford. 




ALT1-:R W. FARKAR, of the firm 
Briggs & Farrar, meat dealers in 
South I'aris, was born in the south- 
ern [lart of the town of I'aiis, August 10, 
1859. His father, liela W. b'arrar, also a 
native of I'aris, was luirn May 30, 1834; and 
the birth of his mother, Mar\' Ann (Ma\hcw) 
I'"arrar, occurred A])ril 24. 1837. His pater- 
nal grandparents were: Bela Farrar, who was 
born in l^uckfield. Me., December 27. 1791; 
and Lydia (Thayer) I-'arrar, also a native of 
Buckfield, born July 3, 1797. Ikda I'arrar was 
a son of David and Judith I'arrar. 

Walter W. I'anar sjient his early years in 
acquiring an education in the schools of Paris. 
He remained with his parents until he was 
eighteen years of age, after which he worked 
for three or four years at farming. In [861 
he entered the employ of the I'aris Manufact- 
tn-ing Company, and did general work for two 
years. During the ne.xt two years he was with 
Thaver l^rothers in the meat business. Then 



inoGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



he ijurchascil a lialf interest with G. A. Briggs, 
a meat ilealer, with wliom he was associated in 
business about nine months. Selling out that 
interest to his brother, Wilbur L. Farrar, he 
started a liverv stable at South Paris and one 
at Paris Hill. ha\'ing in both tweh'e horses 
and suitable carriages. At the same time he 
carried the mail between the two places. 
I'our \-ears later he sold out to T. Thayer, pur- 
chased the ("icneral Cushman farm of one hun- 
dretl acres, located a mile east of South Paris, 
and went into the cattle and stock business 
with John I'hilbrook, of Bethel, shipping prin- 
cipally to the market of l^righton, Mass. 
After three years Mr. I'arrar repurchased the 
interest sold to his br<ithei', Wilbur L. Farrar, 
and since that time has been in company with 
Mr. Briggs, firm of l^riggs & Farrar. They 
have a market and cooler on Western Avenue, 
South Paris. 

On Februar_\- 2J, iS8o, Mr. Farrar was mar- 
ried to Miss Dora K. Thayer, daughter of 
Alexander S. and Ruth (Marston) Thayer, and 
grand-daughter of Deacon Levi Thayer. Her 
father was a prominent cattle dealer and 
farmer, and held many positions of honor and 
trust in the town. Mr. and Mrs. Farrar have 
four children; Knnello A., born April 22, 
1883; Lester W. , horn December 4, 1884; 
Lettie L., born November 10, 1887; and Eva 
L, born August 22, 1893. Mr. Farrar is a 
supporter of the Democratic party, and is a 
member of Mount Mica Lodge, No. 17, hule- 
[lendent ( )rder of Odd ]-"ellows. 




IRAM KELSEY HOBBS, a practical 
farmer, and one of the most exten- 

l<5 I sive landholders of P'ryeburg, Me., 

was born in this old Oxford County 
town, December 26, 1839, son of Stephen 
I'arrington and Mehitable (Barker) Hobbs. 
His grandfather on his father's side was James 
Hobbs, w^ho resided in Cliatham. N.H., and 
was twice married. 

The first wife of James Hobbs was Sarah, 
tlaughter of Captain Stephen P'arrington, a 
noted military character of this locality, who 
w-as born in Concord, N.H., and was one of 
the original proprietors of l-'ryeburg township. 
He served under Colonel Robert Rogers, was 



appointed a Lieutenant by the State of Massa- 
chusetts in 1 78 1, and was the last person in 
New England to receive a special commission 
to fight the hidians. In 1781 and 17S2 he 
commanded a company of volunteers, raised to 
protect the early settlers from the frequent 
attacks of the savages, and he and his com- 
pany in 1782 went to the relief of Bethel. 
Captain I-'arrington died in P'ryeburg in 181 1. 
James Hobbs married for his second wife the 
widow of Seth Chase, of P'ryeburg. 

Stephen Farrington Hobbs was born in 
Chatham, N.PL, the home of his father, 
James llobbs. He had a natural taste for 
study, and after acquiring his education he 
taught school for a while, but finally engaged 
in agricultural pursuits in P'ryeburg, where he 
became quite a prominent man. He died in 
1862. His wife, Mehitable Barker, who was 
born in P'ryeburg, was a daughter of John and 
Hannah (Wilson) Barker, of Massachusetts. 
John Barker was a Revolutionary soldier, who 
settled in l-'ryeburg, about the year 1780, and 
resided upon a farm in this town for the rest 
of his life. His daughter, Mehitable, was 
twice married. Her first husband was Joseph 
Kilgore, whose father, also named Joseph and 
a resident of this town, served in the Revolu- 
tionary War. The children born of her first 
marriage were two sons — Joseph, who died 
about the year 1854; and John, who died in 
1857. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen !■'. Hobbs were the 
parents of eight children, as follows: Isaac 
De Witt, who died at the age of nineteen; 
Hiram Kelsey, the subject of this sketch; 
Mary Ann Bradley, who dietl in 1854; P2unicc 
Barker, who died in the same year; P^noch 
Webster, who enlisted as a private in the 
Twenty-third Regiment, Maine A'olunteers, 
and was accidentally killed near Washington, 
D. C, in July, 1862: Stejjhen F"rancis and 
Emma, who are no longer living; and Lyman 
Kilgore, who is now residing with his brother, 
Hiram K. Mrs. Mehitable Barker Hobbs 
died in 1880. 

Hiram Kelsey Hobbs, the second son, was 
educated in the common schools in P'ryeburg, 
and has always resided upon the farm that he 
now cultivates. His homestead property con- 
tains sixty acres of well-improved land, which 



BlOGRAl'lIICAL REVIEW 



379 



he devotes to general husbaiulry, more esjie- 
cially to the raising of sweet and yellow eorn, 
potatoes, and hay, harvesting a large crop of 
the last-named product. He has been actively 
identified with the lumbering industry of this 
section for several years past, and at the pres- 
ent time he is the owner of three thousand 
acres of wild land. 

Mr. Hobbs is much interested in the politi- 
cal issues of the day, being a stanch supporter 
of the Republican parly. 1 le served efficiently 
on the Board of Selectmen for several years. 
He is a member of one of the local fraternal 
organizations, namely: Pythagorean Lodge, 
No. II, A. F. & A. M., of Fryeburg, and also 
belongs to the Royal Arch Masons Chapter in 
Bridgton. Mr. Hobbs is one of the best 
known among the many well-to-do residents of 
Fryeburg, and is highly respected by all. 




IDGAR FUGENE McLAIN, of New 
Vineyard, Franklin County, a well- 
known manufacturer of turned 
wooden bo.xes and variety goods, and a dealer 
in flour, feed, and groceries, was born here 
October 21, 1S46, son of Deacon John and 
Mary Ann (Carsley) McLain. His grand- 
father, Charles McLain, who was the first 
representative of the family to come to this 
town, settled in a spot north-west of the vil- 
lage, where he carried on farming throughout 
the rest of his life. 

Deacon John McLain, a son of Charles, was 
born in New \'ineyard, where he still lives, 
residing north of the village, and engaged in 
farming. His wife, Mary Ann (Carsley) Mc- 
Lain, a native of Wilton, Me., became the 
mother of six children — Elbridge, Lizzie, 
Edgar Eugene, Abbie, John A., and Lizzie 
Jane. Elbridge married Sarah Ann Merch, 
of Carthage, Me., where he is engaged in 
farming. Lizzie died at the age of seven 
years. Edgar E. is the subject of this sketch. 
Abbie lives at home. John A. successively 
married Lizzie Moshier, who died, and Flora 
Kennedy, and resides with his present wife in 
Amboy, Minn., where he carries on farming. 
Lizzie Jane married Eugene Keniston, a 
farmer, and resides with him in Temple, Me. 

Like his brothers and sisters Edgar Eugene 



McLain accpiircd liis ethication in the common 
school. At the age of twenty he left home, 
and was variously employed for a year there- 
after. He then bought Mr. Stewait's interest 
in the saw-mill of .Morton & .Stewart, and was 
a partner of Mr. Morton for nearly the ensuing 
twenty years. JUning Mr. Morton's interest 
then, he has since managed the mill alone. 
In iSSi he built a large steam-mill of fift_\' 
horse-power, where he employs about fifty nien. 
He manufactures goods for Messrs. 1{. B. 
Estes & Sons, wholesale and retail dealers in 
New York. He also operates tin? shingle and 
lath mill, manages a well improved farm, and 
daily runs a four-horse team to h'armington, 
selling feed, grain, and groceries. A con- 
siderable extent of timber land in the county 
belongs to hjm. In politics he has affiliated 
with the Republican party since he first voted; 
while he has declined to serve in many town 
and county offices. He is a member of Lemon 
-Stream Lodge, No. 55, Independent Order of 
(3dd Fellows, of West New Portland, Me. 
His annual income from his Inrsiness is thirty- 
six thousand dollars. 

On December S, 1.S67, Mr. McLain was 
united in marriage with Miss Eliza H. Mor- 
ton, a native of New X'inevard, and a daughter 
of George and Sarah (Hiscock) Morton. Her 
father is deceased. Her mother now lixes 
with her. Two sons have been horn of the 
marriage, namely; Frank Herbert, who is now 
in college at Portland, Me. ; and Walter K., 
who is at home. Both the father and mother 
ai'e members of the Congregational church. 




i;ORGE W. BECKLER, of Albany. 
;5 1 Oxford County, Me., who has been 
locally prominent for years as a 
member of the town government and as one 
of the most extensive farmers in this vicinity 
was born in Greenwood, the adjoining town on 
the east, April 18, 1836, son of John C. and 
Abigail (Cole) Beckler. 

John C. Beckler was born in Hebron, this 
county, but made Greenwood his home during 
the greater ])art of his life. He was a black- 
smith by trade and had a farm in (Jreenwood, 
working alternately at the forge and in the 
field. His tleath occurred in 1869, his wife's 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



in 1X74. This couple were the parents of 
thirteen children, namely: Lucy and Daniel, 
deceased; Isaac, a farmer of Sparta, Wis., 
who married Miss Sarah Frye ; Elizabeth, wife 
of Samuel j. l-'rost, of Norway village, Me. ; 
Mar)-, Mrs, Xason, now living in South Ber- 
wick, ^le. ; Abigail, living in Manchester, 
X. H. ; Jennie, widow of (Jeorge T. Dresser, 
in Linden, \'t. : S\lvia, wife of Jacob Dresser, 
a farmer of Berlin, X.IL; John L. and Va- 
leria, deceased; an unnamed child who died in 
infancy; Ksther, who lived but two years; and 
George W. , the subject of this sketch, of 
whom further mention follows. 

The services of George \\'. Beckler being 
needed on the home farm when he was a mere 
bov, his period of schooling was mostly limited 
to winter terms. When he was twenty years 
of age he went to Conemaugh, Pa., where he 
w-as engaged in a saw-mill, making shook, for 
two years, and then, returning to his native 
county, he inu'chased a farm in Albany. This 
farm he tilled for a number (jf years, husband- 
ing his income and working always w^ith a 
view to bettering himself. In 1889 he bought 
the fine estate on which he now resides, and 
during his term of ownership has made many 
marked improvements. His landed property 
comprises seven hundred and twenty acres, 
every rood of which is used to the best advan- 
tage, the whole affording abundant tillage, 
pasturage, and timber. Here Mr. 15eckler is 
engaged in general farming and stock-raising, 
devoting his attention in the winter season to 
hmibering. 

October 27, 1861, he was united in marriage 
with Julia -A., daughter of John and Hannah 
(Johnson) I'almer. She was born in Lovell, 
this county, October 23, 1842, her parents, 
who were natives of Conway, N.H., having 
removed to Lovell at an early date. Mr. 
I'almer was engaged in agricultural pursuits 
during the greater part of his life. Five chil- 
dren have brightened the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Beckler, namely: Walter I., born Octo- 
lier 12, 1862, now a farmer of Albany, Me., 
who married Miss Dora Cummings; Warren 
(]., born December 3, 1865, residing w-ith his 
father, married to Miss Addie Millett ; Charles 
G., born Xovember 12, 1870, Mabel \'., born 
September 11, 1872, and Maude A., born Xo- 



vember 30, 1874, all still uniler the shelter of 
the parental roof. 

Mr. Heckler is one of the leading Repuldi- 
cans of this part of the county, and is at pres- 
ent Chairman of the Republican Township 
Committee. He has ser\ed on the Board of 
Selectmen for eleven years, six years as Chair- 
man, and has been second Selectman since the 
spring of i8g6; and he is a member of the 
Board of Health. He is a Knight of Pythias, 
belonging to Hiawatha Lodge, No. 49, of I^ast 
Stoneham, this county. Mrs. Beckler is a 
member of the Congregational church of North 
Waterford, Me. 



TT^IIARLES G. ANDREWS, a retired 
I Vj^ farmer and lumberman of South Paris, 

\%) O.xford Count)-, Me., was born in 

Lovell, Me., May 23, 1833, son of 
Stephen and Betsey (Coffin) Andrews, of that 
town. He comes of patriotic pioneer stock, 
being a grandson of Samuel Andrews, who 
served as a captain in the Revolutionary War, 
and was afterward one of the first settlers of 
Lovell. 

Captain Andrews bought one hundred acres 
of wild land, upon which he built a log house. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah 
Elden, was the first white female resident of 
that town; and she, for several years after set- 
tling here, was accustomed to make the jour- 
ney of sixty miles on horseback to Saco to 
procure necessary supplies, finding her way by 
the aid of marked trees, and through the prim- 
itive bridle-paths. Grandmother Andrews 
was a strong and able woman, possessing a 
robust constitution, and reached the advanced 
age of one hundred and two, but was totally 
blind during the last thirty years of her life. 
She w-as long a widow. Grandfather Andrew-s 
having died at about the age of fifty years. 
Their family of ten children were as follows: 
Hezekiah, Catherine, Nathan, Caroline, 
Moses, Amos, Gibbons, Stephen, Ruth, and 
Abel. 

Stephen Andrews, son of Captain Samuel 
and Hannah (F^lden) Andrew^s, inherited one- 
half of his father's farm, later adding more 
land; and during his active manhood he en- 
gaged successfully in farming and lumbering. 



IMOCKAI'IIK'Al, KF.VIKW 



,vS. 



Mis last years were passed in retirement, and 
he (lied at the age of eighty-one. In polities 
he was a Democrat, and in his religious views 
he was a Methodist. He married Betsey 
Coffin, and they became the parents of eleven 
children, namely: Cyrus; Charles G., the 
subject of this sketch: Sumner: Kufus: 
Allen; IChvell: Hannah; Naamah ; Onin; 
V^irgil; and Otis. The mother died at the 
age of fifty-seven years. 

Charles G. Andrews, the second son as here 
recorded, acquired a good practical education 
in his boyhood, and upon the completion of 
his studies he began life as a farmer and hmi- 
berman. He bought a piece of agricultural 
property near the homestead in Lovell, where 
he tilled the soil from planting time to har- 
vesting, and during the winter season he car- 
ried on lumbering operations, hauling his 
logs to the Saco River, and floating them to 
market. In 1884 he left that farm in charge 
of his son Orson, and, removing to South 
Paris, he bought the Wheelwright jilace with 
some land adjoining. Here he has since re- 
sided. Being unable to suppress his habits of 
industry, he purchased a wood lot soon after 
settling in South Paris, and his time has been 
profitably employed in cutting and hauling the 
wood, much of which has been sold to the 
Paris Manufacturing Company. 

In early life Mr. Andrews conceived a lik- 
ing for the practical study of mineralogy, 
which has been given ample scope for develop- 
ment by the abundant mineral wealth of 
Mount Mica, and the adjacent region; and his 
various prospecting tours have resulted in the 
finding of many rare precious stones, includ- 
ing valuable specimens of the beautiful 
tourmaline, which he has sold to good advan- 
tage. He has secured one of the largest and 
most unique cabinet collections owned by any 
single individual in the State, possessing 
samples from every part of the United States 
between the Atlantic and Pacific coast, includ- 
ing some valuable gems which have been cut 
and polished. 

On P'ebruary 23, 1S60, Mr. y\udrews was 
united in marriage with Phebe Charles, of 
Lovell, a daughter of John and Charlotte 
(Chandler) Charles. Her paternal grandjiar- 
ents were Jonathan and Hannah Charles, the 



former of whom was among the early settlers 
of Lovell. John Charles, who was a iirogres- 
sive and successful farmer, died at the ace of 
sixty-seven, and his wife lived to be seventy 
years old. They were the parents of se\en 
children, as follows: Mai-}': Oliw: ]'',rastus; 
I'llbridge; 13etse\' : Phebe, who is now Mrs. 
Andrews: and I{li/.a. 

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have three children, 
namely: Orson, a farmer in Lovtdl, who was 
born November 5, 1863, married Gertruile 
Ouint, and has two children — Bt^rtha and 
flortense; ICllra, who was born Seiitember 9, 
1866, and is now a i)hysiciau and di'uggist of 
North Anson, Me.; and Irving, a farmer ami 
can-maker of .South Paris, who was born May 
15, 1873, married Nellie A. Morse, and has 
one son, RaLpli C. 

Mr. Andrews retains the energy and activity 
of a much younger man, and, though his busy 
life has been a successful one, he still prefei's 
to spend his time in some useful emploN-nient. 
His social connections are of the most cordial 
nature, both he and his wife luudng a lai'ge 
circle of intimate friends and accpiaintances ; 
and, fraternally, he belongs to Paris Lodge, 
No. 94, A. 1'". S: A. M. In ])olitics he sup- 
ports the Rei)ublican party, and he is a mem- 
ber of the Christian chiuxh in Lovell. He 
has served three years as Assessor of Paris, 
and is present incumbent of that office, 
which is one requiring the exercise of sound 
judgment and impartiality. 



OHN P. RACKLIFFE, a manufacturer 
of all kinds of lumber antl boxes at 
Allen's Mills, was born in Anson, 
Me., March 2, 1827, son of William 
Elizabeth (Perkins) Rackliffe. Mr. 
Raekliffe"s ]iarents were natives of Wool- 
wich, Me. William Rackliffe. who was a 
boat-builder and a shoemaker, in 1824 moved 
to Anson, where he followed farming and 
shoemaking until 1837. He then removed to 
Starks, Me., and resided there imtil his death, 
which occurred in i860. His first wife. P'liz- 
abeth, became the mother of seven children, 
as follows: a child that died in infancy; 
Ezekiel, also deceased: William Henry, who 
died in Wisconsin: Rufus, who has been 



3S2 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



twice married, ami is now residinj^ in Madi- 
son. Me.: John 1'., the subject of this sketch; 
Elizabeth Mary, who became Mrs. M. Green- 
leaf, and resides in Starks: and Isora Jane, 
who married Barker Skinner, and died some 
time ago. The mother died in 1839. The 
father contracted a second marriage with 
Huldah Stover, of New Sharon, Me., who has 
since died. 

John r. Rackliffe acc|uired his education 
in the common school, and resided at himie 
until he reached the age of nineteen. He 
then went to l^ast Stoughton, Mass., where he 
was engaged in driving a team between that 
town and Boston for four years. From Massa- 
chusetts he went to La Crosse, Wis., and was 
there employed in a hotel for a year. Return- 
ing again to the East, he conducted a mercan- 
tile business in Starks for two years, after 
which he managed a farm in that town for 
some time. He was later employed in a car- 
riage shojx where he remained until 1866, 
and then for the next four years operated a saw 
and grist mill. After selling out the last 
business he engaged in the manufacture of 
hubs, which he has since followed. In 1875 
he bought his present place at Allen's Mills, 
began to make long and short lumber, packing- 
cases, hubs, etc., and has since carried on a 
large and profitable business. He owns a 
farm consisting of about three hundred acres 
of desirable land, which he successfully works 
by hired assistants. 

On June 20, 1861, Mr. Rackliffe married 
Susan Jane Griffin. She was born in I'as- 
sadumkeag, Me., January 4, 1842, daughter of 
Daniel W. and Fanny (Winslow) Griffin, na- 
tives respectively of Levant and Portland, 
Me. Mrs. Rackliffe's father, soon after his 
marriage, went to Du I'age County, Illinois; 
then, after two years, to Cook County, Illi- 
nois; from which place, seven years later, he 
returned to Maine. Subsequently, after being 
engaged in trade in Starks for a time, he 
moved to a farm in Jay, and died in \'ienna. 
Me., February 28. "188S. His wife's death 
hapjiened in Jay, March 16, 1S77. Mr. and 
Mrs. Rackliffe have had five children. Their 
first-born died in infancy in 1862. Their next 
child, Bert Andrew, who was born November 
2, 1864, died December 28, 1S77. Fanny I., 



born June 1, 1866; died h^'bruary 11, 1896. 
Lillian M., who was born l-\'brnary 16, 1868, 
married I^'red A. Allen, and died September 
28, 1890, leaving one son, Ralph A., now 
living with his father in New Sharon. The 
fifth child, Winifred S., was born November 
I, 1 88 1. In politics Mr. Rackliffe is an ac- 
tive supporter of the Republican party, and 
he has held the office of Town Treasurer, bt)th 
in Starks and Industry. His prosperity is 
the result of his personal energy and ability, 
which, with other commendable traits, have 
gained ft)r him the good will of the business 
men of l-'ranklin Countv. 



ISAAC 1'. TITCOMB, a jMOsperous agri- 
culturist of Norway, Oxford County, was 
born in this town, January 3, 1S40, son 
of Rodney and Sarah (Smith) Titcomb. 
His grandparents, Isaac ami Azubah (Drink- 
water) Titcomb, were natives of Yarmouth, 
Cumberland County, where the grandmother 
spent her entire life. The grandfather was a 
seafaring man, who spent much of his time en- 
gaged in nautical pursuits. After retiring 
from active life he came to Norway, where he 
spent his last days with his son Rodney, and 
tiled in iSC^o. Of the four children born to 
him and his wife, none are now living. 
Rodney was the eldest child, the others being: 
Dorcas, Alexander, and a child that died at 
the age of two years. 

Rodney Titcomb was born in "S'armouth, 
where he worked as a farm laborer for some 
vears. He subse(|uently came to Oxford 
County, settling first in the town of Paris, 
where he was engaged in agriculture for fif- 
teen years. Moving then to Norway, he 
bought a farm in the western part of the town, 
and there engaged in tilling the soil until 
quite an old man, when he retired from active 
occupation. .'\t this time he took up his resi- 
dence in the village of South Paris, this 
county, where he died June 7, 1S88, aged 
eighty-one \ears. He was twice married. 
His first marriage was contracted with Sarah 
Smith, a native of Paris, who died at the age 
of sixty-seven years. She bore him three 
children, namely: George S., now a resident 
of Paris, Me., who married Lelia Durfee; 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Isaac 1'".; the subject of this skctcli ; aiul 
Cynthia, who died some time ago. By his 
second marriage he was united to Mrs. Eliza- 
beth (Payne) Dyer, the widow of the late 
Oliver Dyer, now living in Paris. Of his 
second union one child was born, Charles I.. 
Titcomb, who married fvliss Effie Pratt, and is 
a resident of tlie village of South Paris, where 
he is engaged in the upholstering business. 

Isaac F. Titcomb attended the district 
school, and assisted on the home farm until 
he was twenty years of age. lie then went to 
Portland, where he was employed in the city 
hotel for a year. On December .29, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company G, P""ifth Maine \'olun- 
teer Infantry, under command of Captain 
Harris and Colonel Jackson, for service in the 
Civil War. He took part in several of the 
more important engagements of the war, in- 
cluding that of the second Bull Run, the 
battles of Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill, and 
the Seven Days" fight before Richmond. At 
the battle of Malvern Hill he was serii)usly 
injured in the skull by being run over by an 
artillery wagon, while on the retreat, and at 
Richmond he received a buckshot wound in 
the ankle. He also suffered imprisonment in 
Belle Isle for six weeks before he was ex- 
changed. After the latter event he rejoined 
his regiment at Fairfax Court House, and con- 
tinued in the service until July 21, 1864, 
when he was honorably discharged. On re- 
tin"ning to Norway ^Ir. Titcomb engaged in 
agriculture, settling on the farm where he has 
since lived. He has one hundred and seventy 
acres of valuable land, a part of which is in a 
high state of cultivation. He carries on the 
various branches of general farming with suc- 
cess, raises some stock, and keeps a small 
dairy. 

On March 20, 1872, Mr. Titcomb married 
Miss Lydia A. Parsons, who was born January 
24, 1850, in N(n'way township. Her father, 
Moses Parsons, was a lifelong resident of this 
town, where he carried on general farming, 
worked at the carpenter's trade, and died Jan- 
uary 1 8, 1892, aged seventy-nine years. He 
married Sallie Brooks, a native of North Yar- 
mouth, whose death occurred in Norway, No- 
vember 17, 1893, when she was eighty-three 
years old. Mr. and Mrs. Titcomb have three 



children, namely: Addie K.. who is now 
teaching in Xorway; pjpma P. ,ind Louisa 
F. , who are attending schoid. In politics the 
father is a stanch Reiiublican. He is a mem- 
ber of Norway (irange. He also belongs to 
the l-'ifth Maine Regiment Association, which 
has a Memorial Building on Peaks Island, 
Portland Harbor, where he and his wife s|)end 
a few weeks every summer. Both he anrl 
Mrs. Titcomb are members <>( the Methodist 
ICpiscopal church. 




SCAR K. BARROWS, one of the 
rising farmers and leading young men 
of Paris, was born in this town, P'eb- 
ruary 27, 1S61, son of John .S. and 
Lucy A. (Hall) Barrows. His grandfather, 
Cornelius Barrows, was a native of Hebron, 
Me., where, during the active period of his 
life, he followed farming. His last days were 
passed in the society of his children. 

John S. Barrows, father of Oscar F., was 
born in Monson, Me., December 20, 1825. 
Learning the shoemaker's trade when a young- 
man, he followed it for some time, finally set- 
tling in Paris \i[)on a farm which is now 
owned and carried on by his son. He was a 
]oractical farmer, and a very hardworking man. 
Intelligent and self-respecting, he kept up 
with the times, and was generally well in- 
formed upon current events. He retained his 
customary activit\' until his death, which took 
place .September 9, [893. He stood high in 
the community as an upright man and a 
worthy citizen. He adhered to the [principles 
of the Republican party, and was a member of 
the Congregational church. His wife, Lucy, 
who was born in South Paris, October 4, 1828, 
became the mother of four children, two sons 
and two daughters, as follows: (Iscar IL, the 
direct subject of this sketch: Fdgar 1""., whu 
was born in Paris, December 1, 1867, is mar- 
ried, and is now a pros])erous farmer in this 
town; Cora Emma; and Anna L. The two 
last named died at the age of twenty-one 
years. Mrs. John S. Barrows is still living, 
and resides in South Paris village. 

Oscar E. Barrows was educated in the 
schools of Paris. At an early age he began 
to a.ssist his father upon the farm, and when 



3^4 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Init ciyhlocn lie rL'ndcrcd valuable aid in lilt- 
ing troni it a mortgage of twelve hunclrecl 
dollars. Tliis task he accomplished in an un- 
usually short time. Receiving a deed of a 
half-interest in the farm upon attaining his 
majority, he jnuxhased the remaining portion 
after his father's death. He now owns two 
hundred acres of well-located land, which he 
devotes to general farming. He raises a con- 
siderable amount of fruit, keeps about fifteen 
graded Jersey cows, and has a good paying 
sugar bush. Since taking full possession of 
the property he has made extensive improve- 
ments, having at the present time a fine set of 
buildings, anil his position among the well-to- 
do agriculturists and leading residents of this 
town is already assured. 

On February 24, 1S86, Mr. Barrows wediled 
lumice I'orter, who was born in Paris, August 
31, 1S64, (.laughter of John B. and Maria B. 
(ITorne) I'orter. Her father was a successful 
merchant, but is now retired, and resides in 
Xorway, ^^e. He and his wife attend the 
liajitist church. Mr. and Mrs. Barrows have 
two children — Blanche A., born April 22, 
1887; and Irving O., born March 13, 1892. 
In politics Mr. Barrows supports the Republi- 
can party. He is connected with Paris 
Grange, I'atrons of Husbandry, and is inde- 
pendent in his I'eligious views. 




'LVIN \V. McKliEN, a prominent citi- 
zen of I'ryeburg, O.xford County, Me., 
holding the office of .Second Select- 
man of this town, of which he is a 
nati\'e, resides upon a farm near North Frye- 
burg. He was born P'ebruary 28, 1849, son 
of Alvin and Livonia (Weeks) McKeen. 

The McKeens were originally from Scot- 
land. Mr. Alvin W. McKeen's great-grand- 
father, Samuel McKeen, was born February 
14, 17(13, in Londonderry, N. H., being a de- 
scendant of early settlers of that town, who 
came there from the north of Ireland. Set- 
tling in Fryeburg, Samuel McKeen resided 
here for the rest of his life. His son, James, 
was a prosperous farmer of this town. 

Alvin McKeen, son of James McKeen, and 
father of the leading subject of this sketch, 
was born in P'ryeburg, and reared to agricult- 



ural pursuits. His maternal grandfather, 
John McDaniel, who was a native of Scotland, 
is said to have served in the Revolutionary 
War on the British side. More than one of 
the McKeens, who were stanch patriots, fought 
for the independence of the Colonies. Alvin 
McKeen worked at farming on his own ac- 
count in J^'ryeburg when a young man, but 
later removed to Porter, where he resided for 
one year. Returning to his native place he 
bought a farm in the northern part of the town- 
ship, and here he was engaged in tilling the 
soil during the rest of his active period. He 
died December 7, 1895. PI is wife, Livonia 
Weeks, who was a native of Porter, died May 
4, 1892. She had reared but one child — 
Alvin W. , the subject of this sketch. 

Alvin W. McKeen was educated in the com- 
mon .Schools and at the P'ryeburg Academy, 
and was for some time engaged in teaching 
school. He began at an earl)' age to assist in 
carrying on the farm u]3on which he has 
resided since he was seven years old, and, 
having .succeeded to its ownership, has made 
various improvements in the property. The 
homestead consists of forty acres of desirably 
located land, which is devoted to the raising 
of hay, sweet corn, and potatoes; and he also 
owns some wild land. 

On November 17, 1872, Mr. McKeen was 
married to \'esta Emerson. .She is a native of 
Stovve, Me., daughter of Joseph and Mar_\- Ann 
(Charles) Emerson. Joseph Emerson was a 
farmer, a cattle dealer, and a lumlierman. He 
removed from Stowe to ]'r\eburg, where he 
resided f(n- the rest of his life; and his wife 
passed her last days in this town. Mr. and 
Mrs. McKeen have two children, namely: 
Byron W. , who was born July 26, 1874; and 
Leslie PL, who was born August 17, 18S7. 

Mr. McKeen has served with ability as .Sec- 
ond Selectman of this town for the [last three 
years. Although he believes in the princijiles 
of the Democratic part)', he considers it for 
the interest of the general community to sup- 
port the candidates who are the best qualified 
to hold ]niblic office. Pie is connected with 
Pythagorean Lodge, A. V. & A. M., of Frye- 
burg ; Fryeburg Lodge, No. 49, Independent 
Order of Odd P'ellows, of P'ryeburg Centre; 
and is also a member of the Patrons of Hus- 



BIOGRAPHK^M, REVIEW 



38; 



lKm(lr\'. lie enjoys a wide aci|iiaiiilancc 
thi'oughout this section of the count)-, and is 
liigiily respected as an industrious and useful 
citizen. 




)EVI L. LINCOLN, one of the repre- 
sentative men of Ktmiford Falls, and 
for many years connected with the 
railroads in this State, was born 
in Bath, December 4, 1827, son of Abram (). 
Lincoln and Hannah S. (Wales) Lincoln. 
Having received his education in the public 
schools of Bath he learned the baker's trade in 
his native city. After following his trade for 
some time he decided that railroad work would 
suit him better, and entered the employ of the 
Kennebec & Portland Railroad Company in 
the winter of 1849-50. I'^ir two years he was 
engaged as brakeman and baggage-master, and 
during the ten years ensuing he was conductor 
on freight and jiassenger trains. He was 
brakeman on the first train to Gardiner ami 
Augusta, when the road wa.s. opened to both 
places; and he was conductor on the first train 
to Fairfield Jimction and thence to Skowhcgan, 
when that road was completed. In 1869 he 
was appointed General l'"reight Agent and 
Superintendent of the Portland & Kennebec 
Railroad, and held that position initil after the 
consolidation of the road with the Maine Cen- 
tral in 1875, when it went under new manage- 
ment, being controlled by- the Ivastern Rail- 
road. In 1879 he leased the Bucksport & 
Bangor Railroad, and formed the syndicate that 
purchased the same, and secured a charter to 
Ellsworth and Bar Harbor. This road was 
reorganized as the Flastern Maine Railway, and 
Mr. Lincoln was manager and part owner for 
about four years. The road then being leased 
to the Maine Central, Mr. Lincoln took charge 
of the Rumford Falls & Buckfield Railroad as 
Superintendent. Under his management the 
road was extended to Rumford I'alls, and from 
Mechanic F'alls to Poland Springs Junction. 
In 1896 be resigned his position, and is now 
retired from active business. He is familiar 
with the entire railway system in Maine, has 
maile many friends during the busy term of his 
life, and has the respect of all who know him. 
Mr. Lincoln was married August 22, 1853, 



to Rachel .\. Xohlc, of Brunswick, who died 
in I 861, leaving two children l-'rank L. and 
Mary A. Lincoln. These are both in the em 
ploy of the Portland is: Rumford I-'alls Rail- 
way, P'rank L. as tra\elling ach'eilising agent, 
and Mar)' A. as cashiei' in the treasurer's 
office. On June 14, 1864, Mr. Lincoln was 
again married, Miss L)-dia N. Bates, of Bos- 
ton, becoming his wife. .She died in I'Y'bru- 
ary, 1896, leaving two sons. The elder of 
these, Howard A., who is a graduate of 
Hebron Academy and Amherst College, is 
employed in the general freight office of the 
Portland & Rumford I'alls l\ai]wa\-. .The 
younger, Levi B. , attended the public schools 
of Bucksport and 1 Peering, and grailuated from 
Hebron Acadeni)-. He then obtained a posi- 
tion as assi.s.tant in the engineer corps engaged 
on the survey of the Rumfoid i'alls & Range- 
ley Lakes Railroad, ami is now at the L^nivei'- 
sity of Vermont in Bmlington. lie is a veiy 
able and talented young man. 

Mr. Lincidn voted with the Republicans 
until 1884, since which time he has been a 
a Prohibitionist. While he is n<il a profess- 
ing member of an)- religious societ)- himself, 
his children are all church members. 



(m. 



KORGE R. MACOMBER, one of 
\ •) I Jay's well-to-do farn-icrs, and an ex- 
^^— -^ member of the Board of Selectmen, 
was born here May 7, 1827, son of Winchester 
and Polly (Stearns) Macomber. Mr. Ma- 
comber's father was a natixe of Bridgewater, 
Mass., and his niother was born in Watertown. 
They came froni Massachusetts to Jli)- in 179.5, 
and settled u|)on the farm now owned and 
occupied by theii son, Cieorge R. In his 
younger da)-s Winchester Macomber was a 
nail-maker Ijy trade, as was also his father; 
but the greater |)art of his life was passed in 
farming, at which he w-as (piite [irosjierous. 
He died in 1850, and his wife in 1868. 'Phey 
had eleven children, as follows: 'l'ils(jn, I{d- 
ward, Stearns, Samuel, and Albert, who are 
no longer living; George R., the subject of 
this sketch; Charles A., who married I<"liza- 
beth Parker, and is now living in letiremcnt in 
Southern Califori-iia ; .Sa|ilirona, .Saiali, .Mar\-, 
and Sarah 11., who lia\e also passed away. 



VS6 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA^IEW 



(k-iiigi' K. MaciimlKT lK-_t;an his cilncatinii 
ill the commiiii schiiols. and completed his 
studies at the Wilton Academy. He has 
alwavs resided upon the home farm, which he ! 
has managed since he was twenty-one years 
old. Thanks to his energy and good judgment 
he has been very prosperous. He now owns 
four hundred acres of land. Hay, corn, jiota- 
toes, and apples are his principal crops. In 
his prime he was capable of much physical 
endurance. He has now jiractically retired, 
and the farm is carried on by his son, 
Arthur C. 

Mr. Macoud)er has been three times married. 
On March i;, 1<S50, he weddeil for his first 
wife Mary II. Manwell, daughter of John 
.Manwell, a farmer of Canton, Me. .She died 
December i8, i<S7i;and on January 5, 1874, 
he was again married to Lydia Humphrey, 
who died in December, 1875. She was a 
daughter of Israel Humi)hre\', a shoemaker of 
Jav. His third marriage was contracted Feb- 
ruary 6, 1877, with Lucy Townsend, a native 
of Di.xfield. -She was horn May 2\, 1841, 
daughter of Jacob and Sally (Wright) Town- 
send. Her father was a native of Freeport, 
Me., who settled in Dixheld, where he died 
[une 30, 1857. Her mother, who was born in 
Jay. died Ajiril 30, 1876. J^\- his first union 
Mr. Macomber had si.\ children, as fidlows: 
Aldana, born September 18, 1851, who is now 
the wife of Henry W. I'uller, of Jay; George 
Herbert, born y\pril 6, 1853, who successively 
married Ath W. Rollins, of Wilton, and 
Henrietta Leonard, and is now a gardener in 
Chicopee, Mass.; Marcella M., born in 1S58, 
who died in -Seiitemher, 1876; Eugene W. , 
born in i860, who married Lucy M Humphrey, 
and is now a jirosperous farmer in ;\uburn, 
Me. ; Edward R., born in 1863, who is now a 
nurseryman in Chicopee; and Arthur C, 
born in 1871, who now conducts the home 
farm. His present wife has increased Mr. 
Macomber's offsjiring b\' two children. These 
are: Harry L. , who was born in 1S78; and 
Chester C. , who was boin in 1880. I^oth 
reside with their parents. 

In jjolitics Mr. Macomber was originally a 
Whig; but for many years past he has favored 
the Democratic ])arty. He has served with 
ability as a member of the Hoard of .Selectmen, 



and has held other town offices. He is a 
member of the Patrons of Husbandry in Jay. 
Both he and Mrs. Macomber attend the L'ni- 
versalist church. 



ULIUS F. FULLER, a prominent resi- 
dent of Oxford, Me., was born in this 
town on the 22d of November, 1842, 
the son of Sullivan and Abigail (Trott) 
Fuller. His grandfather, Nathaniel l-'uller, 
was the son of Nathaniel, for further partic- 
ulars of whom and family see sketch of C. I'. 
Fuller. 

.Sullivan h'uUer, son of the second Nathan- 
iel, was a farmer, and siient all his life in 
( )xford. He was always a jjrominent man in 
municipal affairs, and served for several years 
as Selectman of the town ; also as Cfdlector, 
and filled at different times several minor 
offices. In religion he was a L^niversalist, 
and in jmlitical belief and action a Democrat. 
He died at Oxford on the J4th of December, 
1892, his wife, Abigail Trott, having died in 
November, 1881, They were the parents of 
four children, namely: lunily J, (Mrs. .Stet- 
son) and Eugene F,, both now deceased; Ju- 
lius F,, whose personal history is here briefi}' 
given; and Alphonso S, , who is a stone-mason 
and lives in the town of Oxford, 

Julius F. Fuller grew to manhood in his 
native town, actpiiring his education in Oxfoid 
and in Hebron Academy. In 1862, when 
but nineteen years of age, he enlisted in Com- 
pan\- 1, Twenty-third Maine Regiment, and 
went to the front, where he served the full term 
of his enlistment. He received an honorable 
discharge from the service in 1S63, and, re- 
turning home, went into business as a stone- 
mason. I-"or some time he lias ojierated a 
quarry in the town, and at jiresent he has the 
largest business in this line in Oxford. 

He was married on the 13th of May, 1S74, 
to Miss Annie Clark Holmes, daughter of 
J. S. Holmes. They are now the parents of 
two children: b'dward .S, Fuller, born on the 
27th of .April, 1875; and Agnes H, I'uller, 
born on the 19th of June, 1882, 

'Sirs. Fuller's father, John -S. Holmes, son 
of James and Jerusha (Rawson) Holmes, was 
born in Oxford on the 2d of Februarx', 1806. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



387 



He received his education in liis native tnwn 
and in the Hebron and Paris Hill Academies. 
In his early manhood he devoted his energies 
for a number of years to mercantile business; 
and after that he spent some time in farming, 
having located in ICS41 on the ancestral estate 
now occupied by his family. In ICS53 he 
went to ("alifornia and engaged in mining, 
remaining there until 1856, when he came 
back to Maine and again turned his attentit>n 
to agricultural pursuits on the okl Holmes 
farm in O.xford. When he first came into 
|)ossession of the property it consisted of only 
one luuKhed acres of land, but he raised the 
total amount up to three hundred acres. All 
the more modern improvements were made by 
himself. 

It was while Mr. Holmes was in Bangor in 
the lumber business that he met an<l married 
Sarah A. Clark, daughter of .Major Royal 
Clark, who was a Deacon in the Haptist 
church. 

Four children were born of this union, 
namely: John C. ; Mary iM'eeland ; Annie 
Clark, Mrs. Fuller; and Frances C. John C. 
Holmes, who died at the age of thirty-one 
years, was a farmer. His widow, Mrs. Lena 
T. Holbrook Holmes, lives in C")tisfneld. 
Mary l-'reeland Holmes is a graduate of the 
Bangor High School, and has been a teacher 
in some Bo.ston private schools, where she has 
demonstrated great proficiency in her profes- 
sion, in which she is .still engaged. In the 
mean time she and her sister, Frances C, who 
is the widow of F'rederick II. Morse, carry on 
the old home farm. Mrs. Morse has one son, 
Arthur Morse, who is rapidly following up 
his father's line of work, Mr. Morse having 
been a scientific machinist, and an able writer 
of magazine articles on the subject of 
machinery. 

Mr. John S. Holmes was always interested 
and active in municipal improvements in the 
town of O.xford, and did all he could to further 
any scheme for their advancement. He was 
liberal in religious views, and a Republican in 
politics. He died at his home on the 29th of 
April, 1S83, mourned by all who knew him. 
Mrs. Holmes followed her husband within a 
few months, departing this life on the ist of 
Julv of the same _\'ear. 



.Mr. I-'uller is a Republican, and has been 
Chairman of the Town Conmiittee tor fourteen 
)'ears. Selectman f<ir one )cai-, anil Town 
Agent for three years. He is a member fif 
Thomas Roberts Post, Xo. 49, Crand y\rmy of 
the Republic at Oxford. Mr. I-'uller has 
always been an active man in town jiolitics, 
and has maile himself |)opular through his 
efforts to help the town, as well as In' his 
strong and kindh' character and genial nature. 
He owns a faini of thirl\- acres in ()\loi(l. 




F:SLI':V H. GINN, the genial pro- 
]irietor of the Ciirni House in Nor- 
way, Me., was born in Rocklanil, 
Knox County, Me., C_)ctober 5, 1866, a son of 
Herman Y. and Ada (Ingraham) Ginn. Jona- 
than Ginn, grandfather of Wesley IL, was 
born on Penobscot Island, but settled at Ginn's 
Point, where he engaged in tishing and farm- 
ing. He married Flliza Young, anil the\- had 
seven children — Herman \., Thomas, Alon/o, 
Lizzie, Jennie, Rebecca, and Anna. Mr. Ginn 
died when he was about forty years of age, but 
his wife is still living. Their son, Herman 
Y., went to sea early in life, and ap]ilied him- 
self so diligently to his calling that he became 
Master at the age of eighteen. C)ii .September 
I, 1872, while in command of the"Pyroli," 
owned by Messrs. Cobb, White & Norton, he 
and his crew were unfortunately lost in a gale, 
in which, also, many other vessels foundered. 
He married a daughter of F]lanoi- Ingraham, 
and they were the [larents of two children — 
Wesley FL and Ivanalla. Captain Ginn's 
widow is still living. 

Wesley FL Ginn, after obtaining his educa- 
tion in the schools of his native town, began 
his commercial career in 1887 by ojicning a 
restaurant in Richmond, Me. Three \ears 
later he leased the Hathern Flouse, changing 
its name to the (iinn Flouse. He also con- 
ducted the Richmond House until 1894, when 
he leased, remodelled, and refurnished the 
Hamlin House, again substituting the name 
Ginn for the old name. The house is located 
near the Norway Shoe Factory, and contains 
twenty-four rooms, all of which are occupied. 
During the short time that Mr. Ginn has 
resided here he has advanced rapidly in public 



!SS 



BIOCRAPHICAL RF.VIKW 



csu-em, and his t'utiire success seems assured. 
Jle n-.anicd I.clia A. Coleman, a daughter of 
jaiiics Coleman, ol iviclimoiid, Me., and they 
have had two chililien : l:^ai'l S. , horn.June lo, 
1SS9; and J'ithel ^fay, who died at the eaily 
aire ol six months. 



yrA;/ II.LIAM H. STICKNKY, a promi- 
\to\/ nent farmer of Brownfield, and an 
"^ "^ ex-member of the Maine legislature, 
was born here, June 18, 1836, son of Deacon 
Samuel and \'irenc (Rice; Stickney. His 
grandfather. Major John Stickney, a native of 
Concord, N.H., was for several years identi- 
lied with the hotel business in the early days 
of its development in this region, having been 
[)roprietor of a White Mountain tavern. . He 
settled upon a farm in Brownfield about the 
year 1786, and resided here until his death. 
Deacon Samuel Stickney was born in Brown- 
field, January 26, 1799. After his father's 
death he ran the tavern for a number of years. 
Jk'sides carrying on the farm, which he also 
inherited, he w'as engaged in lumbering. He 
died September 25, 1881. His wife, Virene, 
who was born in Sandwich, N.H., September 
22, I SoS, became the mother of five children, 
as follows: Mary Ann, born July 2, 1833, 
who married Calvin D. Palmer, and died in 
J)etroit, Mich., Sejitember 29, 1855; Jona- 
than I-'.vans, born December 12, 1834, who 
was for tvvent\-nine years in the live stock 
business in .South America, and died in 
London, England, July 5, 1893; William H., 
the subject of this sketch; Martha Goss, born 
April 4, 1841, who died September 25 of the 
same year; and Samuel Nelson, born October 
K), 1842, who died August 12, 1846. The 
mother died Ajiril 19, 1891. 

William H. Stickney was eilucated in the 
common schools and at the Frseburg Acad- 
emy. Upon reaching his majority he went to 
.South America, where he was for six years 
engagetl in the live stock business. After 
returning home and marrying, he spent another 
six years in that country. He was successful 
in raising and dealing in sheep and cattle. 
After his final return to Brownfield he was en- 
gaged in the hotel business here for some 
)-ears, and managed the homestead farm, which 



he inherited from his father. In 1892 he re- 
linquished his other occupations in order to 
devote all his time and energy to the cultiva- 
tion of the farm. This property contains one 
hundred acres. He also owns other real es- 
tate in this town and in South America. 

On June 18, 1863, Mr. Stickney wedded 
Eliza Ann Gibson, who was born in Brown- 
field, March 16, 1837. She is a daughter of 
the Rev. Zachariah and .Sally (Boynton) 
Gibson. Her grandfather. Captain Timothy 
Gibson, who was born in Stowe, Mass., De- 
cember 17, 1738, wedded Margaret Whitman, 
and, settling in Brownfield in 1798, was ex- 
tensively engaged in farming in this town 
until his death, which liappened January 16, 
1814. His wife died June 29, 1838. His 
son, Zachariah Gibson, born in Henniker, 
N. H., September 3, 1781, was seventeen 
years old when he accompanied his parents to 
Brownfield. Becoming a Methodist minister, 
Zachariah entered upon his duties in 1805, 
and preached in Northficld, N. H. Returning 
to Maine he labored in Kennebec County till 
1813. Then, on account of feeble health, he 
retired to a farm in Winthroj:!, where he re- 
sided until 1825. Returning then to Brown- 
fiekl. he passed the rest of his life in this 
town, and died December 6, 1839. ^^'^ mar- 
ried for his first wife, Theodate Bennett, of 
Hallowell, Me., who became the mother of si.x 
children, and died August 17, 1825. His 
second marriage was contractetl with Susan 
Howard, of Brownfield, who died in 1831, 
leaving one child. Sally Boynton, who was 
born in Brownfield, March 15, 1801, became 
his third wife, and subsequently the mother 
of Eliza Ann, Mr. Stickney's wife. Mrs. 
Stickney 's mother died March 7. 1872. 

Mr. and Mrs. .Stickney have had five chil- 
dren, as follows: Charles Osgood, who was 
born March 3, 1868, who on February 29, 
1896, married Clarita D. Co.xe, of Portland, 
Me., and is a railway station agent at Inter- 
vale, N.H.: Whitman Gibson, who was born 
December g, 1869; Isabel Hale, who was 
born January 22, 1874; Samuel, who was born 
January 13, 1876; and Gibson, who was 
born June 12, 1877, and died December 18, 
1879. The children have attended school at 
Fryeburg Academy, Kent's Hill Seminai-)', 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



389 



anil rhillips Acadcniy, Andovcr, IMass. In 
politics Mr. Stickncy is a Republican. He 
represented his district in the legislature of 
1888-89, doing good service in behalf of the 
town. He also served as I'ostmastcr in East 
Brownfield for ten years. He is respected 
as an able, progressive, and u])right business 
man. Mrs. -Stickney is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 



'RANK LUCE, a well-known manufact- 
urer of New Vineyard, was born here, 
November 4, 1842, son of Solomon and 
Minerva (Pratt) Luce. Solomon Luce, a na- 
tive of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., after set- 
.tling in New X'ineyard, carried on farming, 
and conducted a lumber and grist mill until 
his decease. He was four times married. 
His first wife (in maidenhood Rebecca h^agle) 
bore him five children. His second marriage 
was made with Minerva Pratt, a native of New 
V' ineyard, who had seven children — Solomon, 
Minerva, Rebecca, Justin, David, Samuel, and 
Frank. Of these, Frank and Samuel, the 
latter a resident of the village, are the only 
survivors. Mr. Luce's third matrimonial 
partner was Sophronia (Knowltori) Luce, who 
died without issue. Mary Jane Turner be- 
came his next wife and the mother of two 
additional children, namely: Edmund R., who 
died in 1894; and Henry, who lived but two 
years and a half. 

Frank Luce, like his brothers and sisters, ac- 
quired a common-school education. P'or some 
time after his marriage he and his wife made 
their home with his father. After his father's 
death he had charge of the grist-mill until 
1874, when he sold out, and started a general 
merchandise store in this village. In 1888 he 
started the manufactory he now conducts. 
Here he employs ten men, making wooden 
bo.xes for the use of druggists and chemists, 
handles and knobs of every description to be 
enamelled, spindles for furniture, screw-top 
nailing cases, trimmings for toys, and a 
variety of general goods. In politics he votes 
with the Democratic party. Mr. Luce has 
served for five years as Selectman, besides 
holding minor offices, though he does not seek 
political preferment. He is a member of 



P'armington Ludge nl Masons. Always a 
hard worker, he has well earned the degree of 
success he has attained. 

At tlu; age of twenty-one Mr. Luce was 
united in matrimony with Emma Viles, a na- 
tive of New Portland, Me. Her father, Rufus 
Viles, was a lumberniLUi of that town. Mr. 
and Mrs. Luce have now three ihildren — 
Ruphelle, Fred C, and Gertrude. Ruphelle 
is a teacher in New Hamiishire. The others 
are still uniler the paternal root. Mr. Luce 
is a meml)er of the Congregational cluirLh in 
New Vineyaril. 



OHN O. MASON, a promiiu-ut and 
successful farmer of Lo\'ell, ()\l()rd 
County, was born here, P'ebruar} 27, 
1848, son of Jiinathan ami DoiDlh)' 
(Hutters) Mason. His father, who was a na- 
tive of Porter township. Me., resided there 
until two )ears after his marriage, having 
been engaged in general husbandry. He then 
removed to a farm in West Lovell, where he 
lived, engaged in its cultivation, until he was 
adx'anced in years. He then sold the place 
and moved to North Lovell, wheie his son, 
the subject of this sketch, now liws. He 
married Miss Dorothy Putters, a native of 
Lovell, and their union was blessed in the 
birth of ten children. These were: .Sarah 
Jane, Ruth C, Lucinda, Abigail, .Simon 11., 
Mahitable, Rosanna, .Sewell, John O., and 
William Curtis, all of whom are now deceased, 
except John <J. and Simon H. Simon II. 
married Mary livans, and resides at .Sand 
Creek, Me. The father passed away at 
Lovell, March 26, 1870; and the mnihcr's 
death occurred September 27, 1S91. 

John O. Mason attained to man"s estate on 
the old homestead, receiving his education in 
the common schools of Lovell. On March i, 
1865, he enlisted in Company G of th.e 
Twelfth Maine Regiment, under Colonel 
Kimball and Captain Holster, for service in 
the Civil War. After performing guard duty 
at Savannah and Augusta, Ga., he was dis- 
charged August 5. 1865, at Hilton Head, 
S.C., on account of disabilit)-. He then re- 
turned home, and worked on the farm until 
1874. In that year he took charge of the olii 



39° 



RIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



ho;iK' farm in North Lo\'cll, and lias ccmcluctetl 
it since. lie lias very jiiuch improved the es- 
tate, which now C(>m|)rises ninety-six acres. 
He also owns one of a hundred and twenty- 
five acres, located in Stoneham township. 
He canies on j^enera! farming, and during the 
winter engages in lumhering. Formerly, for 
a dozen \'ears, he had quite a business in sheep 
and cattle. 

On December i.S. i S74, Air. Mason wedded 
Miss l'"lla M. Evans, a native of Stoneham, 
and a daughter of Frederick and Mahitable 
(Paul) [".vans, to whom she was born April 16, 
1 852. Mr. Ev'ans was a native of Gorham, 
X.I I., and Mrs. Evans, of Naples, Me. In 
early life he moved to West Stoneham, where 
he was engaged for several years in general 
liusbandry. Removing then to East Stone- 
ham, he followed the same calling until 1892, 
when, on account of advancing years and de- 
clining strength, he and his wife took up their 
home with Mr. Mason, where they still reside. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mason have three children, 
namely: Charlie C, born July 29, 1S76, who 
still lives at the old mansion: Freddie E. , 
born September 8. 1S84, also at home; and 
Bertrand I.., who was born April 24, 1892. 
At one time a Democrat, Mr. Mason is now a 
Re[nd)lican. He has served his town in sev- 
eral jwsitions of public trust. The secret 
fraternities, of which he is a member, include 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows through 
Crescent Eodge, No. 25, of North Lovell; 
and the Free and Accepted Masons through 
Delta Lodge, No. 55, at I.ovell village. He 
is also a comrade of I'arker Post, No. 25, 
(irand Army of the Republic, of Lovell 
Centre. In religious faith and fellowship 
both he and Mrs. Mason are members of the 
Christian church of Lovell. The enterprise 
and energy which have been characteristic of 
Mr. Mason throughout his life are now re- 
warded with a goodly measure of prosperity. 






/^IIARLES A. COOLIDGE, M.D., 
I V-^ h;is been successfully engaged in the 

\Ms^^ jiractice of his profession in Canton 

for the past thirty-five years. He 

was born in this town. December 2g, i8'^o, 

son of Jiihn and Eli/a (Higelow) Coolidge. 



Joseph Coolidge, the great-grandfather of Dr. 
Coolidge, was killed in the battle of Lexing- 
ton, with which the War of Independence 
opened. His son Joseph came from Massa- 
chusetts to Canton as early as 1792, and was 
the sixth settler of the place. His home dur- 
ing the first years of his residence here was 
the usual pioneer dwelling of rough-hewn 
logs, and it was under its roof that his older 
children were born. He owned a large tract 
of land, and was a sturdy, enterprising farmer. 
His farm, which was then in the east part of 
the town of Canton, lies to-day in both Frank- 
lin and Oxford Counties, and borders on 
Androscoggin County. He died age eighty- 
two years. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Mary Adams, lived to be ninety-three 
years okl. They were the parents of thirteen 
children, of whom the fourth was John, the 
father of Dr. Coolidge. 

John Coolidge was born in Canton, Decem- 
ber 12, 1796. He spent the active jieriod cif 
his life engaged in farming, and his last 
years were passed in Canton village, where he 
died at the age of seventy-eight years. His 
wife, Eliza, who was born in Bridgewater, 
Mass., December 11, 1800, lived to be ninet)-- 
three, the age at which his mother died. He 
was a Universalist, and she a Methodist. Of 
their four sons, three are living. John O. 
died in Illinois. He was graduated from 
Colby Lhiiversity, and had successfully en- 
gaged in teaching, his plan being to fit him- 
self for the practice of law. The others are: 
Rutellius S. Coolidge, a farmer of \Va\'ne, 
Me.; George M., a painter, who lives in 
.Sharon, Mass.; and Charles A., the subject of 
this sketch. 

Charles A. Coolidge grew to manhootl here 
in Canton, obtaining his preliminary educa- 
tion in the schools of Canton, Norway, and 
Paris. He afterward entered Bowdoin Col- 
lege, where he took up the medical course, 
and still later attended the Harvard I'uiver- 
sity Medical .School. While engaged in hos- 
pital practice he attended lectures in Philadel- 
phia, and in 1855 he was graduated from the 
Dartmouth Medical College. With this prep- 
aration for the work he had chosen, he began 
practice in the town of W'eld, Franklin 
Countv, where he remained two and a half 



3 







CHARLES A. COOLIDGE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



393 



years, after wliicli he spent an e(|ual perioil in 
North Livermore, Androscog.nin County. In 
the spring of 1861 he came to Canton, and 
has acquired here a large and lucrative busi- 
ness, and is highly esteemed. In politics 
he is. a Republican. lie is a member (>t 
Whitney Lodge, No. 167, A. F. & A. M., of 
Canton; and of Androscoggin Chapter, Royal 
Arch Masons. 

On November 26, 1S56, the twenty-tifth 
birthday of the bride, Dr. Coolidge was mar- 
ried in Weld, to Miss Sarali N. Foster, who 
was horn in that town, Noveml)er 26, i83i._ 
She is a daughter of Solomon K. and Adaline 
(Billington) Foster, the former of wdioni was 
])orn in New Hampshire, and the latter in 
Wayne, Me. Dr. and Mrs. Coolidge have had 
three children, of whom Fliza M. died when 
nine months old. Llenry IC, born in Liver- 
more, December 22, 1860, wlio graduated 
from Bates College in 1881, is now engaged 
in the practice of law at Lisbon Falls, Me. 
He married Josephine O. Dearborn, and has 
one son, Charles W. Charles M., the third 
child of Dr. Coolidge, liorn in Canton, Sep- 
tember 25, 1S65, is a |jhysician, and has a 
good practice in North Waterford, Me. lie 
married Ida M. Manning, now deceased, and 
has one daughter, Marion. Dr. Coolidge and 
his wife differ in their religious views, he 
being a Universalist and she a Methodist. 




J ARTHUR i'lNKHAM, an enter- 
'rr-^ prising carriage manufacturer of North 
is • Chestervillc, was born here, No- 
vember 13, 1859, son of Charles 
Vaughn and Eliza {Nasonj Pinkham. Mr. 
Pinkham's great-grandfather, who was prob- 
ably named Lemuel, resided in Durham, Me.; 
and his son Nicholas, Mr. Pinkham's grand- 
father, settled upon a large tract of wild lantl 
in Gardiner, Kennebec County, situated upon 
territor\- then known as Litchfield Neck. 
Nicholas Pinkham's first dwelling here was a 
log house. After clearing a farm he erected a 
large frame house. He became quite prosper- 
ous, and continued in active occupations until 
his death, which happened June 8, 1847. at 
the age of sixty-six years. Like his ancestors 
he was a member of the Society of Friends. 



He married Alice Parker, who died April 8, 
1866. Her children by him were: Llannah, 
Andrew, Lemuel, Israel J., Thomas J., 
Rachel, Noah, Phebe 1?., Jeremiah 11., aiul 
Charles \'. Charles \'aughn Pinkham, Mr. 
Pinkham's fathei', was liorn in West (iardiner, 
June g, 1832. He was educated at the 
P'riends" .School in Providence, R. L, and sub- 
sequently taught school for a short time. On 
reaching the age of twenty-one lu' sold his in- 
terest in the homestead, and, settling in 
Chestervillc, bought a piece of jiroiierty lo- 
cated in the Centre village known as the Lin- 
scott farm. Selling his farm about eighteen 
months later and ]Turchasing anotlier, he began 
dealing in cattle, a business which he lol- 
lowed successfully for one year. I'lnally he 
moved to a farm situated upon the X'alley 
Road, where he died June 25, 1885. The 
Patrons of Industr)' fouml in him an active 
member. In politics he was first a Whig, 
and then a Republican. He was a Selectman 
for thirteen years. He also served in tlie 
capacity of Supervisor of Schools, and he rep- 
resented his district in the legislature in 1874. 
His wife, Eli/a, was a daughter of William 
and Aurilla (Leach) Nason, both of whom are 
now over eighty years of age. The children 
of this union were: Jessie ^L, born February 
3, 1S55; and C. Arthur, the sidjject of this 
sketch. Jessie M. became the wife of John 
C. Downs, and died September 26, 1885, lea\'- 
ing four children — Harry A., P'mma L., 
I':ilen M., and Carroll J. the latter dic-d at 
the age of three months. 

C. Arthur Pinkham acquired a good ])rac- 
tical education, and resided with his parents 
until of age. He then came to North Ches- 
terville, where for one year he worked as an 
apprentice at the carriage-maker's trade with 
the late J. K. Lovejoy. After the death of 
Mr. Loveioy he bought the factory, and has 
since carried it on successful 1\-. He turns 
out only first-class work, and, as a conse- 
quence, he has increased the business; his 
output of light wagons, buggies, and sleighs, 
grows larger each year. At the present 
time he is one of the best known and most 
reliable carriage builders in this |jart of the 
State. 



On Seritember 



188: 



.Mr. Piid<ham 



394 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



WL'tldcd I'",stlicr A. I.ovejoy, tlaughtcr of Jo- 
sepli ami ICllcn C. ( Woodwoith) Lovejoy. Mer 
father, now ileceased, was engaged in the man- 
ufacture of carriages here. Mr. and Mrs. 
Pinkhani ha\'e three chilch'cn, as follows: 
Charles J., who was born August 15, icS<S6; 
Robert A,, who was born November 16, I S90 ; 
and Jessie, who was l)orn April 18, WS93. In 
18.S7 Mr. Pinkham bougiit a \'ery desirable 
lot, containing seven acres, upon which he has 
erectetl a fine residence and stable. Mr. 
I'inkham is a Repuljlican, but, owing to the 
pressure of business, he does not take an 
active part in political affairs. His religious 
views are liberal. 




.M.Tl'K .S. I11':ATH, Postmaster of 
.Salem, Me., was born in .Salem, .Seii- 
tember 5, 1840, son of Benjamin and 
Mary J. (Hinckley) Heath. The Heath fam- 
ily, which is of Phiglish origin, came from 
Massachusetts to the .State of Maine. The 
great-grandfather of W'alter S. , after leaving 
Martha's X'ineyard at an early date, worked 
for some time at the blacksmith trade in 
Farmington, Me. ; then came to .Salem and 
built a saw-mill, which he conducted for a few 
years; antl died at the age of eighty-tive, hav- 
ing previously placetl one of his four sons in 
charge of the saw-mill. Ik'njamin Heath, Sr., 
the grandfather, was a blacksmith and farmer. 
He was one of the early settlers of Salem, and 
was very prominent in local affairs. He mar- 
ried a Miss Hinckley, of Martha's Vineyard, 
and had seven children, namely: Daniel, who 
bore the rank of Colonel, was the first male 
cliiUl boin in .Salem, and now resides in West 
Farmington, Me. ; Ivlizabeth, the widow of 
Philip Harri.s, of Lowell, Mass. ; Maria, the 
wife of George \V. Mills, (}f Salem; ]5enja- 
min, the father of Walter S. Heath; Enoch 
H., who died at the age of fifty-two; Caroline 
M., who died at the age of fifty-eight; and 
John C , who died in his fifty-first year. 

Iknjamin Heath, Jr., was born in Salem in 
1810. He lollowetl agriculture as his princi- 
pal occupation, and for some time owned the 
saw-mill in Salem. In ])oIitics at first a 
Whig he later became a Democrat. He took 
an active part in town matters, ser\-ing as 



Selectman, Town Treasurer, and Collector; 
and he was an officer in the militia. He died 
July 8, 1858, aged forty-seven years and eight 
months. His wife, who was born in Hallo- 
well, Me., died in 1S64. They were the par- 
ents of five children, all of whom are living. 
These are : Clinton B., who resides in Poston ; 
Walter S, , the subject of this sketch; Delia 
E., who is the wife of Lafayette Kobbin.s, of 
Worcester, Mass. ; Clara L., the wife of Frank 
Lester, of Creston, la.; and James C^. , who 
is in Austin, Nev. 

Walter S. Heath acc[uired his education in 
Salem and some of the adjoining towns. 
After leaving school he worked for about four 
years at farming, and then learned the cariien- 
ter's trade, which he has followed for much of 
the time since, building houses in Phillips, 
.Strong, and in Worcester, Mass. He has also 
been employed as a blacksmith, and done car- 
riage and car work of various kinds. He was 
married in 1867 to Martha P. Harris, of 
.Salem, and now has three children. These 
are: Cora and Clara, twins, who are with their 
parents; and Olive J., who was the wife of 
E. B. Dnlbier, of Newton, Mass., and dietl at 
the age of twenty-si.\. Mr. Heath votes the 
Democratic ticket. He served as Selectman 
of Salem for a number of years; was Town 
Treasurer, Assessor, and Collector for several 
terms; is at present a member of the Town 
Committee; and for a prolonged period has 
been Supervisor of Schools and a member of 
the School Committee. As Postmaster he has 
been in office eleven years. He is a member 
of Davis Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Strong, 
Me., and of Mount Saddleback Lodge, No. 
92, Independent Order of Odd P'ellows, of 
Phillips. ]5oth he and his family attend the 
Uni\ersalist church. 



\COJ5 A. THURSTON, Treasurer of 
the town of Newry, Me., is one of the 
successful merchants and manufacturers 
of O.xford Countv. He was born in 
Eaton, N.H., November 15, 1843; and his 
parents, David H. and Mary Jane (Norton) 
Thurston, were natives of that town. 

David H. Thurston spent his early life on a 
farm in Eaton, and was married there. He 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



'^05 



latLT iiKivcd to Krrol, N. H., where he pur- 
chased three hundred acres of unbroken timber 
lanil. Tlie countr_\' about ICri'ol was then 
sparsely inhabited ; there were few roatls, and 
the settler had to undergo all the hardships 
incident to the life of the pioneer in a new- 
country. Ml'. 'Thurston worked hard to clear 
his farm and put it untler cultivation, and was 
fairly successful as a farmer. .As the town 
grew he became prominent in its affairs, and 
was very ]5opular among the political w(jrkers, 
taking his stand with the Democrats. At one 
time he rejiresented the district in the legisla- 
ture, and he held all the offices within the gift 
of the town. Though not a professing church 
member, he taught Sunday school for a number 
of years and sang in the church choii-. He 
died in Errn] at the age of si.xty-eight. Mrs. 
Thurston, who is seventy-five years of age, 
lives with her children. 

Of these there were originall)' ten: Jacob 
A., the subject of this sketch; Annette C, 
who died in her thirty-second year; Ernest 
D., a farmer and lumberman in I'.rrol, N.II. ; 
Alottier I.., a lumberman of Newry ; Mary, 
who died at the age of twenty-nine; Young 
A., a farmer and lumberman of Rumford, this 
county; Remember B., a farmer and lumber- 
man of Krrol, N. H. ; Howard F. , engineer and 
foreman in one of his brother's mills at Newry 
Corner; I.illie A., wife of Levi .S. Heyward, 
of ]?ountiful, Utah; anil Guy L. , a farmer and 
lumberman who lives (Jii the lK>mestead in 
]{rrol cleared by his father. 

Jacob A. Thurston had but a limited school- 
ing, going to work when he was tourteen \'ears 
of age. After attaining his majority he 
worked at logging for monthly wages for about 
two years, and then began to take contracts for 
lumbering. He subsecpiently purchased a 
farm in Errol, N. H. In 1S82 he purchased 
a store at Newry Corner, wdiich is still under 
his management, and two \'ears later he built 
a birch-mill there. In each line of business 
he was successful, and he exentually erected 
a second mill at Riley plantation. This was 
in existence but five years, being destroyed by 
fire at the end of that time; but Mr. Thurston 
soon retrieved his loss, erecting his present 
mill at Swan's Corners in 1.S93. His mill 
business aggregates from fifteen thousand to 



twent\' thousand didlars a \ear, the output 
being chieflv spool stock, dowels, ,mu1 staves. 
While enlarging his business in trade and 
manufacturing he has also added to his real 
estate; and t)ne of his [lurchases, made in 
1892, W'as a fine farm of one hundred anti 
twenty-five acres, on the Androscoggin Ri\er 
in the town of Bethel, this county. Mr. 
Thiu'Ston is an able and sagacious business 
man, and has the confidence of the connnunit)'. 
He was married January i, iXj'). to Miss 
I'lora Dinsmore, of Colebrook, X.H., and has 
three children — Maude L., Ruby M., and 
Paul C. In ]iolitics he is a stanch gold Dem- 
ocrat. He does not take an active part in |)o- 
litical matters, but has been elected to office 
and has served efficiently for a number of )ears 
as Town Treasurer and as a member of the 
School ]5oard. Though not an active church 
member he is in s)-mpathy with Christian 
enterprise, to which he liberally contributes. 



-r^IAVb:LL RUSSI-:LL KXOWI.TON, an 
I —7 artist and photographer of l''armington, 
|l s I was born here A]iril 30, 1856, son 

^■""^ of Sylvanus and Rebecca F. (Col- 
burn) Knowdton. Mr. Knowlton is a de- 
scendant of the family of Knowltons who 
settled at Ipswich, Mass., in 1640. His 
great-grandfather, Samuel Knowlton, a shoe- 
maker by trade, was born in that town in \jC^. 
This ancestor in 1786 settled on the west side 
of b'armington, when it was a wilderness, and 
there cleared a good farm. He set out the 
first orchard here, and later, after the liees 
began to bear, shared the fruit with his neigh- 
bors. By industriously applying himself to 
farming and shoemaking he became ]irosper- 
ous, and he died in 1844. He married Jane 
Lincott, who, having reached the age of 
ninety-three years, died in 1857. Her chil- 
dren by him were: Samuel, John, Betsey, 
Joseph, I-lbenezer, Esther, Joshua, Jane, Ben- 
jamin, Martha, Sally, and Dean. 

Joshua Knowlton, Mr. Knowdton's graiui- 
father, was born in Farmington, .September 8, 
1797. He learned the harness-maker's trade, 
ami followed it for many years. He bought 
a farm adjoining his father's property, and 
carried it on successfulh', residing here until 



396 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



his (le:Uh, which happened A])i'il 15, 1873. 
1 1 is lirst wife, ]>ydia, a daughter of John 
Lowell, died in 1S43, aged forty years, having 
been the mother of three children — Joshua 
],., Russell L., and Svlvanus. He contracted 
a second marriage with Belinda I'illsbury. 
(If his children the only survi\'or is .Sylvanus 
Knowlton, who was born in Farmington, 
March 17, 1S27. Sylvanus remained at home, 
assisting his father on the farm, and taking 
charge of it dnidng the hitter's declining years. 
.Succeeding to it subsequentU-, he carried it on 
until 1.SS2. He then abandoned agriculture, 
and leased the Hlue Mountain House. After 
the house was destroyed in the conflagration 
of lcS86, he bought the land and ei'ected upon 
the site of the old building a modern three- 
story hotel containing thirty rooms. This he 
h,is [jrosperously conducted since. His wife, 
in maidenhood I'lebecca I^". Colburn, was born 
in Xeedham, ALiss. . June 23, 1X3 L tiaughter 
of Newell Colburn, who became a resident of 
this town. .She reared four children, as fol- 
lows: I--mma L. , born .May 5, ii'~i54, who is 
the wife of ]{lbridge N. Allen, and has one 
daughter, Lillian; Newell R., the subject of 
this sketch; Sylvanus 1\., born June 15, 1859, 
who is clerk at the L.xchange Hotel, married 
Jennie S. Xason, December 25, i<S8i, and has 
had one son — Irving .S., now deceased; Fred- 
erick Lewis, born November 2, 1864, married 
Lizzie ,S. Whittier, December 22, 1885, and 
has had two children — F'loi-entine ^Lie, now 
nine _\'ears olil ; and Carroll, who dietl at the 
age of two j-ears. Mr. Knowlton's mother 
died at the age of fifty-six \-ears. 

Newell Russell Knowlton obtained his edu- 
cation in the district schools of Farmington 
ami in the Lewiston High School. While 
attending the latter institution he conceived a 
fancy for carriage painting, and subsequently 
applied himself to learn it. I'osse.ssing much 
artistic taste he was soon able to compete with 
the more ex|)erienced in that line of work. 
.After a time he erected a shop, and there en- 
gaged in the cari'iage-painting business for fif- 
teen years. At the expiration of that period 
he returned to l"\armington, and, buying out 
the journal of the Greenback jjarty, then con- 
ducted by I'red Whiting, he published it for 
a short time. I'rom journalism he went into 



the insurance business as agent of the New 
England hisurance Company of Boston. 
Afterward he purchased the photograph studio 
in the Brown and Butterfield Block, formerly 
conducted bv K. Starbird, and has since de- 
voted his princi]xil attention to that business, 
acquiring a high reputation as an artist. He 
makes a specialty of copying and crayon work. 
This year he opened a branch studio in which 
he is doing a large and satisfactory business. 
He is also interested in the hotel property. 
In politics he acts with the Republican party, 
and for the jiast eight years he has .served as 
Cor)icn-ation Assessor. Mr. Knowlton is an 
Odd I-'ellow of high standing, being Past 
(irand of I'ranklin Lodge, and Past Chief 
Patriarch of the Encampment. He is also a 
member of the Golden Cross, and belongs to 
Keystone Lodge, No. 64, Ancient Order of 
L^nited Workmen, and Maine Lodge, No. 20, 
A. !•". & A. M., of Farmington. 




.M.I'H CL'SHMAN. Jr., who, in 
pioneer ilays, contributed his full 
share toward the development of 
( )xford Count)-, was born June 9, 
1784, in Turner, iXndroscoggin County, son of 
Caleb Cushman, .Si-., and Hepzibah (Bolster) 
Cushman. His paternal grand[)arents were 
Benjamin and Sylvia (Sampson) Cushman, 
who reared a family of children. Benjamin's 
son, Caleb, was born January 24, 1750. He 
lived for some time after his marriage in 
Turner. In 1788 he came to O.xford County, 
anil, taking up a tract of unim])roved land in 
Paris, cleared a honiestead, and li\ed im it 
until his death, which happened March 16, 
1833. He was first niarried June 19, 1783, 
to Hepzilxih B(dster, who was lioin in the 
town of Sutton, Mass., November 4, 1761. 
She died October 3, 1795, leaving four chil- 
dren: Caleb Cushman, Jr., Alvin, William, 
and Polly. On August 12, 1796, he entered 
a second marriage, contracted with Lucy Sin- 
clair, whose children by hini were: Benjaniin, 
Sally, P^lias, Chaiuller, FTiza, antl lumice. 

Caleb Cushman, Jr., was but four years of 
age when his parents settled in Paris. He 
was there educated in the district school, and 
from his youth up was engaged in clearing and 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



397 



tilling the land. All phases <>1' pioneer lilc 
were familiar to him; and he well remembered 
when wild game, now eonsitlered a ln.\ur\', 
was ])lentifnl, and was relied on for a part of 
Iheir subsistenee by the settlers. He labored 
iiuUistrioiisly in clearing a homestead for him- 
self and family, and before his death, which 
occurred February 7, 1X6;,, had a well- 
apiiointed farm. Roy and man his sterling 
traits of character and correct moral princijiles 
caused him to be respected by the community. 
He was liberal in his religious beliefs, and in 
politics was a steadfast Democrat. 

On December 26, 1808, Mr. Cushman mar- 
ried Thankful .Spaulding, who was born in 
Huckfield, this county, August 16, 1787. 
I'hey had three children — Henry H., Cynthia 
Iv, and Clementine A. Henry H., born Au- 
gust 23, I Si 3, married Sarah J. liateman, and 
thev are now living in l-'lora. 111. Cynthia 
I".., born [une 6, 1819, who was married May 
4, 1S43, to the late Charles F. Cummings, 
(lied February 7, 1893. Clementine A., born 
I une 30, 1827, still occupies the old home- 
stead on Paris Hill, where she, her brother, 
and her sister were born and reared. A 
woman of estimable character, inheriting in 
a large degree the many fine traits that dis- 
tinguished her parents, she is a worth)' rep- 
resentative of the family from which she 
has sprung. She is libfcral in her religious 
principles, and progressive in hei' \iews on 
the leading ipiestions of the time. 




kl'.RRITT WliLCH, of Norway, one 
)f the largest dry-goods dealers in 
O.xford County, was born in Au- 
gusta, Me., December i, 1864, 
son of Colonel James \V. and Margaret (Mer- 
ritt) Welch. His father, a native of Bath, 
Me., was a well-known manufacturer of paints 
and colors, and a ship-painting cimtractor. 
Colonel Welch served his country in the Civil 
War, to which he went as Captain of a com- 
pany in the Nineteenth Maine Regiment. By 
the time the conflict closed he had been pro- 
moted to the rank of Colonel of a regiment. 
He married Margaret Merritt, and they had 
twelve children, seven of whom are living. 
The.se are — Ada, Lizzie, Nettie, Hattie, Mer- 



ritt. Thaddeus, and Alice. Colonel Welch 
died in 1894, at the age of si.xty-eight years. 
His widow, now si.xt^'-lour, is still living. 

After comijleting liis school education Mer- 
ritt Welch began his business career as clerk 
in a clothing store, in which he served three 
years. Later he entered into business with 
Mr. L. H. .Super, opening a tlry-goods store in 
Watcrvillc, which llic)- sLiccessfully conducted 
for two years, and then sold to acK'antage. In 
1892 Mr. Welch came to .Xoiway and bought 
a dr}'-gaods and shoe store in the ( Jjiera House 
l^lock of the .Smile}- Brothers. A cloak de- 
partment has since been located in the base- 
ment. Goods of the latest stales are tastefully 
arranged in its large windows. The courteous 
proprietor, who is a man of fine piesence, takes 
great pains tojjlcase his numeious patrons, and 
his four assistants follow his e.\am[)le. lie 
carries a very large stock of first-class goods, 
and does a flourishing trade. In [lolitics Mr. 
Welch atifiliates with the l\e|inblicnn ]>arty, 
and he is a member ot the lnde]ientlent ( )i'der 
of Odd Fellows of Norwa}'. 

On March 15, 1894, Mr. Welch was imited 
in marriage with Miss Cora Schwart, a daugh- 
ter of Albert Schwart of this town. The)' 
have two children Donald S. anil Margaret 
Welch. Mr. Welch is popular in both social 
and commercial circles. 




HAKLICS G. DUMM1':R, Selectman 
of Weld and a leading merchant of the 
t(jwn, was born lure. Jul)' 10, 1842, 
son of Nathaniel and Lhira (Mas- 
terman) Dunirner. The famih', which is 
one of the oldest in the town, is of l^iiglish 
origin. It was fountled by Richard Dumnicr, 
who emigrated from ICngland with his fatlur, 
and settled at Newbury, Mass., in i'')33. He 
had six children, of whom his soil Nathaniel, 
the next in line, was born in Ncwbur)', and 
died there, February 27, 1767, aged eighty- 
three years. Richard, son of Nathaniel, was 
a lifelong resident of Newbury, and dictl in 
March, 1803. 

Nathaniel Dummer, Charles G. Dumnicr"s 
great-grandfather, was born in Newbury, 
March 9, 1755. Having accjuired a good edu- 
cation, he obtained an ai:)pointmciit as a Com- 



39S 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



missary (if the Continental army, and was 
stationed in I'lovidence, K.I. After the Rev- 
olutionary War he settled in Hallovvell, Me., 
where he was engaj^ed in mercantile business 
until his death, which happened September 
15, 1.S15, at the aye of sixty-one years. A 
man of superior intelligence, betook a lead- 
ing part in public affairs. lie was a member 
of the State Senate when Kennebec County 
was set off, and he was a Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas and Postmaster of Hallowell. 
In his religious belief he was a Congrega- 
tionalist. lie married Mrs. Mary Kilton, 
widow of John Kilton and daughter of Captain 
Joseph C)wen, of Providence, and reared four 
children, none of whom are living. Joseph 
Owen Dummer, Mr. Dummer"s grandfather, a 
native of Pro\-idence, born March 5, 1780, was 
reared in Hallowell. Me was engaged in 
trade there for many years, and then went 
South, where be carried on business for some 
time. -Subsequently his jiroperty, of which he 
had acquired a considerable amount, was 
swept away by a disastrous fire; and, after 
passing his last days at the homestead upon 
the Weld Road, he died February i, 1844. 
His religious belief was that of the Congrega- 
tional church, and he was a member of the 
local society of that denomination. He mar- 
ried Judith G. Dummer, of Hallowell, and 
reared three children. Of these, the only sur- 
\dvor is Nathaniel, Mr. Dummer's father. 

Nathaniel Dummer, second, was born in 
Hallowell, December 29, 1816. After finish- 
ing his studies at the Hallowell Academy, he 
was a clerk in a store of that town for four 
years. He then came to Weld, where he 
served in the same capacity with James Brown 
for about a year. At the age of eighteen 
years he engaged in business on his own ac- 
count, and carried on a general store here for 
a time. He now owns the Pleasant Point 
Hotel, besides other property in this locality. 
In politics be is a Republican. For a num • 
lier of years lie was a member of the Board of 
-Selectmen, serx'ing as Chairman a ]iart of the 
time. He also efficiently scr\ed in the office 
of Postmaster foi- ten years. His wife, IClvira, 
whom he wedded June 21, 1840, is a daughter 
of Benjamin Mastern-'an. She has bad si.v 
children by him, namely: Charles G., the 



subject of this sketch; Joseph O., a resident 
of Weld; Helen and Louisa, who are residing 
at the homestead: Richard G., who lives in' 
Weld; and Eva M., who died Jane 19, 1891. 
The family attend the Congregational church. 

Charles G. Dummer was educated in Weld. 
After lea\dng school he was employed as clerk 
in a store for a time. Then he became a 
partner in the firm of B. R. Rollins & Co., 
which carried on business here for about two 
years. His next venture was a variety store, 
which he opened independently, and conducted 
some five years. At the end of that time he 
purchased the business of Oliver Gould, and 
has since carried it on very successfully at the 
same stand. He owns and cultivates a farm 
of ninety acres, from which he cuts an average 
of sixty tons of hay. Also, with his brother, 
R. G. Dtnnmer, he is engaged in raising fruit 
and vegetables, and runs a canning establish- 
ment, emplo3ing fifty hands. They have 
three large orchards, containing nine hundred 
trees in all, including some choice varieties of 
apples and plums. 

In politics Mr. Dummer is a Republican. 
He is now a member of the Board of Select- 
men, and he represented this district in the 
last legislature. In the latter capacity he 
served on the Committee on Fish and Game, 
and he secured appropriations for improv- 
ing the road from Weld to Wilton, and for 
schools in this county. He was Postmaster 
here for twenty years, and could have held the 
office longer, but declined to serve. He is a 
member of Mvstic Lodge, No. 154, A. I*'. & 
A. M., of We'ld. 



OHN COOLIDGF, one of the leading 
farmers of Dixfield, Me., his native 
town, was born May 24, 1821, son of 
Moses and Lydia (Peterson) Coolidge. 
Coolidge"s father was a native of Jav, 
He was engaged in general farming and 
teaming for the greater part of his active 
period, and he resided upon a good farm in 
Dixfield. He lived to reach the advanced 
age of ninety years, his last days being passed 
in retirement at the home of his son. In poli- 
tics he was a Democrat. His wife, Lydia, 
W'ho was a native of Canton, Me., became the 



BIOC.RAi'llK AI. RKVIKW 



3 no 



niotlicr o[ seven .children, as follows: Louisa 
Ann and Lucy Ann, who arc no longer living;; 
Ahigail; Charles; Cyrus; Moses F. : and 
John, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Lydia 
Peterson Coolidge lived to be nearly eightx- 
four years old. Both parents were members 
of the Free Will Baptist church. 

John Coolidge attendctl the common schools 
of Dixfield, and at an early age began farming 
upon his own account. He has been exceed- 
ingly prosperous, owning at the present time 
his homestead farm of one hundred and eighty- 
live acres, besides other land in this vicinity, 
ant! he ranks among the leading, well-to-do 
agriculturists of the town. 

At the age of twenty-six years Mr. Coolidge 
was united in marriage with ILarriet .Swett, 
his first wife, who was a daughter of Abram 
T. Swett, of Errol, N.H. "of this union 
were born three children, namely: Clinton IC, 
a prosperous farmer of Dixfield; Nelson A., 
who resides upon a farm in Canton; and 
Alice, deceased. Mr. Coolidge's first wife 
having died, he married for his second wife, 
Bethiah Campbell, and became the father of 
three more children, namely: two, who suc- 
cessively bore the name Eddie, both early 
taken from the earthly home: and Moses, now 
living with his parents. 

Mr. Coolidge is an intelligent and energetic 
farmer, whose prosperity is the result of per- 
severance and good management, and he is 
still smart and active. In politics he is a 
Democrat, and in religion a liberal Christian, 
attendin<i the I'niversalist church. 



(5 1 niOTHV .S. DOTEN is one of the 
* I largest fruit growers of the town of 
-*- Hartford, Oxford County, Me., where 
he is also successfully engaged in general 
farming. He was born here, March 17, 1823, 
a son of Paul and Elizabeth (Cobb) Doten, the 
former of whom was born in Carver, Mass., 
and the latter in Middleboro, Mass., both 
I'lymouth County towns. Thomas Doten, the 
father of Paul, was a farmer, and spent his life 
in Massachusetts. 

Paul Doten grew to sturdy manhood in his 
native State, and there remained a resident 
till some time after his marriaLie. He was 



one of the first to settle in the town of Hart- 
ford, coming here with his wile and one child, 
the journey from Portland being made on 
horseback through a region where the route 
was intlicatetl by spotted tiees. On his ar- 
ri\al, having secui'ed his land. In- first maile a 
small clearing, in which he built a log house, 
and then set about the task of bringing a por- 
tion of his wooded acres undci' cultivation, the 
result being that in course of lime he had a 
productive farm. He li\ed here until his 
death, whicii occurred when he was seventy- 
seven years old. He was survived by his 
wife, Mrs. I^lizabeth Cobb Doten, who at- 
tained the age of ninety-two. In religious 
belief both were Congregational ists : and in 
politics he was a Whig. They had five chil- 
dren, but only Timothy S., the youngest, is 
living. The ileceased were named Paul, 
Deborah, Hannah, and Alvin C. 

Timothy S. Doten stayed at home with his 
parents during his minority, receiving his ed- 
ucation in the schools of Hartford. He after- 
ward lived in Newton, Mass., for seven years; 
but aside from tliat he has always resided in 
Hartford. In i<S53 he purchased his present 
farm, which contains about one hundred and 
forty acres, a large part of which is devoted to 
fruit culture, his orchards containing altogether 
about one thousand trees. He also keeps a 
dairy of choice Durham and Jersey cows, and 
the well-kept buiUlings and carefully tilled 
fields all bear witness to the painstaking care 
and generous labor which he has bestowed 
upon them. 

When twenty-six years of age Mr. Doten 
married Miss Avis A. Robinson, who was 
born in Sumner in 1823, a daughter of Esquire 
Zury Robinson, of East .Sumner. Eleven 
children have been born to them, the six now 
living being as follows: Lizzie C, the witlow 
of George V. Rose, of Hartford; /ur\' R. 
Doten, a leading farmer of Lewiston, Me. ; 
Bertha, the wife of George Bonney, living in 
Mexico; Nellie, wife of Carroll C. Fernald, 
living in Weymouth, Mass. ; Scott Doten, 
who married Addie Whittier, and lives at the 
parental home; and James L. Doten, who is 
married and lives in Weymouth, Mass. The 
deceased are: Deborah, who married Thomas 
Allen: Abbie, the wife of Llewellyn Wood- 



400 



lUOf.RAI'IlICAL RKVIKW 



cock: Kclna, ihu wife of I-'rod Mitchell; and 
two that died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. 
Doten are members of the Advent church. In 
politics he is a Democrat; and, fraternally, he 
is a member of the i^range of Patrons of llus- 
bandrv at Canton. 




'RANCIS .S. PACKARD, M.D., of 
Waterford X'illage, Me., is one of the 
influential citizens of Waterford, prom- 
inent as a physician, a business man, and a 
politician. He was born in Parkman, Me., 
February uS, 1861, son of Levi A. and Re- 
becca C. (Harris) Packard, both natives of the 
State of Maine. 

Levi A. Packard, who lived in Parkman 
until a few years ago engaged in farming, is 
now residing in Exeter, Me., practically re- 
tired from active work. His wife died some 
time since. .She was the mother of six chil- 
dren, namely: Lovisa, now the wife of Z. G. 
Manter, a farmer and stock man of Parkman, 
Me.: Benjamin F., who died at the age of 
twenty-three; lulmund L. , now in Auburn, 
Me. ; Mabel, wife of Mr. Hudson, a merchant 
of Guilford, Me. ; Nettie, who lived but nine 
years; and Francis S., the subject of this 
sketch. 

l-"rancis S. Packard, in his early youth huul- 
ably ambitious to obtain a liberal education, 
attended the common school's of I^arkman and 
the academy at Foxcroft, Me., applying him- 
self closely to study in school hours, and to 
work between terms, in order to secure the 
necessary funds for his professional training. 
At the age of sixteen he went to work in a 
hotel; and thence onward, until his studies 
were finished, he was employed in different 
ways, at one time trying his skill at manual 
labor in an organ factory at Foxcroft, Me. 
He received his diploma from the medical de- 
partment of Bowdoin College in 1887. He 
was in Gardiner, Me., two years, that being 
his first field of practice. Dr. Packard re- 
moved to Waterford in April, 1892. Though 
in this town but a comparatively short time, 
he has a large and growing practice, and has 
won the confidence of all who know him. In 
1893 he opened a drug store in Waterford Vil- 
lage, fitting it with all modern appliances, in- 



cluding a handsome soda fountain, which in 
the summer season is well patronized. 

Dr. Francis -S. Packard was married Decem- 
ber 27, 1888, to Hattie C. Sawyer, a native of 
Gardiner, Me., born October 21, 1867, the 
daughter of Henry R. and Philena H. C. 
(Hathorn) Sawyer. Mr. .Sawyer, whii is now 
a resident of Gardiner, is engaged in farming, 
trading, and dealing in real estate. The 
winter following his marriage the Doctor 
spent in Florida and Georgia. Dr. and Mrs. 
Packard have one child, Francis S., born Sep- 
tember 29, 1893. They attend the Congrega- 
tional church. 

Dr. Packard is a member of the Maine Med- 
ical Association, Vice-President of the Oxford 
County Medical Association, and a member of 
the State Board of Pension Examiners. He 
is President and Treasurer of the Waterford 
Manufacturing Company of South Waterford, 
which established in 1894 a plant for making 
chairs, bedsteads, chair frames, and other 
articles of wood. He is also Chairman of the 
Democratic Committee, and a member of the 
town .School Board. As a Mason he belongs 
to Mount Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, of Water- 
ford, and as an Odd Fellow he is a member of 
Oxford Lodge, No. 30, of North Waterford. 



r^' 



]■;( )RGL H. B.\.SS, an enterprising 
% '») I shoe manufacturer of Wilton, Me., 
^ — and a prominent resident of this 
town, which is his native place, was born on 
July 22, 1843, son of .Seth and Nancy (Rus- 
sell) Bass. 

The family is of early Colonial origin, — the 
original ancestors in America, .Samuel and 
Anne Bass, having settled at Roxbury, Mass., 
in 1630. They later moved to Braintree, 
where Samuel died in 1694, aged ninety-four; 
and his wife died in 1693, aged ninety-three 
years. Before his death Samuel Bass was 
the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather 
of one hundred and sixty-two children. The 
line of descent is traced directly from Samuel 
and Anne Bass through Samuel, second, and 
Mary (Howard) Bass, .Samuel, third, and 
Rebecca (F"axon) Bass, Seth and Eunice 
(Allen) Bas.s, Samuel and Alice (Spear) Bass, 
Jeriah and Lucretia (Saville) Bass, to Seth 



BIOGRAl'HICAI. RF,V1I-.W 



40t 



;ind \anc\' (Russell) Bass, parents of Mr. 
(ieor^c H. Bass. 

.Seth i^ass, second, was Ixirn in Wilton, 
where his father, Samuel Bass, fourth, had 
settled, and when a young man he learned the 
hatters' trade of his brothers, who carried on 
a hat manufactory in this town. l'"or some 
time he travelled all over the .State with a 
team, selling a fine tjuality of fur hats. lie 
later engaged in mercantile business in Wil- 
ton, also becoming interested in a starch fac- 
tor\', which was located here. Retiring from 
business toward the latter part of his life, he 
continued to reside here until his death, which 
took place when he was sevent)'-nine years old ; 
and his wife died a year later at the age of 
se\'ent\'two. An upright, conscientious busi- 
ness man and a respected citizen, he labored 
diligentU for the best interests of the com- 
munit\'; antl he served the town faithfully as 
Trea.surer for twenty-three \ears. In politics 
he acted, originallw with the Whig partv, later 
uniting with the Republicans; and he was a 
member of the Congregational church. Seth 
and Nancy (Russell) Bass were the parents of 
siv children, namely: Mary Ann; Hmily A.; 
l'",mmons; (leorge M., the subject of this 
sketch; V.Ua S. ; and Clara I.. 

(ieorge H. Bass wa.s educated at the common 
and high schools of his native town and at a 
])rivate school. At the age of seventeen he 
taught school for a short time, but relinquished 
that occupation in order to learn the tanner's 
trade; and after serving an apprenticeship of 
two vears he worked as a journeyman in Mass- 
achusetts until he was twenty-two years old. 
From that time until 1880 he owned and con- 
ducted the tannerv in Wilton, which is now 
carried on by J. O. Ashton ; and, having [pre- 
viously bought an interest in the shoe manu- 
facturing business formerly carried on by 
E. P. Packard & Co., he one year later became 
sole proprietor, of the enterprise. He contin- 
ued to occu|)y the old quarters until 1887, 
when he bought the Eaton carriage shop, 
which he fitted up with new and improved ma- 
chinery,' introducing water-power; and he is 
now conducting a thriving business, employing 
a force of about twenty-five workmen. In 
1886 he bought a lot on Prosjiect Street, 
where ho erected a handsome residence and 



stable. He has Laid out lawns .and otherwise 
beautified the grounds, uiion which he has 
located an artificial ]iond to su|5]ily his factory 
with water for fire protection. It is a well- 
known fact that he has alwa\s given his undi- 
vided interest tn whatever he has vmdertaken, 
strix'ing earnestly and industriously to make a 
success ot his business ventures, and the result 
has been most satistaclorv in e\'er\' particular. 
Ml'. Bass married .Mai\' Louise Streeter, 
who was born in .\ustinburg, Ohio, March q, 
1S47, daughter of .Sereno W. and .Sarah lane 
(W'illard) .Streetei-, and grand-daughter of 
Major John II. Willard. wIkj was of an honored 
and highly re]nitable family. Mr. Willard 
had the honor of proposing the name Rejnihli- 
can for the designation of the new [jolitical 
])art}', originated at a con\ention held in 
.Strong in NS54, which has since written the 
grandest [xiges of ^American history. Mrs. 
Bass died May 2, 1896, leaving four children, 
as follows: Willard .Streeter, who was boi 11 
July 27, 1876, ;ind was graduated from Bow- 
doin College with the class of 1896; fdhn 
Russell, who was born .Se|)tember 6, 1S78; 
Elizabeth, who w;is born August 4, 1881 ; and 
Annie Louise, who was born November 26, 
1888. In politics Mr. Bass is a Republican, 
and has served as Town Treasurer with ability 
for tweh'e years. He is an active member of 
the Congregational church. 



OHN BACH1':LDI':R, a retired farmer 
and cattle dealer of North I'rveburg, 
( ).\ford County, Me., was born in .Stone- 
ham, this State, April 8, 1820, son of 
Richard and Martha (Bryant) Bachekler. Mr. 
Bachelder's paternal grandfather, Henry Bach- 
ekler, was a native of England, who, upon his 
arrival in America, resided in Massachusetts 
for a time; and he later settled in Fryeburg, 
where he spent the rest of his life. 

His son, Richard Bachekler, was born in 
Chelsea, Mass., and in }-oung manhood he 
settled in the northern part of this county upon 
what is known as Batchelder's Grant. He 
was a carpenter b\' tratle, but about the year 
1822 he removed to North Frxeburg, and here 
s|5ent the rest of his life in tilling the soil of 
the farm which is now' owned bv his son. He 



40- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



(licil .Sc])tcmbcr X, 1862. He married Martha 
Jiryant, a native of New MarivCt, N.H., and 
she became the mother of three children, as 
folh)w.s: Henry, wlio died in January, i S93 ; 
|ohn, tlie .subject of this si<etch ; and Martha, 
who is the widow of J. L. I'"arrington, and re- 
sides in l'"ryeburg. Mrs. Martha R Hacheldor 
died Augu.st 22, 1X5S. 

John Hachelder was brought by his parents 
to North I'ryelnirg when he was two years old, 
and he was educated in the common schools of 
this town. At the age f)f twenty-two he began 
farming upon his own account, advancing in 
prosperity as he grew older in experience; 
and he also engaged extensi\elv in the buying 
and shipping of cattle. At the time of his 
retirement, which took place in 1866, he 
owneil and cultivated one of the ijest farms in 
Oxford County, and har\'estcd annualh' seventy 
tons of hay, five hundred bushels of oats, and 
the same quantity of potatoes. Besides his 
tillage land in this vicinity, which is worked 
by hired assistants, he owns several village 
lots, together with a pleasant residence in 
North Fryeburg, and some timber land in 
Stoneham and Lovell, Me., and in Chatham, 
N.H. 

In 1S46 Mr. Hachelder wedded Ann 11 
Wiley, of i^'ryehurg, daughter of George and 
Ellen (Charles) Wiley, early settlers of this 
town, who are no longer living. Mrs. Bachel- 
der died ()ctiibcr 1 8', 1885. 

Although Mr. j-iachelder has been frequently 
solicited to beccjme a canditlatc for public office 
he has always refused nomination ; but he takes 
a live interest in political affairs, and has 
voted with the Republican party ever since 
its formation. He is a Master Mason, being 
a member of Pythagorean Lodge, A. I*". & 
A. M., of this town. He has long occupied 
a leading jwsition among the farmers and busi- 
ness men of this count_v, where he is well 
known and highly respected. With the ex- 
ception of an occasional attack of rheumatism, 
which was brought on by hard work and ex- 
posure, he enjoys good health for one of his 
years. 

Mr. Hachelder was a member of the State 
Hoard of Agriculture for two vears, and he has 
served a number of different times both as 
grand juryman and also trial juryman. 



AMES EVERETT HISCOCK. of Wil- 
ton, Me., manufacturer of and dealer in 
long and short lumber, and a member 
of the Hoard of Selectmen, was born in 
this town, June 16, 1S55, son of James M. 
and Leonora (Parker) Hiscock. 

Mr. Hiscock's great grandfather, Samuel 
Hiscock, moved with his family to Wilton 
among the earliest settlers, and cleared the 
farm which is now owned by F. S. Gammon. 
He attained prosperity as a general farmer, 
and died at about middle age. He married 
Betsey Teague, and she reared five of her 
seven children by this union; namely, John, 
Jesse S., Thomas, Samuel, and Matthew C. 
Mrs. Betsey Teague Hiscock married for her 
second husband, John Wheeler, and lived to 
be eighty years okl. 

Jesse S. Hiscock, son of Samuel, and the 
next in this line, carried on the homestead farm 
some time after his father's death, but he later 
removed to Dixfield, Me., and there bought 
and operated a saw-mill. He finally returned 
to Wilton, where he built the residence now 
owned by Dr. Rowell; and he followed the 
carpenter's trade imtil his death, which took 
place when he was forty-seven years old. He 
served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
was a Whig in politics. He married Jennie 
Wheeler, who was a daughter of John Wheeler 
by his first wife, her husband's mother, 
widow of Samuel Hiscock, being her father's 
second w^fc. Jesse S. and Jennie (Wheeler) 
Hiscock, had a family of eight children, 
namely: Mary J.; Charity; .Samuel; James 
M. ; Sarah; Charles; Betsey; and Rosamond, 
who died young. Mrs. Jennie W. Hiscock 
died at the age of forty-seven years. 

James M. Hiscock, son of Jesse S. Hiscock, 
was born in Wilton, and at the age of seven- 
teen he began to learn the trade of a black- 
smith. After serving his apprenticeship he 
relinquished it for a time, during which he 
worked at the tinner's trade; but eventually 
he resumed the former occupation, and, buy- 
ing the property where his son now resides, he 
erected a building, the lower part of which he 
used for a shop, the upper part for a dwelling. 
With the assistance of his son he later trans- 
formed the old building into a handsome 
cottage, laying out anil beautifying the 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



403 



grounds: and, ].nittini; up a new shop near tlic 
street, he was for the rest of his active ])eii(id 
engaged in ironing carriages. He was widely 
and favorably known throughout this section 
as a worthy, upright man, a reiial)le workman, 
and a useful citizen; and at his death, which 
took place June 14, 1895, when he was sixty- 
eight years old, he was deeply mourned by a 
large circle of friends and acquaintances. In 
])olitics he was a stanch Republican from the 
formation of the party, and he served as I'own 
Clerk for three years. Me was connected with 
Williamson Lodge, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, of Wilton, and in his religious be- 
lief he was a Universalist. His wife, Leonora 
Parker, who was a daughter of Lnoch Parker, 
of Jay, Me., became the mother of six chil- 
dren. The youngest of these, a daughter, 
died when five months old. l-'ive are now liv- 
ing, namely: Joseph H.; Ora S. ; James K., 
the subject of this sketch; Lester P.: antl 
Jennie L. — all of whom were educated in the 
public schools and Wilton Academy. Mrs. 
Leonora P. Hiscock is now sixty-seven years 
old. 

Joseph H. Hiscock, when twenty years old, 
went to New York City, where he worked for 
his uncle, Orin Parker, who was a member of 
the firm of L. W. Baxter & Co., which did a 
large furniture business. I'rom there he went 
to Indiana, thence to Iowa, ami later to Min- 
nea]iolis, Minn., where he now resides. He 
has been connected with the furniture i)usi- 
ncss nearly all the time since he left home, 
and has been superintendent of the Minne- 
apolis Furniture Company for a number of 
years. He is married and has two daughters. 
Ora S. Hiscock, after his school-days were 
ended, went to work in the peg-mill at Wil- 
ton, owned by B. F. Sturtivant, where he re- 
mained until the business was moved to Con- 
way, N.H., more than twenty years ago. He 
then went to Conway to continue in the same 
business, and has lived there ever since, work- 
ing for the same firm all these years. He is 
married and has one daughter. 

Lester P. Hiscock began his work in life 
for G. H. Bass, in the boot and shoe business. 
After a time he became a member of the firm 
of G. H. Bass & Co. In i8go he was elected 
Representative to the legislature, and at about 



this time he and Mr. Bass dissolved partner- 
ship. In 1S91 he opened a furniture and 
undertaking business in Wilton, which he 
conducted successfully about two years. He 
then closed out the business in Wilton, and 
moved to East Brookfield, Mass., going in 
company with W. G. Keith, formerly of 
Chesterville, Me. ; and they are now running 
a hardware business in connection with furni- 
ture and undertaking. He was Town Clerk in 
Wilton quite a number of years. He married 
Ida M. Miller, a native of Wilton. 

Jennie L. Hiscock, after leaving Wilton 
Academy, took the course of study at West- 
brook Seminary, and was graduated with the 
class of i8<S3. After that she worked in tiie 
Wilton /xtron/ office. She devoted quite a 
good deal of time to music, taking lessons 
in Portlanil and Boston, and giving lessons 
in Wilton and Livermore. -She also sang in 
church at Livermore a!)out four years. .She 
married in 1892 W. C. Hobbs, then a teacher 
of Providence, R.L, who fitted for college at 
Wilton Acatlemy, and was graduated from 
l-}ates College. Since they were married Mr. 
Hobbs has been Supervisor of Schools at 
North Attleboro, Mass., where they now re- 
side. They have one son, lames I^eecher 
Hobbs. 

James Everett Hiscock assisted his father 
until reaching the age of twenty-four, when 
he entered the Ploughkeepsie Commercial 
College, where he was graduated in 1879. 
After his return to Wilton he engaged for a 
time in the manufacture of cans. He also for 
several years acted as su]ierintendent of 
Leavitt's corn packing factory in Livermore. 
He then bought the Sawyer packing factory in 
Wilton, where for some years he put up the 
well-known Gilt Edge Corn :ind the famous 
Wilton Apple, which acquired a high rejuita- 
tion anil a large sale in the metroi^olitan 
markets. In 1885 he leased the Wilton saw- 
mills, which he has since operated with 
energy, manufacturing over two hunilred 
thousand feet of logs annually into all kinds 
of lumber for building purposes; and his busi- 
ness ability is making this enterprise a most 
gratifying success. He has remodelled and 
enlarged his residence, and since the great 
fire of 1893 has bought the vacant land oppo- 



io.i 



R I OG R .\ P H I C A L R EV I EW 



site, wliich adds nuich to the pleasantness of 
tlic location. 

Mr. Hiscock married Addie J-5artlett, daugh- 
ter of Silas P. Bartlett, of East Di.xfield, and 
she died August 24, 1S95, at the age of 
twenty-nine years. .She was a graduate of 
Karmington State Normal School, class of 
I S87, and was a successful school teacher. 

Politically, Mr. Hiscock is one of tlie ac- 
tive members of the Republican party in this 
section, ami his ability in local public affairs 
has been of great value to the town, which he 
is now serving for his fifth term as clerk; and 
he is also a member of the present Board of 
-Selectmen. He is Past Grand of Williamson 
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and I'ast Chief I'atriarch of the encamiiment. 
In religious faith he is a Fniversalist. 



(^()H\ A. rWADDLK, M.I)., who has 
followed his jjrofession in Bethel for 
nearly twenty years, was born in Weld, 
Me., .Vugnst 14, i S49, son of John and 
Irene H. (Phelps) Twaddle. John Twaddle 
was born in (Glasgow, .Scotland, and came to 
America when about thirtv vears of atre. He 
settled in Weld, and was engaged in agricult- 
ure up to the time of his death, which hap|)ened 
when he was aliout eighty- five years old. 
His wife, who was born in Weld, is living on 
the homestead in that town where her wedded 
life was jxissed. Of her three children Dr. 
John A. Twaddle is the eldest. The second, 
Joseph B. , is a physician practising in .South 
Norridgewock, Me. The youngest, William 
\'. , is a graduate of Bates College and \ale 
Law School, and is now a law\er in I-'l Paso. 
Te.xas. 

John A. Twaddle was reared on the farm in 
Weld; and, while becoming familiar with 
agricultural woik, he attended the eonimoii 
schools near his home and completed a four 
years' course at Kent's Hill Seminary. Tak- 
ing charge of a district school when seventeen 
years of age he taught it in the winter season 
for some time, while he engaged in farm work 
in the summer. Then for tiiree years he read 
medicine with \)x. J. R. Eaton, of Wilton, 
Me., attended Bowdoin College for three 
terms, and graduated from the medical depart- 



ment of that institution on June 6, 1S77. 
.Shortly after receiving his degree he opened 
an office in Bethel, and has been here since. 
In the years that have passed he has built up 
a large and lucrative practice. Having ample 
means he indulges a liking for good horses 
by keeping some handsome animals. 

On May i, 1878, Dr. Twaddle was married 
to Harriet I.., daughter of Deacon Joseph 
Brown, i>f Bethel, and has now three children. 
These are: I^va \'., born .April 19, 1880; 
Widd \'. , born March 11, 1884; and Gard 
W., born January 31, 1890. In politics the 
Doctor favors the Democratic party. He has 
been a member of the Bethel School Board for 
two years, and of the Board of Pension E.xam- 
iners for O.xford County for three years. Well 
advanced in Masonry he is a member of Bethel 
Lodge, No. 97. and of the Blue Lodge at 
Weld, Me. 




PIIRAI.M WIGHT, of (iilead, is spend- 
int: the sLuiset of life in ciuict retire- 
ment among the scenes of his box- 
hood. He was born in Gilead, May 6, 1820, 
son of Ephraim and Susanna (Patch) Wight. 
Ephraim Wight, Sr. , who was a native of 
Dublin, N.H., settled in Gilead in early man- 
hood, purchasing the farm now occupied bv his 
son. and died at the age of fifty-five. His 
wife, a native of Massachusetts, lived to be 
seventy four \ears old. Both were members 
of the Congregational church. Thev had a 
family of eleven children, who have all passed 
away except the subject of this sketch. 

Ephraim Wight had good educational oppor- 
tunities, attending the common schools of 
Gilead and Gould's Academy at Bethel. By 
the time he attained his majority he was a 
competent farmer, and he then left home to 
make his own wa\' in the woild. Locating in 
Gorham, N. H., he engaged in farming and 
lumbering, both of which he followed for 
thirty years, broken only by a term of service 
in the army. In August, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company L, P^irst New Hampshire Regiment 
of Hea\y .•\rtillery, which, on reaching the 
capital, was assigned to duty there. Mr. 
Wight was honorably discharged in June, 
1865, and retLUMied to his business in Ciorhan). 



RtOGRAPHlCAL REVIEW 



405 



After a time he tli^pDsecl ol his Inisiness there 
unci purchased the humesteaii in Gileaci, where 
he has since resided. His health has been 
very poor tdr tlie |xist seven years, but he still 
enjoys a chat with an okl friend. 

Mr. Wight was married March 31, 1841, to 
Priscilla D. Burbank, who was born in Shel- 
born, X.H., September 29, 1821. F"our chil- 
dren have grown up in his home, namel}' : 
inizabeth, now the wife of Ikmjamin ]"'. 
Hicks, of Gilead; Lifert, a shoemaker of 
Lynn, Mass.; Osman C. , a farmer in Leeds, 
Me. ; and Albert D., who is with his parents. 
Mr. Wight votes the Republican ticket. 
Though he was away from Gilead for a num- 
ber of years he is looked upon as one of the 
old residents of the place, many of the com- 
]3anions of his boyhood being yet alive, as well 
as others who remember his jwrents and his 
brothers and sisters. 




.\LV1X U. SEWALL, late an influ- 
ential and highly esteemed citizen of 



Is Farmington, Me., who died Novem- 

ber 5, 1883, was born in the town of 
Chesterville, Me., June 12, 1822. He was a 
son of Oliver and Betsy (Sylvester) Sewall, 
and a grandson of the Rev. Jotham Sewall, 
who was the son of Henry, grandson of Nicho- 
las, great-grandson of John, and great-great- 
grandson of Henry and Jane (Dummer) Sewall, 
of Newbury, Mass. The last named Henry 
Sewall was a grandson of Henry .Sewall, first, 
who was the Mayor of Coventry, England, in 
1589 and 1606. Mayor Sewall's son Henry, 
second, and his grandson Henry, third, above 
mentioned, both emigrated to America, and 
settled in Esse.x County, Mass. 

Jotham Sewall was born in \'ork, \'ork 
County, Me., January i, 1760. Somewhat 
early in life he learned the trade of mason, and 
by his own exertions later he educated himself 
for the ministry. On the i8th of June, in the 
year 1800, this good man was ordained as an 
evangelist. He had a wide field of labor, 
being employed as a missionary until near the 
close of his long life. He was much vener- 
ated and beloved. When he settled at Lake 
Hill, Chesterville, he bought land that was for 
the most part wild and uncultivated; but he 



was as full of prattical energy as of spiiitual 
zeal, and he. went to work and put the land 
under cultivation. His first house was a log 
cabin. He afterward erected a comfortable 
fr:une tlwelling on the same situation. He 
died in 1850, in the ninety-first year of his 
age. His wife, Jenny Sewall, li\ed to be 
seventy years. Their children were: Oliver, 
Nathan, Jotham, Jennie, Julia, .Saiah, Alary, 
Otis, Rachel, Bet.sy, and David. 

Oliver Sewall, son of the ke\. Jotham, was 
born July 10, 17S8. He learned and practised 
surveying; was also a conveyancer and wrote 
deeds, following the carpenter's traile between 
whiles. He bought a farm of seventy acres in 
the town of Chesterville, Me., where he lived 
until his death on the 29th of August, 1861. 
His wife, Betsy .Sylvester, was born in 1788, 
and died in 1878. In jiolitics Oliver Sewall 
was a Whig and later a Republican; antl he 
served as a Representative in the legislature. 
For twelve years he was a Selectman, and he 
was also Tt)wn Clerk and Deacon in the Con- 
gregational church. The children of Oliver 
and Betsy (Sylvester) Sewall were: Harriet 
G,, l':iiza J., Maria S. , George O., Calvin I)., 
and William S. 

Calvin D. Sewall having obtained his etlu- 
cation in the district schools of his nati\e 
town learned the trade of tempering axes, fol- 
lowing this for some time as a means of living 
in Massachusetts. Returning to Chesterville 
he engaged in the manufacture of carriages and 
wagons. He afterward removed to Farming- 
ton, where he purchased a farm on the south 
side of Sandy River, at the corner of River 
and Wilton roads. This estate consisted of 
sixty acres, and here he had a handsome resi- 
dence and a shop in which his manufacturing 
business was conducted, the machiner)' in use 
being run by horse power. Mr. Sewall 
served as a Representative in the legislature 
and as a County Commissioner. He was a 
man of keen perceptions, and his advice was 
often sought in ileciding difficult tiuestions. 
At the time of his death, which occurred in 
the sixty-second year of his age, he was Dea- 
con of the Congregational church. 

Mr. Sewall was first united in marriage with 
Miss Eliza Mayhew, of Chesterville, their 
nuptials being solemnized Jannar\- 1, 1847. 



4o6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIF:\V 



Mrs. l-^liza M. Scwall was a woman of great 
moral worth and strength of character. She 
(lied Januar)- S, 1S73, leaving si.\ children — 
I-.lmer, Carrie, Willis, Alice, Lucy, and 
()]iv-er. Mr. Sewall's second wife, whom he 
married on I-'ebruary 10, i'S74, and who sur- 
vi\es him, was I\Iiss Eliza T. Moore, daughter 
of John .S. and Lucinda (French) Moore, of 
CanterljiuT, .\. H. She was educated in the 
public schools of her native town, Canterbur\', 
N.ll., and in the high schools of Concord and 
llaverhill, Mass., and early adopted the pro- 
fession of teaching. A young woman of un- 
usual mental ability antl most estimable traits 
of character, she won for herself an e.xcellent 
reputation in her chosen field of effort. For 
some time pre\ious to her marriage she was an 
assistant teacher in the State Normal School 
at F"armington. Of her faithfulness and coni- 
jietence in her new relations as wife and 
niothei' it is not needful here to speak. Mrs. 
.Sewall enjoys the esteem and good-will of a 
large circle of friends and acquaintances. 

After the second marriage of Deacon Sewall 
his family was increased by the birtli_of [wo 
daughters: .S. l?elle, who was born Jothutj 6, 
1S76; and Helen A., born on March 10, 1S77. 
J^otli are graduates of the F'armington .State 
Normal School, like their elder sisters afore- 
mentioned, and both are now engaged in teach- 
ing. It may be said of the Sewall children in 
brief that they are all well educated and are 
worthy sons and daughters of such parentage. 

The youngest son, the Rev. Oliver 1). .Sew- 
all, is a graduate of Howdoin College and of 
Andover Theological .Seminary, and is at the 
present time jjastor of the Congregational 
church in Durham, N. IL 




"ON. JAMES S. WRIGHT, an emi- 
nent lawyer of .South Paris, was born 
in the town of Jay, F^ranklin 
County, July 17, 1845, son of Reu- 
ben and .Sarah (Putnam) Wright. His grand- 
father, Oliver Wright, who was a native of 
Keene, N.H., removed to Jay, and bought a 
farm of one hundred and fifty acres, where he 
resided, and was engaged in farming for the 
remainder of his life. He died at the age of 
eighty-one years, having been one of the pro- 



gressive men of the town. His wife, Sallv 
(Butterfield) Wright, lived to the age of 
eighty-si.\ years. Their children were: Oliver, 
Sally, Reuben, Thomas, Jonathan, and Betsey. 
Oliver died when forty years old. The rest 
lived to ages varying from seventv-five tii 
eighty-three years. 

Reuben Wright was a native of Jay, born 
December 3, 1S03. He also followed farm- 
ing as an occupation. When the opportunity 
offered he bought the homestead farm, re- 
modelled the original buildings and erected 
others, and enlarged the land acreage by further 
purchases. Energetic and intelligent, he was 
a leading man in the community. In politics 
he was successively a Whig and a Republican, 
and he was Ta.x Collector for a time, besides 
serving in minor offices. His wife, Sarah, 
bore him nine children, namely: Frederick 
W. : Arvilla; Melvina; Augusta; James A., 
who died young; James S. ; Emery V. ; Silas;, 
and Reuben F. Roth parents were supporters 
of the Free Will Baptist church. The father 
died in September, 1885. The mother lived 
until 1892, when she passeil away at the age 
of eighty-six years. 

The Hon. James S. Wright, after attending 
the district school for the usual period, subse- 
quently pursued the more advanced studies at 
the high schools of Wilton, Livermore l-'alls, 
and Di.xfield. Upon leaving school he read 
law with William W. Boster and E. B. Rich- 
ardson, of Di.xfield, and was admitted to the 
bar in .September, 1868. Mr. Richardson 
having tlied, he entered into a partnershi]i 
with Mr. Boster, lasting three years. After 
this he spent a year in partnership with S. F. 
Gibson, of Bethel, Me., when he was elected 
clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court. He had 
filled this office with ilistinguished ability for 
ten years, when he was elected to the more 
important position of County Attorney. At 
the end of four years he resumed private prac- 
tice, coming in 1891 to South Paris, where he 
has since become one of the leading law)-ers. 
Mr. Wright is a Director of the Paris IManu- 
facturing Company, and was the first President 
of the corporation that erected the Billings 
Block in Market .Square, considered the finest 
structure of the kind in the county. 

On May 2, 1869, Mr. Wright was married 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



407 



to Miss llannali K. \\'i)(Kll)ur\', (lau^,litci' ol 
William VVooilbur}', a prosperous farmer ot 
Sweden, Me., who afterward resided at South 
Paris. His children are: Lena !•" ranees, who 
died at the age of seventeen; and l-'red N., 
born August 6, 1874, a graduate of Shaw's 
Business College at Portland, who is now em- 
jiloyed as a clerk. Mr. Wright takes an earn- 
est and influential part in public affairs. He 
represented the town in the lower chamber 
of the State legislature in 1SS7, and in the 
Senate in i8Sg. In 1890 President Harrison 
appointed him Census Supervisor for the 
western half of the State of Maine. As a 
member of the School Board for four years 
he did much for the. educational interests of 
the town. While his law offices are located in 
the Billings Block, he resides at 15 Pleasant 
Street, which, since he purchased it from 
F. A. Tha\'cr, he has transformed into a hand- 
some dwelling bv remodelling. 




^APTAIN ERNEST IL MARWICK, 

, the well-known proprietor of the hand- 

is some furniture store on Broadway, 

Earmington. Me., was born on Oc- 
tober 13, [S52, in Berlin, Prussia, son of 
Wilhelm v. Grantzow, a Lieutenant in the 
German army. His name, originally Ernest 
H. Grantzow, was afterward changed by adop- 
tion to Ernest H. Marwick. 

At the age of fourteen, stimulated with a 
desire for adventure and novelt\', Ernest H. 
Grantzow left home, and took ship to America. 
He sailed on board the ship "Wheeland," 
bound for Quebec, Canada, and was landed at 
Montreal after a long voyage, without one cent 
of money or any other property, except the 
clothes he wore. Moreover, he could not 
understand a word of I-~nglish or French. 
N'evertheless, with indomitable pluck, he 
started out to find work, anil after persistent 
efforts obtained employment as driver of a 
butcher's wagon. He remained in this posi- 
tion for eight months, during which time he 
picked up quite a little luiglish. The busi- 
ness being uncongenial for a boy of his spirit, 
he then got a berth as a sailor-boy on board 
the brig "Agenora," Captain F. White, and 
made the voyage to Montevideo, and back to 



New \'ork. TIk' cajitain, liiuling him pleas- 
ant, faithful, and capable, soon advanced him 
to the position of common seaman. He re- 
ceived eight dollars per month for his services, 
and during the two years in which he was thus 
engaged he made the tri|) In Hucnos Aytes, 
and back to New York. 

On November, 1871, the brig struck a sand- 
bar on the Irish coast, and was almost lost. 
While in the rigging trying to save the sails, 
young Grantzow was struck in the face by a 
stick of wood blown by the wind, and suffered 
the loss of two teeth. He remained with the 
wreck for three weeks before it was gotten off 
the bar. So severe were the brig"s injuries 
that she sank just as she was entering dry 
dock, but was raised again and repaired. .She 
was loaded aX Cardiff with coal, and started on 
her ne.xt voyage, which was to Havana. 

Upon reaching that port, our hero, worn out 
with exposure and fatigue, was stricken down 
with yellow fever, but he rallied under the 
care and nursing of Captain White, and re- 
covered on the return voyage to New York, 
where he left the ship in order to regain his 
strength. He found some work on shore in 
the Singer Sewing Machine Factory, where he 
labored for the salary of four dollars and a half 
per week, paying at the same time five dollars 
per week for board and lotlging. After a 
short time, wishing to be more out of doors, 
he went to New Jersey, where he started in 
as a farmer, working on shares: but, soon de- 
ciding that he was not atlapted to that pur- 
suit, he left for New York to tr\" the sea once 
more. 

Going on board a ship lying at a wharf, 
which proved to be the "Lizzie M. Jackson," 
of Portland, he asked the Captain, whose 
name was K. A. Marwick, if a lioy was 
wanted. He received the rather discouraging- 
answer that boys were "more bother than the)' 
were worth," and had already turnetl awa}', 
when the Captain called to liim to come 
around in the morning and he would see. 
When the next morning came, he 
and hurried down to the ship, 
one about, and seeing that the 
covered with snow that had fal 
night, he began shovelling it off. 



arose early 
I'inding no 
decks were 
in the 
•Soon the 



leii 



Captain came on tleck, and askeil him wlu.) had 



4o8 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



tcilJ him to (.lean the decks, to wliieli he re- 
plied that no one had told him to, but, seeing 
that it was necessary, he thought he had better 
do it. This answer pleased Captain K. A. 
Marwick, and he immediately gave him five 
tiollars to go and buy some rubber boots, 
articles that the lad stood very much in 
need of. 

.So faithful, cajiable, and uniformly respect- 
ful and attentive, did Captain Marwick find 
him on the voyage to Havana, and back tliat, 
on the ship's arrival at New York, he offered 
to adopt him as his own son, having no chil- 
dren of his own. On the acceptance of the 
offer. Judge \'irgin, of Portland, made out the 
necessary papers, and the identity of Ernest 
H. Grantzow, the son of the German Lieuten- 
ant, was merged in that of l^rnest H. Mar- 
wMck, son of an American sea captain. The 
new-made American received a fine outfit, and 
was sent to school. Later he came to P^arm- 
ington, where he attended the Little l^lue 
School, a ]5reparatory schoid for business and 
college. 

While here I'Lrnest H. Marwick met and 
loved Miss Lizzie E. Dow, the daughter of 
J. P. Dow, of ■'"armington, and was married 
to heron the 28th of September, 1874. After 
a short wedding trip, he went to sea as first 
officer under his father. Captain Marwick, and 
remained with him five years. He then left 
Captain Marwick, and shijiped as first officer 
on the "P'anny P. Tucker," a ship bound from 
.St. Johns, N.H., to Gloucester, Englantl, ami 
Cuba. After making this voyage he sailed 
with the same rank on board the "F^dward L. 
Maybury," on which he made the voyage from 
Portland, by way of Boston, to Australia and 
Callao (Peru) to Liverjjool. He was absent 
twent)'-tliree months, and on his return home 
found a little daughter a year old awaiting 
him. Remaining at liome but two weeks, he 
then went to New York, and on arriving there 
he found two chances awaiting him, with such 
equal inducements that he was obliged to de- 
cide the question of jjreference by tossing up 
a C(jin. bate was propitious, for the vessel 
decided against was wrecked, and all on board 
lost. Subsequently to his Cuba voyage he 
sailed in the "Ada Gray,"" Cajjtain Plummer. 

On lea\'ing (_"a]itain Plummer he went with 



his father on board a new and hantlsome ship, 
called the "Rose lines," which Captain Mar- 
wick had built at Bath, Me. Here also the 
younger Marwick served as first ofificer. After 
a period of three years, old Captain Marwick, 
wishing to retire and to give his son a chance, 
left the ship at Valparaiso, Chile, and, telling 
the \oung commander that if he lost the ship 
he would lose twenty-seven thousand dollars, 
he made over the vessel to him. In this fine 
ship our new Captain Marwick made several 
voyages across the ocean, and around Cape 
Horn. He also established a new reconl be- 
tween Hampton Roads, Va. , and New York, 
making the trip in eighty-one hours, whereas 
one hundred hours was considered a quick ]3as- 
sage. He then took his little family on their 
first trip, touching at Callao (Peru), anil at 
Liverpool, where his father met him and took 
charge of the vessel. Captain E. H. Mar- 
wick thereupon returned to New York, and 
then came home to P^armington with his fam- 
ily. Soon after he established himself in 
trade with H. P. White, opening a stationery 
store, but he sold out his interest in a year 
and a half to his partner, and bought L. M. 
McDean's hardware store in West P'arming- 
ton. At this time he received a telegram 
from James Cebello, a ship-owner, asking him 
to take charge of his vessel, the "Mary P'ink," 
for one hundred dollars a month, an offer 
which Captain Marwick accepted; and, ujjon 
assuming command, he set sail for Spanish 
and other foreign ports, sailing the shi]i for 
three years. On one of these trips his crew 
deserted him, and he was obliged to take the 
vessel home, with a crew of but four men. a 
feat which he acconi]ilished in twent_\--nine 
days. 

Later he again took command of his father's 
old ship; and at one time, while on a voyage 
around Cape Horn, came up with a disabled 
vessel, and with much difficulty rescued her 
crew of twenty-one men. She turned (uit to 
be the ship "Glencover" from Liverjiocd, and 
her owners subsequently offered Captain Mar- 
wick a handsome reward for his humanity, 
which he refused, on the score that he had 
done no more than his duty. But at Boston 
he was presented by the English government 
with a fine set of marine classes in a handsome 



r, I OG R A P H I C A I , R FA^ I FAV 



I" 



rosewood case witli a silver ]>lale, on whieh 
was inscrihcil. " Presented to Captain !•;. II. 
Marwick, of American Jlark 'Rose lines,' lor 
his Kindness and Humanity in rescuing the 
Crew of the "(jlencovor, " which was abandoned 
at Sea off Cape Horn, December 21, 1893." 
Captain \'.. A. Marwick finally sold the "Rose 
lines,"" and, buying a smaller vessel, named 
the "Screamer," presented it to his son, Cap- 
tain H. H. Marwick, who sailed her for a 
while on different voyages, until, on a voyage 
two days out from Turk's Island, the brig 
sprang aleak. Captain Marwick put his crew 
into a boat, and, taking six gallons of w'atcr 
antl what provisions he could, they watched 
the "Screamer" go down, and then set out for 
the lanti, which was eighty-five miles distant. 
They were in an open boat for two ilays and 
nights, tinalh- bringing up at Turk's Island: 
but, not being able to land there, they rowed 
to Salt Key Island, where they were cared for 
by the American Consul for three weeks, and 
at last sent home to New York, four weeks 
after the ship had foundered. 

Captain Marwick there became very sick, 
chiefly from the results of his e.vposure; and 
after his recovery, upon the urgent request of 
his father and his wife, he decided to abandon 
the calling of a sailor, and remain on land for 
the rest of his days. He entered into partner- 
shi].) with \V. S. Dillingham, doing a business 
in furniture and undertaking at I-'armington, 
buying out his partner later, and continuing 
in the business alone, lie has now one of 
the finest and most attractive furniture stores 
in the county. 

Old Captain K. A. Marwick died in his de- 
voted adopted son's arms in Portland in the 
year 1893, and in testimony of his affection he 
willed to the young Captain and family about 
ten thousand dollars. Captain E. H. Rlarvvick 
and his wife have three children — Eddie E. , 
born June 23, 1875; Lillian M.. born De- 
cember 12, 1879: and Dwight D., born 
September 8, 18S3. 

Although Captain Marwick has given up 
the sea at a comparatively early age, he has 
travelled on more voyages than many an old 
seafarer. He has crossed the Equator forty- 
four times, has been around Cape Horn thirty- 
two times, around the Cape of Goofl Hope 



lour times, and has cruised up and down this 
coast very olten in all sorts of weather. He 
is a strong Republican in politics. He is 
Vice-Grand Master of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows of b'armington, and .Secretary 
of the encam|)ment. He is also a life mem- 
ber of the Portland Marine .Societw Captain 
Marwick is one ol the best known and most 
liked men in the town of i''armington, and 
fully deserx'es the universal respect wdiich is 
accorded him. After thirty-two years of sea 
life the Captain has settled down for good on 
land. This record will show what a poor boy 
can come to if he has a will to push aliead. 
V^ery few boys at the age of fourteen years old 
will leave their home and country, and conie 
out into the worKl, as did ('aptain E. 11. 
Marwick. 



OHN I-". Di. COSTA, M.I)., of Rum- 
ford P'alls, is one of tlie best jihysi- 
cians and surgeons in (Jxford Count)'. 
He was boi-n in Hebron, this coimty, 
.September g, 1858, son of Thomas ,ind Almeda 
(Whitman) De Costa. Thomas He Costa, 
who was born and reared in Hebron, spent his 
mature years in the pursuit of agriculture in 
that town. In politics he was a Democrat, in 
religious belief a Lhiiversalist. He died at 
the age of seventy-five. His wife, a n.ative of 
Buckfield, this county, lived to be seventy- 
seven years old. 

John F. De Costa attended the rommon 
schools of his native town until he was eleven 
years old. .Subsequently he atteiuled Hebron 
Academy f<ir three years, walking back and 
forth each day three and a half miles, the dis- 
tance between it and his home, and |)aying for 
his tuition by taking care of the building. 
He graduated from the academy at the age of 
fourteen, and at the age of fifteen entered 
Colby University. While studying there he 
taught school for two winters. As soon as 
his preliminary training was finished he took 
up the study of medicine, attending lectures 
at the Maine Medical School, and finall)- grad- 
uated from the Medical University of New 
York City in the spring of 1885. Immedi- 
ately after receiving his degree he was ap- 
pointed Assistant Surgeon at Pellevue Hos- 



412 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



pit;il. New York, and for a year he walked the 
wards of that famous institution, observing 
and treating critical cases. Then, fully qual- 
ified for his lifework, he opened an office in 
l^uckfield, Me. He has been here since Sep- 
tember 1, 1^95- Although but a few months 
over a vear has elapsed, he has already won 
the confidence of the community and pos- 
sesses quite a large practice. The energy and 
persistence that conquered all obstacles when 
he was struggling for an education enables him 
to surmount the difficulties of his professional 
career. Gifted by nature with fine social 
qualities, he is very popular. He is a member 
of the Maine Medical Association, the Maine 
Academy of Medicine, the Oxford County 
Medical Association, and the American Medi- 
cal Association. 

Ur. De Costa married Mrs. Nellie (Abbott) 
Record, a native of Rumford, who was reared 
in Huckfield, and has one child, Thomas A. 
He has been affiliated with the Republican 
party since the year of his majority. In Buck- 
field he was a member of the School Board and 
Supervisor of Schools until the fall of 1895, 
when he resigned. He has taken several de- 
grees in Masonry, and belongs to Evening Star 
Lodge, No. 147, of Buckfield, and to Rum- 
ford Chapter, of Rumford Falls. He has also 
affiliation with the Odd Fellows through 
Xezinscott Lodge, No. 104, of Buckfield. 
Both he and Mrs. De Costa are members of 
the .Metholist I'lpiscopal church. 




'«)|;Y I-"^'-^' '''• SE\T;RV, formerly a well- 
known and universally respectetl citi- 
zen of Last Dixfield, who died at 
his residence in this town, April 
16, 1883, was born in Dixfield, Oxford 
County, Me., December 3, 1823, son of Aaron 
and Hannah (Morse) Severy. 

The late Mr. Severy's father, who was a 
native of Sutton, Mass., came to Dixfield in 
young manhood, and is saiil to have been one 
of the first three settlers in the township. He 
became a very prosperous farmer, clearing and 
improving a large farm, upon which he later 
erected a handsome brick residence, and in 
after years he was known as the father of the 
tnwn. He held manv offices of public trust. 



the duties of which he discharged ably and 
faithfully; and, aside from possessing a noble 
upright character, he was very active in relig- 
ious matters, for a long periotl being a pillar 
of the Free Baptist church. He lived to 
reach the advanced age of ninety-one years. 
By his union with Phebe Tucker, his first wife, 
there were seven children — Phebe, Aaron, 
Silas, Rufus, John, Charlotte, and Polly. 
His second wife, Hannah Morse, became the 
mother of four children, namely: Charles: 
Clarinda; Alden B. , the subject of this 
sketch; and Cyrus. Mrs. Hannah M. Severy 
died at the age of sixty-six years. 

Alden B. Severy acquired his education in 
common schools and academies; and, when a 
young man, he went to Lowell, Mass., where 
he served as Deputy Marshal for six years. 
Returning to Dixfiekl, he bought a small 
farm, which he occupied for a short time. 
After that he succeeded to the possession of 
the homestead by purchasing the interests of 
the other heirs, and there carried on general 
farming with energy and success until his 
death, which took place, as above stated, at the 
age of nearly sixty years. He was elected a 
Representative to the State legislature in 
1863. He was a progressive, high-minded, 
and exceedingly intelligent man, generous 
and sym]5athetic by nature, with a noble desire 
to assist others who were less fortunate than 
himself: and his removal from the midst of 
his fellow-townsmen was the cause of sincere 
regret. 

Mr. Severy married Miss Rosella Rich- 
mond, who was born in Dixfield, May 13,. 
1822, daughter of Israel and Sarah (Bramhall) 
Richmond. Israel Richmond, who was a 
thrifty and successful agriculturist, was a na- 
tive of Hebron, Me. He died in middle age. 
In politics he supported first the Whig anil 
later the Republican party, and in his relig- 
ious views was a Baptist. By his union with 
his first wife, whose maiden name was Chloe 
Crocker, he had two children; namely, Chloe 
and Israel; and by his second wife, Sarah 
Bramhall, who was born in Plymouth, Mass., 
he was the father of eleven children, as fol- 
lows: .Sarah; Hannah; Martha: Lydia; 
Nancy; Simeon; Reuben; Nathan; Rosanna; 
Ruth: and Rosella, who is now the widow of 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



413 






Alcien ]?. Scvery. Mrs. Sarah 1>. Rirhmond 
lived to be eighty-one years old. 

Two children were born to Mr. and .Mrs. 
Severy, namely: l^lla, who died at the age of 
two years: anil Charles, who grew to man- 
hood,' and died at the age of twenty-three. 
Hereft of their own daughter, they adopted 
b'.lla R. Hall, a little girl of six years, whom 
they carefully reared and educated: and as a 
reward for her kindness and generosity Mrs. 
Severy now has a pleasant home with her 
foster-child, who is the wife of F. W. Morri- 
son, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of this 
town, and has one son, \'ivian. Mrs. Severy 
has also assisted in caring for other children 
who needed help, and her motherly interest 
and charitable disposition have found ample 
scope to do a great deal of good in this direc- 
tion. She has been a member of the Baptist 
church ever since she united with it at the age 
of eighteen. Some time ago Mrs. Severy ex- 
changed her farm for village property, and this 
she is now renting to good advantage. 



HOMAS J. ALLEN, a prosperous agri- 
culturist of Hartford, Oxford County, 
one who owes his success to his own 
enterprise and industry, was born here, May 
10, 1 83 I, a son of Thomas and Nancy (Cole) 
Allen — the father a native of Hartford, Me., 
and the mother of Plymouth, Mass. 

Thomas Allen, first, his grandfather, was 
born in England, whence he came to America 
when a young man. The one-hundred-and- 
thirty-acre farm, on which the immigrant set- 
tled, is now owned by his grandson. It was 
then practically wild land, but its owner was 
a man of foresight and untiring diligence, and 
effected numerous improvements. To him 
belongs the credit of having set out the first 
fruit orchard in the town. He lived to a good 
age. In religious faith he was a Baptist, and 
in political affiliation a Whig. His eight 
children all grew to maturity, but none sur- 
vive. 

Thomas, his namesake, the father of the 
special subject of this sketch, also engaged in 
farming in Hartford for many years. He died 
in Livermore, Me., at the advanced age of 
eighty-seven, Nancy Cole Allen, his wife. 



having lived to be but fifty-three years of age. 
Both were members of the Bajjtist church, in 
politics he was a Republican. They had ten 
children, four sons and si.\ daughters, and six 
are now living; namely, Elizabeth, Nancy, 
Abigail, Sarah, Jane, and Thomas J, The 
deceased are: John C. ; Betsy; Lucius, who 
was in the Third Maine Band, and died in ser- 
\-ice: and I'.merson. 

Thomas J. Allen, the youngest of the six 
surviving members of his father's family, grew 
to manhood in Hartford and Livermore, and 
was eckicated in the district schools of these 
towns. Since he was a boy of fifteen he has 
followed the trade of a carpenter. He also 
owns and carries on the farm that belonged to 
his Grandfather Allen. 

In 1853 M^. Allen was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary Walker, who died in Se|)teni- 
ber 20, 1868, leaving four sons: namely, 
Lucius P., Arthur B., Charles T., and IToyd 
F. Air. Allen subsequently married Miss 
Deborah S. Doten, who was born in Hartford, 
a daughter of Timothy S Doten. Three chil- 
dren were the fruit of this marriage, namely: 
Pearley and Myrton (deceased); and Lillian. 
Their mother died January 11. 1.SS3, aged 
thirty-one years. 

The Republican party has in Mr. Allen a 
stanch supporter. He belongs to the Masonic 
order, being a member of Whitney Lodge, 
No. 167, at Canton, and is an esteemed mem- 
ber of the l-'ree Will Baptist church at 
Canton. 



ESSE I). RUSSELL, an old .md hon- 
ored resident of Hanover \illage. was 
born here July 19, 1839, son of Elijah 
and Almira (Bean) Russell. His 
father, who was also a nati\e of this town, 
after a well-spent life, the active )ears of 
which were devoted to farming, died here at 
the age of eighty-three. In politics Elijah 
Russell was a Republican; in religion a Meth- 
odist, having membership in the local society 
here. His wife, a native and a lifelong resi- 
dent of Hanover died in her seventy-eighth 
year. 

Jesse D. Russell remained with his jiarents 
iluring his minorit}-. Ha\ ing act|uircd in the 



I't 



i!I(i(;K.\l'III(\I, RKVIIAV 



(lislrirt school a lliiii'()Ui;h knowledge of the 
orflinar\' l)iaiKlK's cil .stiid\', was able to teach 
schDiil liiniscir tor several years in the fall and 
winter. ( )n c<iniing of age he rented his 
lather's farni fm' a time. In 1863 or 1864 he 
ami iiis brother, William 15. Russell, came to 
lianoxcr x'illage and bnill a small tannery, in 
whicii he stiil owns a lialf-interest. Their 
specialt}' is the tanning of harness, jjoot, and 
strap leathei'. Mr. f'lussell also owns a small 
farm in Rumford, this count\'. 

In Se])tember, i86g. Mr. Russell was joined 
in marriage with Miss Elsie Jordan, of Nevvry, 
this county. She died at the age of twenty- 
three years, leaving a daughter, Mary K., four 
months okl. The latter is now the wife of 
( )smond Twitchell, a merchant of Hanover 
village. In June, 1875, Mr. Russell formed a 
second matrimonial alliance with Miss 15etse)' 
Wheeler, a daughter of Samuel and I'llizabeth 
(Hurbaiii<) Wheeler. Her father, who was 
born in (iilead. Me., when a young man re- 
moved to New Hampshire, where he spent the 
rest of his life engaged in farming, and died 
aged sevent}'-si.\. ller mother, a native of 
.Shelburne, N.H., lived but thirty-nine yeans. 
This second union of Mr. Russell's has been 
blessed b\' the Ijirth of one son --Burchard J., 
who lives at home. In politics Mr. Rus.sell 
is a stanch Re|)nblican, and takes much inter- 
est in local affairs. He has served in all the 
town offices. ]''oi' tiie past twenty-five years 
he iias been a mcmbci' of the mutual insurance 
organization known as the I'ilgrim Fathers. 



ir>yi:AC()X EZRA K MERSEY, a 
I J well-known and much respected 
J^Sy resident of Waterford, Oxford 
County, Me., is a nati\e of Man- 
chester, N. H. He was horn on the 26th of 
October, 184S, son of A.sa j. and .Sarah 
(Brown) Hersey. His father was a native of 
Waterford, and his mother of Hoylston, Mass. 
Asa J. Hersey leained the mason's trade at 
J'lUsworth, Me., and worked at it all through 
this county. .After his marriage he lived for 
awhile in Manchester, N. H., working there 
as a nrison ; tlien he moved to Ho\'lston, 
Mass., whcie lie remained foi- some time. 
I'"inally, returning to Waterford, he took a 



farm and devoteil himself to agricultural pur- 
suits summers antl taught school winters. He 
was a noted and veteran teacher, having taught 
over thirty schools. Mi-. Asa j. llersev was a 
great mathematician in his time, and could 
solve problems in his head that otlier teachers 
tried in vain with slate and pencil. This gift 
he transmitted in great measure to his chil- 
dren and grandchildren. He dietl on the i6tii 
of May, 1893. His widow is now residing 
with iier second son in this town. 

Asa J. Hersey had three children: Ezra B., 
above named; William A.; and Charles ¥. 
William A. Hersey, who was born in Water- 
ford, married Marilla Eanib, of Charlestown, 
Mass., and lives in the southein part of the 
town, where he is a farmer. \\'illiam A. 
Hersey and his wife have at the present time 
four ciiildren; Wilfred A., who was born 
April 4, i88o; George E. , born iXugust 2;:,, 
1881 ; Ro.xy E., born July j8, 1883, who is a 
sample of Maine gills, having tipped the beam 
at twelve \'ears of age at the figures one hun- 
dred and forty, avoirdupois; and Sarah A., 
born September 20, 1888. Mr. William A. 
Hersey and wife are members of the Water- 
ford Congregational church, of whicli he is 
Deacon. They are also members of the Bear 
Mountain (irange at .South Waterford, of which 
he has been Master for the past two years, 
having the esteem of all connected with the 
church and grange. His \-ounger brother, the 
Rev. Charles F. Hersey, born in Waterford, 
married Sarah Weeks, of Wakefield, K. H., 
and is now living in New Bedford, Mass., 
where he is city missionary. 

E/j-d B. Hersey, the elder of the three 
brothers, received his early education at the 
public schools of his native town, and then 
attended the High .School at Norvva_\'. Ele re- 
mained on the home farm with his parents 
until his marriage, which took place on the 
1st of November, 1875. Miss Mary E. Brown, 
of Norway, who on that date became Mrs. 
Hersey, was born on the ist of May, 1853, the 
daughter of David and .Sarah (Hill) j^rown. 
Mr. Brown was a farmer of Norway, and his 
wife now lives with her son in Norway. 

Deacon Herse)' and his wife have had four 
chikhen: Charles A., who was born on the 
20th of August, 1878, and who works on the 



lilOCKAI'llICAl, RF.VIKW 



415 



farm with liis father; t'lara II., wlm was hnin 
on the 27th i)f June, iX.So; Ida May, horn on 
the 3d of Dccinilier, 1889, who died on June 
II, i8gi ; and l''annie I,., horn on the 1 Uli "' 
•Septeniher, i8()i. 

After his maiiia^e Deacon llersey remained 
on his father's old farm until Apiil 25, iSS;;, 
when he moved to the jdace which he now 
occupies, and where he and his taniily ha\'e 
lived ever since. This fLuin lies in North 
Waterford, and consists of ahout two huiulred 
and .si.xty acres of fine land. Mere he carries 
on practical agriculture, including stock-rais- 
ing, dairying, and some lumhering in the sea- 
son. He also does an exensive business in 
poultry raising, being the owner of a large and 
well stocked hennery, and has shown that he 
possesses as nmch enterprise as abilit)- in suc- 
cessfully conducting these various interests. 
Mr. Hersey is a Republican in ])olitics, having 
always voted with that party. I-"or three years 
he was Superintendent of the School Commit- 
tee of his town, whose educational interests he 
has always in view. The pursuit of husbandry 
having claimed so much of his time, it is 
natural that he should be connected with the 
order instituted in its behalf, and that he 
should be, as he is, a Granger, belonging to 
the Grange of Norway, Me. 

l\Ir. anti Mrs. Hersey are allied in religious 
faith, both being members of the Congrega- 
tional church of North Waterford, in which the 
former is a Deacon. I'"ew are more generally 
esteemed as citizens and neighbors. Deacon 
llersey's i)aternal grandmother was the first 
female child born in Waterford, his great- 
grandmother having been the hrst white 
woman brave enough to remain in the new- 
settlement during the rigorous winter, trans- 
mitting to her descendants tlie heritage of 
courage and endurance which has come down 
to the present generation of Herseys. 




IVKRETT F. DYKh], one (.f Chcster- 
\ille's most extensive farmers anil 
fruit-growers, was born at the home- 
stead where he now resides on August 23, 
1854, son of I^'uller and Abigail (Pierce) 
Dyke. He is a grandson of Fuller Dyke, .Sr. , 
who was a native of Bridgewatei', Mass., and 



came to Maine when a \'oung man .ind settled 
upon one hundred and si.xty acres of new land 
in the town of Huckfield. 

]''nller Dyke, Sr., erected his log hou.'-e, 
cleared up a good farm, and resided there until 
I Si 3. He then sold, and, iemo\ing to Canton, 
Me., bought a farm there, which he culti\'atcd 
with energy until 1850, when he sold his jnop- 
erty and removed to New Sharon. Having pur- 
chased a residence and fifty acres of laiul in the 
last named town, he remained there until his 
wife died. He then sold his homestead aiul 
passed the rest of his days with his S(.)n Will- 
iam in Chester\-ille, where he died October 29, 
1863, at the advanced age of eighty- five years, 
si.x months, and twenty-five days. He married 
Jerusha Harlow, and had a family of fifteen 
children, as follows: Salmon; I'Tiller; Drn- 
silla; \'errin ; Cyrus, first; Cornelia; Will- 
iam; Betsey; Laodasea ; Almeda; Cyrus, sec- 
ond; Lucinda ; Lavonia; Sidney; and Samuel. 
Mrs. Jerusha H. Dyke died August 25, 1858, 
aged seventy-two years and two months. 

I'"uller D\ke, the younger, second s(ni ot 
h'uller, .Sr. , was born in J^uckfield, January 
28, 181 I. When two years old he went with 
his parents to Canton, where he was reared to 
agricultural [uirsuits, residing there until be- 
coming of age. He then went to Newton, 
Mass., and was employed l)y Deacon I'"uller as 
a farm assistant for three vears, and at the 
Newton Chemical Works for the same length 
of time. Returning to Canton he assisted his 
brother Cyrus in c;irr\'ing on the home farm 
for one year. broni this time forward he cul- 
tivated his own land. h'irst purchasing a farm 
of one hundred acics in I,i\ermoie he li\ed on 
it fourteen years, and then selling this to Mr. 
Gill he purchased a farm of one huiVlred acres 
in Chester\ille, which consists of a part of the 
homestead now owned b)' his son, Fverett I''. 
Later he addetl one hundred and thirty acres to 
the estate. He labored diligently to improve 
his circumstances and provide amply for his 
family, and by hard work he succeeded in grat- 
ifying his ambition in this respect. The en- 
tire active period of his life was one of useful- 
ness; and he died at the homestead in this 
town. May 8, 1896, aged eighty-five years. 

He served the town faithfully as Tax Col- 
lector during the years iHGG, 1867, and 1 868, 



4.6 



J'.IOGK Al'IIK \l, RI'-.VIF.W' 



was a Dcmiicrat in politics, ami attended the 
Calvinist l^aptist church. His wife, Aliij^ail 
Pierce, whom he niarriet! June u, 1838, 
was a ihuigiUcrof Jonas Fierce, of East Jaffrey, 
N. II. Siie became the mother of si.x children, 
as follows: Cart)line A.; Abbie F. ; Elbridge 
I'. ; Emilv A. ; Everett !•". ; and an infant, 
who lived only eleven clays. Abbie F. Dyke 
married Samuel V. Hodgkins, of Tamworth, 
X.H., and died March 4, 1878, aged thirt)-- 
four years, leaving two children, namely: 
Lcona M., who was born August 22, 1867, 
married (ieorge H. Stiiichfield, of Farmington 
Falls, and has one son, l^enjamin ; and T. 
PVank, who was born March 29, 1S74, married 
lulith Carter, and resitles in Conway, N. M. 
I'^bridge ]'". Dvke was born August 23, 1846, 
and died in infanc\'; and iMnily A. was born 
]'"ebruary 14, 1849, and died September 26, 
1863. Mrs. Abigail P. Dyke lived to reach 
the age of eighty-one years, and died January 
21, 1 896. 

Everett ]•'. Dyke began his education in 
the town schools of Chesterville, advanced in 
learning by atteiuling a school at Farmington 
Falls, and then pursued a course of study at 
the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. 
His father gave him at the age of eighteen a 
deed of half the homestead, and a deed (jf the 
other half when he was twenty-one, making a 
full title to the ])r(.)perty. Mr. Dyke has since 
devoted his time and energy to the cultivation 
and impro\ement of the ancestal acres. He 
has an orchard of thirty acres, containing over 
one thousand trees, mostly grafted fruit; and 
he cans and shi[)s annually four hundred bar- 
rels of apples, which are sold in the markets 
of Boston and other cities. In connection 
with farming and fiuit-raising he also deals 
(piite extensively in live stock, which has 
nettetl him a good ]irofit. He has made addi- 
tions to his estate, and now owns four hundred 
acres of valuable land. 

On June 18, 1875, Mr. Dyke married Eydia 
E. Crowd 1, daughter of Nathan and Hannah 
(Cousins) Crowell. Her father was a native 
of New .Sharon, and her mother was boiai in 
Dover, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Dyke have six 
children, as follows: Ernest ]{., who was 
born March 1 1, 1876, and is residing at home; 
Eoren 11., who was born January 2i, 1 878; 



Ada L. , who was born A]5ril 20, 1882; Eeona 
M., who was born Se])temher 17, 1884; Eeroy 
F. , who was born l-'ebrnary 22, 1887; and 
luiith E. , who was born January 13, 1S94. 

As an able and successful farmer, a man of 
good judgment, and a progressive citizen, Mr. 
Dyke is highl}' respected by his fellow-towns- 
people. His ability in public affairs has been 
displayed to good advantage in forwarding the 
best interests of the town during his long term 
of service as a member of the Board of Select- 
men, to which body he has been elected by 
acclamation for nine consecutive years; and he 
has been Tax Collector since 1894. He is a 
Democrat in politics, and he attends the P'ree 
Will Baptist church. 




\CA;/ AFTER K. HAMEIN, [.roprietor 
of the Waterford Creamery, is one 
of the most enterprising citizens of 
Oxford County, Maine, actively interested in 
agriculture, trade, and manufacturing. He 
was born in Waterford, October 27, 1854, the 
son of Albert and .Sarah K. (Woodsum) 
Hamlin. 

The first of his immediate kinsfolk in this 
\icinit\' was his great-grandfather, America 
Hamlin, who came to Waterford from Har- 
vard, Mass. He was married twice, and had 
ten children. America Hamlin, Jr., one of 
the ten, married Huldah Keyes, and had seven 
children. He settled on a ridge of land in 
South Waterford and cleared up a farm. D\- 
ing at the age of forty-eight years he left his 
son Albert, his first-born, to manage the home- 
stead and ])rovide for the famil}'. 

Albert Hamlin was at that time only nine- 
teen years old, having been born on November 
20, 1816. He spent his life on the homestead 
in Waterford, following the pursuit of agricult- 
ure. He died May 22, 1875. His wife, who 
was born in Harrison, Me., December 21, 
1 8 19, survived him nearly nineteen years, 
dying in Waterford, January zy, 1894. They 
were the parents of seven children. The 
eldest, Hattie, born .Sejitember 13, 1846, is 
the wife of George W. Morgan, of Aidjurn, 
Me. -Samantha, a year and a half younger, 
born A])iil4, 1848, is living in Bridgton, Me., 
with her second husband, I. P'. l^ennett. Her 



MOCK AI'IIICAI, 



:kvikw 



417 



first husband was T. C. Bell. The third child, 
Annie M., born February 3, 1850, was married 
July 8, 1874, to Oscar G. Fish, and is living 
in Lowell, Mass. The fourth, Mary, born 
May 28, 1852, was married March 27, 1873, 
to R. V. Ikan, and lives in Acequa, Col. 
The ne.xt in order is Walter K., whose birth 
date has been mentioned. The si.xth. James 
H., born March 14, 1S57, was married March 
12, 1884, to Miss Addie Atherton, and lives 
in South Waterford. The youngest, Cora J., 
born December 4, 1859, was married May 14, 
1S79, to W. 1". Bell, who is now farming in 
Egan, Dak. 

Walter K. Hamlin was given good educa- 
tional advantages, finishing his studies at the 
high school. When he attained his majority 
he started in life for himself, going to New 
Haven, Conn., where he worked some five 
years and a half in the wheel department of the 
carriage sho|j of Henry Hook & Co. When he 
left their employ he received from them a 
high recommendation. Returning then to 
Waterford he took charge of the family home- 
stead and devoted his attention wholly to farm- 
ing. In 18S2 he bought an adjoining farm, 
and in 1883 he became interested in the wheel 
manufactory of Waterford. Establishing the 
firm of W. K. Hamlin & Co. he inaugurated 
a prosperous business, at the same time attend- 
ing to his farm. In 1887 he added to his 
property the wool carding mill in South 
Waterford village, which now, under his direc- 
tion, has an extensive business; and on May i, 
18S9, he in company with others, started a 
creamerv in the village. Having purchased 
his partner's interest in May, 1893, he is now 
sole proprietor of the creamery, which has a 
capacity of one thousand ]30imds of butter a 
dav, and is in a flourishing condition, supply- 
ing markets in the neighboring towns and in 
Boston. Mr. Hamlin also deals extensively in 
grain and flour. He owns a good farm of two 
hundred and fifty acres, much of which is 
under cultivation ; and he has a beautiful resi- 
dence in South Waterford village. 

Mr. Hamlin was married September 9, 
1878, to Clara J. Bell, who was born in Water- 
ford, September 19, 1854, the daughter of 
Eben F. and Jane M. (Willard) Bell. Mr. 
Bell is a native of Albany, this county. He 



has devoted his life to farming in Albany and 
Waterford, and is now li\'ing in the latter 
place. His wife, who was born in Waterford, 
has passed to the world beyond. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hamlin ha\'e iivc children, namely: Alice M.. 
born .Se[)tember 30, 1879, who is now away 
from home attending the academ\' ; Jennie, 
born June 30, 1881; I'jora (i., born June 2S. 
1884; Carrie A., born April 30, 1886; and 
Albert W. , born No\-embei- 9, i S90. 

F^or one who has had to make his own way 
in the world the success in business which Mr. 
Hamlin has already achieved is remarkable. 
Such industrial leaders are very helpful to the 
communit)- in which they live. While not an 
active |iolitician, Mr. Hamlin legularly \-otes 
the Republican ticket. He is a charter mem 
ber of South Waterford Grange, Patrons of 
Flusbandry, and a member of Mount Tire'um 
Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of Water- 
ford, both he and his wife being connected 
with the order of the Flastcrn Star. 




LLIAM S. PIERCE, an extensive 
farmer and dairyman of Norwa\', 
was born on his present homestead 
July 2^, 1853, son of William C. and Aurelia 
(Upton) Pierce. His iiaternal grandfather, 
William I'ierce, was born in New Gloucester, 
Cumberland County, September 27, 1787. 
The grandfather grew to maturity in the town 
of his birth. In 1812 he came to Norway, 
locating on land now the farm of his grand- 
son, William .S. He cleared a poition of the 
tract, which was heavily timbered, placing 
it in a fair state of cultiwation. On June 
23, 1825, he was accidentally killed b)- the 
falling of a tree. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Betsey Wells, was born August 23, 
1790, and died August 21, 1875. They had 
six children, as follows: .Simeon W., born 
January 24, 181 3, who died A|iril 9, 1877; 
William C, born P'cbruary 15, 1815; Martha, 
born March 6. 1817, who died Ajiril 20, 1889; 
Arrie, born June f>. 18^1, who died September 
6, 1880; John W. , horn May 1, 1823, who 
died September 21, 1S42; and Betsey, born 
January 24, 1827, who is the wife of M. O. 
French, of Norway. 

William C. Pierce was a lifelong resident of 



4iS 



lilOGKAI'llICAL REVIEW 



the home in which he was born. Although 
l)iit a Ind when liis father w-as killed, he and 
Simeiin, his eldest brother, took charge of the 
home farm, an<l, until his death, September 9, 
i.SjS, was there engaged in general farming, 
lie was a man of prominence in the town, and 
was everywhere respected for his sterling 
integrity. His wife, in maidenhood Aurelia 
Upton, who was a nati\-c of .Norway, died in 
this village, August u, 1885, at an advanced 
age. The following is recorded of their ten 
children: Lucctta H., born May 8, 1843, 
died No\'ember 3, 1850; Roscoe . W. , born 
April IC), 1845, died September ifi, 1847; 
Ashley I"., born Julv i, 1S47, died Xo\'ember 
II, 1850; Mary I-;., born May iS, 1849, died 
May II, 1876'; Harriet A.,' born May 28, 
1851, died Xo\-ember 30, 1852; William S. 
is the subject of this sketch ; Charles A., born 
December 15, 1854, died May i, 1880; Abbie 
L., born December 2. 1857, married Walter 
(iriswold, the manager of the gas works at 
Los Gatos. Cal., and died in November, 1895; 
Wesley (_'. , born June 2S, 1859, is a jjhotog- 
rapher in British Cohnnbia; and Rose N., 
born October 23, 1861, married the late 
Arthur r'rench, and died September 13, 1885. 

William S. Pierce aci[uired a practical edu- 
cation in the common schools, and was well 
trained in agriculture on the homestead. On 
reaching man's estate he gave up farming for 
shook binding, at which he was employed until 
the death of his father. He and his brother 
jointl)' managed the farm for the following 
three years. At the end of that time William 
.S. bought his brother's interest in the estate, 
and has since managed it most successfully. 
He carries on general agricLilture and dairying, 
and makes a specialty of fruit-growing. His 
orchard is one of the largest and most prolific 
of any in O.xford County. Its yield of apples 
for one season was si.x hundred barrels. Polit- 
ically, he is a stanch supporter of the prin- 
ciples of the Democratic party, and he has 
acceptably served his townsmen in several 
town offices. He belongs to the Norway 
(irange. Patrons of Husbandry. Both he and 
Mrs. Pierce are members of the Advent church. 

On November 24, 1881, Mr. Pierce married 
Lucy Etta Brown, who was born Novembei' 18, 
1859, in Norway, daughter of iXavid Brown. 



Mr. Brown w^as born in Pownal, Me.. (,")ctober 
19, 181 I. He married Sarah G. Hill, who 
was born in \'armouth. this .State, October 27, 
I 8 16. They had seven other children, nameh' : 
P. Ellen, born August 12, 1839, who died in 
April, 1882; Orin S., born September 19, 
1841, who died October 7, 1847; Harland P., 
born November i, 1843; Orin, born .Septem- 
ber 22. 1846; Alvin, liorn June 25, 1850; 
Mar\- L. , born May i, 1854; and Lizzetta, 
born October 3, 1856, who.dieil April 5, 1863. 
Mr. Brown died November 26, 1866. His 
widow resides with her son Orin in Norway. 
]\Ir. and Mrs. Pierce have had two children of 
their own, and have an adopted daughter. 
Their first child, ]{arl B. , born October 8, 
1884, died April 15, 1885. Their adopted 
daughter, ICdith May, was born March 8, 
1884. Their other child, Leoni Maud, a 
bright and interesting girl, was born Novem- 
ber 5, 1888. 



OHN H. ROBINSON, a prominent and 
influential citizen of Sumner, Me., was 
born here, March 25, 1838, a son of 
Leonard and Sophia (Sampson) Robin- 
H is grandfather, Joseph Robinson, who 
l.iorn April 4, 1762, served in the Revolu- 
tionary War. Grantlfather Roliinson and his 
comrade, Meshach Keen, related many anec- 
dotes of that famous struggle. To our Revo- 
lutionary heroes, who w^ere none too well fed, 
the lo.ss of a meal was generally a serious 
matter. One day Joseph was threatened with 
this disaster by a larger man, w'ho had capt- 
ured the dinner kettle, when Keen came to 
the rescue, and put the hungry raider to rout. 
Joseph served for a part of the time on a 
privateer, and was taken prisoner in an action 
off Halifa.x, N.S. .•\fter the close of the war 
he settled in .Sumner, cleared a farm, and 
there worked industriously for the rest of his 
life. He died Eebruary 24, 1826. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Patty Spaulding, was 
born September 14, 1765, and died September 
24, 1830. Of her nine children, the eldest, 
Rebecca, whose birth occurred March 18, 
1785, was the first female white chikl born in 
Sumner. Rebecca died March 17, 1871. 
The other children were: Joseph, born May 26, 



iu()(;raphkai, rkvikw 



419 



1787; Lydia, born October 16, 1789; Loammi, 
born January 16, 1792; Stephen R., born June 
S, 1794: Fatty, born July 10, 1796: Leonard, 
the father of John H. ; Serene, born July 9, 
1802; and Spaulding, born March 6, 1805. 

Leonard Robinson, born in Sumner, May 
10, 1800, was a lifelong resident of this town. 
He established a home for himself on a part 
of the old Robinson farm, and was successfully 
engaged in agriculture iluring his life. His 
first vote was cast in favor of the Whig party, 
and in the latter part of his life he was a 
stanch Republican. In religious belief he 
was a L'ni versa list. He died in Sumner, July 
7, 1S71. His wife, Sophia, was born in 
Middleboro, Mass., January 2"]^ '799^ 'TtI 
died in Sumner, May 21, 1865. -They were 
the parents of four children — Sophia H., 
born November 6, 1823, now deceased; Mari- 
etta T., born April 28, 1825, who died Janu- 
ary 25, 1838; Leonard S., born May 5, 1829, 
who died July 16, 1861: and Jnhn IL, the 
subject of this sketch. 

fohn H. Robinson acquired his cilucation 
in the district schools of his native town. 
He then learned the mason "s trade, at which 
he has worked up to the present time. He 
has also followed agriculture since early man- 
hood, and has a good farm of ninety acres, on 
which he has made many improvements. His 
present prosperity has been well earned by hard 
work. Mr. Robinson was married July 24, 
1859, to Sabrina R. Bryant, who was born 
April 2, 1838, daughter of Levi and Sabrina 
(Robinson) Bryant. Their children are: 
Henrv M., born December 16, i860, now re- 
siding in Buckfield, Me. : Sophia H., born 
August 31, 1866, the wife of Frank E. Foster, 
a farmer of Hartford, Me.; Lennie C, born 
April 27, 1873, a resident of Sumner; and J. 
Perley, born October 13, 1879, ^'^o residing 
in Sumner. 

Mr. Robinson, who is a Republican, has 
served on the Board of Selectmen for nine 
years, five of them consecutively. He is a 
prominent member of Nezinscot Lodge, No. 
104, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at 
Buckfield; and of Lfnion Grange, No. 80, 
Patrons of Husbandry, of East Sumner. Both 
he and Mrs. Robinson attend the Universal ist 
church. 



61 HE DYER BROTHERS, hRANK L. 

J I .\Ni) CHARLES E., the former of 
whom is railroad station agent in 
-Strong, and the latter, an enterprising drug- 
gist of this town, are sons of Albion and 
Minerva (Luce) Dyer. Their grandfather, O. 
Israel Dyer, resided upon a farm in Strong for 
many years, and passed his last days in Free- 
port, Me. Grandfather Dyer successively 
married Mary Richards and Jeanette Fennel 1. 
The second wife, who was born January 30, 
1808, died August 13, 1896, aged eighty -eight 
years. Albion Dyer, who was born in Strong, 
became a prominent merchant of this town, 
where he remained in business until 1888. 
He then moved to Topeka, Kan., and is now 
a clerk in a dry-goods store of that city. His 
wife, MiHerva, who was born in New Vine- 
yard, Me., is a daughter of Solomon Luce, a 
millwright of that town. .She became the 
mother of four children, as follows: Fred A., 
born in 1852, who married a Miss Huntzinger, 
has three children, and is now a merchant in 
Golden, Co!.; George, deceased; and Frank 
L. and Charles E., the subjects of this 
sketch. 

Frank L. Dyer was born in New Vineyard, 
February 26, 1854. He accpiired a common- 
school education, and at the age of eighteen 
he went to Lewiston, Me., to ser\-e an appren- 
ticeship at the tailor's trade with Richards & 
Merrill. A year and a half later he returned 
to Strong, and was thereafter a clerk in his 
father's store until i88o. He was then ap- 
pointed station agent, in Strong, of the Sandy 
River Railroad Company. In 18S4 he re- 
ceived a similar appointment from the Frank- 
lin & Megantic Railroad Com]5any, whose line 
passes through Strong. He also acts as ex- 
press and telegraph agent. He first wedded 
Marcia A. Dyer, daughter of William H. 
Dyer, a machinist of this town. She died 
January 18, 1890. On December 15, 1893, 
he contracted a second marriage with Cora E. 
Gates, daughter of Decatur and Maria Gates, 
of Lincoln, Me. 

Charles E. Dyer was born in Strong, July 

10, 1863. After attending the common 
schools in Strong he became a student at 
Washburn College, and then took a course at 
the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. For 



42 o 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



twelve years he was employeil in the drug 
store of J. K. Jones, in Topeka, Kan., after 
which he returned to Strong for the purpose 
of recuperating his healtli. He was next em- 
ployed hy Shoemaker ^t Miller, druggists of 
Wichita, Kan , where he remained for a short 
time. ( 'nee more returning to his native 
town, he in 1894 bought out Richardson & 
Sherman, put into the store a full line of 
drugs, chemicals, confectionery, cigars, wall 
papers, etc., and has since done a profitable 
business. In addition to being a first-class 
druggist and apothecary, Mr. Dyer possesses 
business ability. 

Roth brothers are Republicans in politics, 
and members of Marathon Lodge, No. 96, 
Knights of Pythias. Frank L. Dyer is a 
member of the Congregationalist church. 



/^^^JkORGK a. BRIGGS, of the firm 
y '*) I l^riggs & Farrar, meat dealers of 
^ — South Paris, was born in the town 
of Paris, Oxford County, May 13, 185.2, .son 
of Kamuel and Mehitable R. (Smith) Briggs. 
His grandfather, Jesse Briggs, served in the 
Revolutiouai'v War, ha\'ing enlisted, accord- 
ing to the record, on June 10, 1780, being 
then twenty-one years old. Jessie came from 
Wareham, Mass., and settled on the centre lot 
of the township of Paris. Selecting the site 
near a good spring of fresh water, he built a 
log house and a barn, and thereafter de\'oted his 
attention to clearing and cultivating his land. 
At that time the settlers were few and far be- 
tween, the district was practically a part of 
the wilderness still, and wild animals were 
numerous and aggressive. To protect his 
stock from raids by the latter, Grandfather 
Briggs had to build a high log pen. Yet, the 
story is told that, on one night, a bear man- 
aged to get into the pen. Bruin was in the 
act of killing a yearling heifer, when Jesse, 
who had been awakened from sleep by the riot 
in the pen, scantily dressed as he was, at- 
tacked the brute with a sled stake, and fought 
for the heifer until morning A man of power- 
ful physique weighing over two hundred and 
twenty-five pounds, he killed the bear and 
saved his heifer, but at the expense of several 
wounds and much loss of blood. Laborious 



and full of hardships though his life was, it 
did not terminate until he reached an advanced 
age. Mis wife, Naomia, who was a daughter 
of Robert l^ailey, of New Gloucester, Cumber- 
land County, made him the father of twelve 
children. These were: Polly, Simeon, Jessie, 
Aianson, Thankful, Lucinda, Martha, Joseph. 
Sally, Celia, Samuel, and ICmeline. 

Samuel Briggs. who was born in 1806, early 
in life began dealing in cattle. When the 
railroad was building he did a large business 
by butchering meat, and supplying it to the 
men engaged on the work. He also owned 
and successfully carried on a farm of two hun- 
dred acres. His sterling character earned for 
him the high esteem of the community. He 
was a member of the Baptist Church at Paris 
Hill, and in politics he was a Democrat. 
While bathing June 16, 1872, he was drowned, 
having reached the age of sixty-six years. 
His wife, who was a daughter of Archibald 
and Lydia (Hammond) Smith, survived him 
until 1895. when she died, aged eighty-six 
years. They had nine children; namely, 
John, Naoma, Samuel F., Abbie W., Hiram 
H., Jane M., Lucinda A., Angeline A., and 
George A. 

After finishing his education, being then of 
age, George A. Briggs engaged in the meat 
business in the employment of his brother, 
Samuel F. After some time, having acquired 
a thorough knowledge of the trade, he entered 
into a partnership with his brothers, Samuel 
F. and Hiram IL, with whom, under the firm 
name of Briggs Brothers, he carried on a pros- 
perous business until 1884. In this year he 
bought out the interests of his brothers, and 
was sole projirietor for the ensuing two years. 
He then disposed of a half-interest to W. W. 
Farrar. His new ]>artner had heltl his inter- 
est but a short time when he sold it to W. L. 
Farrar. However, in 1893, W. W. I'arrar 
repurchased it, and since then the /(7jw/;/(7 of 
the firm has remained unchanged. Messrs. 
Briggs & F'arrar are the leading meat dealers 
in the town. They also are profitably engaged 
in shipping stock to Boston and Portland. 
The market on Western Avenue was built by 
Mr. Briggs on a lot that he had previously 
purchased. In 18S5 he bought the Robert 
Skillings farm near the court-house, and in 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



421 



the following year he erected upon it a house 
and barn, with other buildings. 

On A])ril 2 2, 1S76, Mr. Briggs was united 
in matrimony with Miss Cora Skillings, 
daughter of Frank H. and Ellen (Dunn) S4<il- 
lings. He is now the father of two children, 
namely: Cassie Gladden, born April 26, 1S79, 
now a member of this year's graduating class 
of the Paris Academy: and Carl Skillings, 
born March i, 1SS6. In political contests 
Mr: Hriggs votes in favor of the Democratic 
canditlates. He is a member of Paris Lodge, 
No. 94, A. F. & A. M. Formerly he had 
affiliation with Mount Micah Lodge, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. 



TTAl.INTON P. HUHHARD, M.D., a 
I Vr^ well-known physician of Lox'cll, Me., 
\jis who has a large practice throughout 

the western part of O.xford County, 
was born in Hiram, this county, April 9, 
1S49, son of Thomas L. and Mary Jane 
(Mason) Hubbard. Thomas L. Hubbard was 
a native of Hiram, and — with the exception 
of a short period spent in East P>yeburg, Me., 
and about four years which he spent in Cali- 
fornia engaged in mining, going there in 
1S52 — his entire life was passed in that town. 
His regular occupation, however, was farming. 
A worthy, upright man, and a useful citizen, 
he was one who gained the good will of all 
with whom he came in contact. He marrieil 
Mary Jane Mason, a native of Porter, and they 
reared a family of three children, namely: 
Clinton P., the subject of this sketch: Jilwin 
T. , who marrieil Nellie Churchill, of Madi- 
son, N.H., was for ten years physician in 
Rochester, N.H., where he had a large prac- 
tice, and died in December, 1894; Lansing 
H., who married Iza Fessenden, and is now 
following the painter's trade in Hiram, Me. 
Thomas L. Hubbard died in Hiram, October 
18, 1 87 1, and his wife, .September 2, 1877. 

Clinton P. Hubbard began his education in 
the common schools of Hiram, and subse- 
quently took a two years' course at the Lim- 
ington Academy. At the age of twenty-one he 
located in Hiram village, where he worked in 
a saw-mill for a time, and was also employed 
in the manufacture of a,\e handles. When 



thirty-two years old he commenced the stud\- 
of medicine, and in 18S4 was graduated from 
the medical department of Howtloin College. 
Returning to lliram, he practised his profes- 
sion for one year. On September 15, 1885, 
he moved to Lovell, where the only resident 
physician at that time was an aged Dr. Isaac 
Chandler, who had been settled there about 
forty years, and who died three years later. 
Purchasing the jjroperty formeiiy owned by 
Dr. French, Dr. Hubbard thus began [jractice 
in this town under the most favorable circum- 
stances. He has acquired and retained a large 
and profitable practice, which is distributed 
over a wide circuit, and his professional career 
has been successful from the start. 

On July 6, 1870, Dr. Hubbard was united 
in marriage with Esther J. Wentworth, who 
was born in Hiram, Februaiy 12, 1S51, daugh- 
ter of William and Lavinia (Cram) Went- 
worth. Her father, whn was a native of 
Hiram, is no longer living. Her mother, who 
was born in Baldwin, Me., still survives, and 
resides in her native town. Dr. and Mrs. 
Hubbard have three children, namely: Fanny 
L. , born April g, 1871 ; Carrie, E., born I'eb- 
ruar\' 12, 1877; and Elwin T., born December 
16, 1879, all of whom are residing at home. 
Politically, L^r. Hubbard is a Democrat. He 
has been a member of the Board of Health, 
but is not an aspirant for public offlce in gen- 
eral, as he believes that he can be of the great- 
est benefit to the community by giving his 
undivided attention to his professional duties. 
He is a member of Delta Loflge, No. 153, 
A. F. & A. M., of Lovell; Keazar \'alley 
Lodge, No. 66, Independent Order of Odd 
P'ellows; and he was connected with the lodge 
of Knights of Pythias, which formerly existed 
in Lovell. He is widely and favorably known 
throughout this part of the county. . 




Yjj'jATHAN W. .MILLETT, a well-known 
farmer and stock raiser of the town of 
Norway, Oxford County, was born 
December 5, 1834, on the farm 
where he now lives. He is of pioneer ances- 
try, his grandfather, John Millett, who was 
born in 1767, having settled in the southern 
part of this town when a young man, here tak- 



BIOGRATHICAL REVIEW 



ing up a timbered tract, which he cleared and 
improved. 

Nathan Millett, son of John and father of 
Nathan \V. , was one of a family of eleven 
children born to his parents. After his mar- 
riage he removed from the home farm to the 
northern part of Norway, where he purchased 
a tract of wild land, from which he redeemed 
a gootl farm. Having placed a ]3ortion of it 
under ;lti\'alion, he carried on agricultural 
pursuits until his death, which occurred in 
March, 1890. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Mercy Sampson, was born in Massachu- 
setts, but was reared to womanhood in the 
village of Norway, whither her father, a 
cooper by trade, came when she was an infant. 
She died December 3, 1863, leaving five chil- 
<h-en, of whom the following is a brief record : 
Harriet R., the widow of Benjamin Bird, lives 
in the town of Paris, Oxford County; Maria 
Louisa is the wife of C. N. Porter, of South 
J-'aris; Nathan VV., afore mentioned, lives in 
Norway; Martha M. is tlie wife of Franklin 
Porter, of I'aris, Me. ; and Julia P". lives with 
her sister, Mrs. Bird. 

Nathan W. Millett was eilucated in the 
schools of O.xford County, and from his earli- 
est youth has worked on the old Millett home- 
stead, which he now owns and occupies. 
J-Carly choosing farming as his life work, he 
has labored diligently to add to the improve- 
ments begun by his parents, and has now a 
valuable farm of three hundred and seventy 
acres, much of his land being in a good state 
of cultivation. He keeps for dairy purposes a 
fine herd of Durham cattle, and sells the rich 
cream in the village of West Paris. 

Mr. Millett was married May 11, 1866, to 
Miss K. Augusta Noyes, who was born in 
Norway, February 28, 1844, a daughter of 
Robert and PHizabeth (Southern) Noyes, both 
natives of the city of Portland. Mr. Noyes 
was a book-binder, and worked at his trade in 
his native city until 1843, when he removed to 
this town, where he continued actively en- 
gaged in his vocation until his death, March 
iT), 1S88, having outlived his wife but a 
month and two days. Mr. and Mrs. Millett 
have five children, all at present devoted to 
educational work. They are: Robert N., who 
is now teaching in West Rockport, Me. ; 



Mercie E., a teacher in the town of Norway; 
Susie L. , teaching in the village; and Ger- 
trude A. and Hattie W., who are both attend- 
ing school. 

Politically, Mr. Millett is a strong Repub- 
lican, and a prominent man of his native town, 
in which he has held the office of Selectman, 
besides serving in various minor official posi- 
tions. He is Past Master of the Norway 
Grange, and an active member of Pomona 
Grange, of Norway, of which he has been 
Chaplain the past five years. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Baptist church. 



-f^TFNRY WEBSTER, who owns and 
|-^-| occupies one of the most productive 

Jjs I farms in PZast Wilton, situated about 

one-quarter of a mile from the vil- 
lage, was born in the northern part of this 
town, January 9, 1837, son of Thomas E. and 
Lois (Scales) Webster. Mr. Webster's grand- 
father, Abel Webster, was a prosperous farmer 
of Weare, N.H., and his father was born in 
that town and .State, February 25, 1806. At 
the age of twenty-one Thomas P^ Webster 
settled upon a farm in the northern pint of 
Wilton, where he resided until 1852. He then 
bought a ninety-acre wood- lot covered with a 
second growth of timber, and converted it into 
the farm now occupied b\' his son Henry. 
The proceeds of the timber, which he sold to 
the woollen factory in P^ast Wilton, jiaid for 
the erection of as fine a set of farm buildings 
as can be found in this section to-da\'. B\' 
setting out maple trees for shade, and other 
wise beautifying the grounds surrounding the 
residence, he has made of the property a 
handsome estate. The same careful attention 
paid to the rest of the jiroperty enabled him to 
realize his desire of possessing a model farm. 
He passed his last days in the enjoyment of 
the fruits of his labor, and died in 1870. He 
was a member of the P'ree Will Baptist church. 
In politics he supported the Democratic part}', 
and served with ability as a member of the 
Board of Selectmen for four years. A worthy 
upright man he gained the sincere respect of 
the community. His wife, Lois (Scales) 
Webster, whom he married October 3, 1830, 
was born in Wilton, May 29, iSio. They had 



P.TOGRAPHK'AT, REVIEW 



423 



six childiL-n, as lollows: Susan 1!., whd was 
born June 29, 1831; Anna M., \vh<i was horn 
I'chriiary 22, 1833; Henry, the suljjeit of lliis 
sketch; Volina iM., who was horn July i,S, 
1 841; Vanander, who was horn July 8, 1846; 
and Octavia C. , who was horn January 21, 
1858. The mother died January 2, 1864. 

Henry Webster acquired his education in 
the pulJlic schools of Wilton. lie assisted 
his father in carrying- on the farm. Having 
careil for his [larcnts during their declining 
\'ears he succeeded to the homestead. Con- 
tinuing to make imjirovcments he keeps well 
advanced in the line of progress. J^esides re- 
pairing the buildings he has added more land 
to the estate. He keeps a herd of excellent 
stock, a Hock of one hundred and thirty-five 
.sheep, and pays careful attention to a fine 
orchard. 

Mr. Webster has been twice married. On 
November 6, 1876, he wedded for his first 
wife Laura Russell, daughter of Isaac Russell. 
She died young, leaving no children. His 
])resent wife, in maidenhood Achsa J. Weeks, 
was born IVlarch 6, 1849, daughter of Abel H. 
Weeks. By this union there are three chil- 
dren, namely: Celia L., who was born Septem- 
ber 2, 1879; Glenn H., who was born Septem- 
ber 19, 1882; and Addie (). , who was born 
October 16, 1886. 

Mr. Webster is a Democrat in politics, and 
has most acceptably rendered his share of ser- 
vice to the community. In his religious belief 
he is a Free Will Baptist; while Mrs. Web- 
ster favors the Mcthodi.st Episcopal church. 




iIIARLI':S N. TU15BS, senior member 
of the firm of C. N. Tubbs & Co., of 
^Is Norway, was born here August 27, 

1837, son of James and Hannah J. 
(Wentworth) Tubbs, and is descended from 
one of the pioneer families of Norway, his 
great-grandfather, Jacob Tubbs, a native of 
Bingham, having been the first to settle on 
Lee's grant, coming from Hebron to this town 
about the year 1795, and receiving a deed of 
land direct from Mr. Lee. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Jemima Churchill, bore him 
four sons and two daughters, namely: Jacob, 
Jr.; Angier; Hannah; Charles; Sally; and 



.Samuel. Angier Tubbs, the grandfather of 
Charles N., was horn in Hebron, January 18, 
17.S5, and was therefore about ten years old 
when, with his parents, he came to Norway. 
He became a farmer, and cleared up a good- 
sized faini. He married Miss I'liilena Pack- 
ard, and the\- had nine chililren: James; 
luuiice; Charles; Jacub; I'hilena; Mary Ann, 
who died when less than twu )ears of age; 
()irin; Mar\- Ann; and Nathan N. 

James Tubbs was born here in Norwa}', Jan 
uar\' 5, 1809. He taught school for a time, 
but in earh' manhood puichased a tiact of 
hea\'ily timbered land at the head of the lake. 
After clearing it uj) aiul bringing a large part 
of it into a state of cultivation he sold it and 
purchased another large farm, selling this also 
a few \'ears later and remoxing to (jorham, 
N.H., where he engaged in the meat, provi- 
sion, and grocery business, taking into partner- 
ship a little later his son, Charles N. Tubbs. 
They carried 011 the business there up to 1873, 
when the}' suld out and returneil to Norway, 
establishing the present firm of C. N. Tubbs 
& Co., with which the father was associated 
until his death, C)ctober 26, 1884. He was a 
Democrat in politics, and while in (iorham 
served on the Board of Selectmen. A liberal 
in religious views he was always a free giver 
to the Congregational and Methodist Episcopal 
churches. He married Hannah J. Wentworth, 
who was born April i, 181 1, and is still re- 
markably active. A kind and hixiug mother 
and a wise counsellor in her husband's busi- 
ness affairs, she has led a life of noble deeds 
and thoughtfulness for others. Her father, 
.Samuel E. W'entworth, was a successful farmei- 
of Gloucester, Me. 

Charles Newell Tubbs, the only child, re- 
ceived his education here in Norway. As a 
young man, during the quiet winter months 
passed in his parental home, he took up the 
work of building carriages, at which he en- 
gaged until he entered into partnershiji with 
Tiis father in the meat and i)ro\usion business 
at Gorham, N.H. He subsequently sold his 
interest and went into the dry-goods business 
at Gorham with his uncle, Orrin Tubbs, with 
' whom he continued five and a half years, with- 
drawing at that time on account of impaired 
health. After a season of rest, on March 26, 



424 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



iMjj, he returned to Xorway, and with his 
father bought a lot and erected a building in 
which they started a general store. After the 
death of his father, Mr. Tubbs conducted the 
business alone u]) to 1S90, when he entered 
into partnership with C. S. Akers. This asso- 
ciation continued till 1893. Purchasing his 
partner's interest Mr. Tubbs was again alone in 
business for a year, and then he took as partners 
Orrin and G. E. Tubbs, the name of the firm 
being C. X. Tubbs & Co., as above mentioned. 
They have enlarged the store, and to-day are 
among the leading dealers in general merchan- 
dise in the countv. Mr. Tubbs has built sev- 
eral houses, two of which were destroyed in 
the fire of 1S93. He now owns two double 
tenement-houses, a block of tenements and 
store; and is closely identified with the busi- 
ness interests of the town in other ways, being 
a stockholder and Director of the shoe factory 
and railroad company. President and Director 
of the National Bank, and one of the trustees 
of the Savings Bank. 

Mr. Tubbs has twice married. His first 
matrimonial union was with Miss Abbie J. 
Crockett, a daughter of Ephraim Crockett. 
She was the mother of four children : Inez M., 
born July 14, 1S75 ; James M., born September 
S, iSSo; Idonia C, born March 30, 1882; and 
Oscar J., born March 8, 1886. Mr. Tubbs mar- 
ried for his second wife Mrs. Leona G. Kilgore, 
a daughter of Lewis Brackett, of Harrison, Me. 

In politics Mr. Tubbs is a Democrat. He 
is a member of the Congregational church, of 
Xorway Lodge, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and Union Encampment, Independent 
Order of ' ' ' nvs. 




'OX. ECKLEV T. STEARNS, of 
Lovell Centre. Me., is one of the 
best known and most highly re- 
spected citizens of O.xford County. 
He was born in Lovell township, August 30, 
1S43. a son of Caleb and Eliza W. (Russell) 
.Stearns, both natives of Lovell. His grand- 
father. David Stearns, who was orisinaljv 
from the vicinity of Boston, Mass., settled 
in Lovell at an early date. 

Caleb Stearns, who was born in iSio, son of 
David, settled after his marriage in the vil- 



lage of Lovell Centre, and lived here for some 
time. He then moved to a farm at some dis- 
tance, and was actively engaged in the pursuit 
of agriculture until 1866. Retiring in that 
year he returned to the Centre, where he was 
residing at the time of his death. April i, 
1 88 1. His wife, who was born ^larch i, 
1820, and is now seventy-si.x years of age, is 
living with her son Eckley T. The home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Stearns was brightened by 
the birth of seven children — Marcellus L., 
Augustus W. , Timothy S. . Eckley T. , Ren- 
salier C. , Frank C. , and Georgiana. Mar- 
cellus L. , who was born .April 29, 1839, en- 
tered Waterville College in 1S59, enlisted in 
Company E. Twelfth Regiment, Maine Vol- 
unteers, as a private, was promoted to First 
Lieutenant and Brevet Major for meritorious 
service, and lost his right arm in the battle 
of Winchester. He was a man of character 
and ability, and was Governor of Florida four 
years. His death occurred in 1891. Gover- 
nor Stearns married Miss Ellen Walker, who 
is now living in Baltimore, Md. Augustus W. , 
born September 5, 1S40, died July 20, i860. 
Timothy S. , born March 30, 1842, also ser\-ed 
in the late war, in Company E, Twelfth Regi- 
ment, Maine \'olunteers, and, being incarcer- 
ated five months in a rebel prison, suffered 
much injury to his health. He died January 
10, 1895. His wife, who was Miss Serena E. 
Stearns, has also passed away. Eckley T. is 
the subject of this sketch. Rensalier C. — 
who was born July 26, 1845, ^Iso served in the 
late war in Company E, Twelfth Regiment, 
Maine \'olunteers — is engaged in the sale of 
general merchandise in Ouincy. Fla. He mar- 
ried Miss Ida Jones. Frank C. , born Xovem- 
ber 23, 1852, who is in the hardware business 
at Hot Springs, Ark., married Miss Maggie 
Smith. Georgiana, born October 18. 1859, 
died November 19, 1864. 

Eckley T. Stearns enjoyed good educational 
advantages in his youth, attending the acade- 
mies at North Bridgton and Fryeburg. He 
helped his father about the farm until after the 
war broke out; and in September, 1862, he 
enlisted for nine months as a private in Com- 
pany H, Twenty-third Regiment of Maine 
Volunteers, under Captain Xoves. He was 
more fortiniate than his brothers, for he was 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



neither wounded noi- taken |iris(iner, but, re- 
ceiving his discharge near Alexandria, \'a. , in 
January, i<S63, returned to Lovell unhurt. 
He then resumed his studies, attending school 
until 1866; and in that year started a general 
merchandise business in Lovell Centre. hi 
1883 he sold his stock in trade and went to 
Hot Springs, Ark., where he remained six 
years, being four years of that time in the 
hardware business with his brother. In 1893 
he returned to Lovell and settled on the old 
.Stearns farm. He owns a fine estate of three 
hundred acres, and also other lanil in the town- 
ship, and is actively engaged in general farm- 
ing. His dwelling on Main Street, Lovell 
Centre, is one of the handsomest residences in 
the locality. 

On September 22, 1872, Mr. Stearns was 
united in marriage with Anna L., daughter of 
Henry and Lucy A. (Stearns) Russell, of 
Lovell. Mr. Russell, who was a carpenter, 
died in February, 1893. His wife resides in 
Lovell Centre. Mr. and Mrs. .Stearns have 
three children: Marcellus \V. , Ijorn September 
!2, 1873; Alice A., born September 30, 1882; 
and Edward T. , born July 5, 1886. 

Mr. Stearns is one of the prominent Repub- 
licans of the State of Maine. He was in the 
State Senate in 1882 and 1883, and in his 
native town he has served as Selectman for a 
number of \ears and presided as Chairman of 
the Board f(Hn- years, besides filling a number 
of minor offices. He belongs to Pythagorean 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 11, of 'pryeburg, 
Me. ; to Oriental Lodge of the same order in 
15ridgton ; and to .St. Albans Commandery, 
Knights Templars, of Portland. As an Odd 
Fellow he belongs to Kezar \'alley Lodge, 
No. 66, of Lovell ; and as a Grand Army 
man he is a member of Parker Post, Nt). 
151, of Lovell Centre. He and his wife and 
family are members of the Congregational 
church at the Centre, and are actively inter- 
ested in church work. 



fESLIE E. McINTIRE and his brother, 
BERTRAND G. McINTIRE, well- 
^ known cattle dealers of Waterford, 
.Me., are among the largest buyers 
and shippers of live stock in this section of 



the State. They are the sons of Justin E. and 
Amanda (Johnson) Mclntire, the former of 
whom is a retired cattle dealer and lumberman 
and a prominent resident of WaterfortI, a 
sketch of whose career, together with an ac- 
count of the family ancestr)-, will be found 
elsewhere in this work. Like their father the 
Mclntire Brothers are industrious, energetic 
business men, who devote their entire attention 
to their enterprise, which includes the buying 
and shipping of cattle, sheep, lambs, and 
hogs, the stock finding a ready market in Port- 
land, Me., and in Alassachusetts. They have 
rapidlv advanced to a firm business footing, 
and have established a high reputation for 
practical abilit)', good judgment, and hnimra- 
ble methods. 

Leslie E. Mclntire was born in Norwa)-, 
Oxford County, September 5, 1858. He ac- 
quired a good practical education in the schools 
of his native town, and resided at home assist- 
ing his father until reaching his majority, 
when he engaged in business for himself with 
the above mentioned result. On February i, 
1880, he was united in marriage with lulith R. 
Sawin, who was born in Waterford, January 
31, 1 861, daughter of Thomas II. and Chloe E. 
(Sampson) Sawin, both natives of Waterford. 
Thomas H. Sawin was for manv years engaged 
in farming in this town; but in 1880 he en- 
tered mecrantile pursuits at North Waterford. 
where he carried on a profitable trade until 
1895, W'hen he retired. He is now living in 
Norway village. Mr. and I\Irs. Leslie E. Mc- 
lntire have two children : Clayton .S. , who was 
born July 21, 1S82; and Lulu G., who was 
born March 28, 1884. 

Bertrand G. Mclntire was horn in Norway, 
Me., October 27, 1866. After completing his 
studies he also, until becoming of age, was 
engaged in helping his father. He then en- 
tered into partnership with his brother in the 
live stock business, with which he has since 
been identified, and has developed an energ)- 
and ability which are of great value. 

On June 2, 1890, he married Alice Sawin, 
who was born in Waterford, June 25, 1867, 
and is a sister of his brother's w-ife. 

The Mclntire brothers are both members of 
Oxford Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellow.s, of North Waterford. In politics 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



IhcN" arc active .siiiipoi'ters of the Democratic 
party, and Leslie E. Mclntire lias been a 
member of tlie l^oard of Selectmen for three 
vears. 




IRAM GATCHELL, one of the fore- 
most citizens of lirownfield, Me., an 
\\s\ admirable specimen of the thrifty 
and prosperous New Englander, was 
born in South Monmouth, Kennebec County, 
Me., August 2,S, 1829, son of Benjamin and 
Judith (Jackson) ("latchell. 

His father, Ik'njamin Gatchell, who was a 
native of Brunswick, I\Ie. , was brought up to 
agricultural work, and in early manhood 
settled upon a farm in South Monmouth. 
Later in life he moved to Winthrop, in this 
State, and resided there until his death, which 
occurred in 1S54. He was twice married. 
By his first wife, a Miss Hall before mar- 
riage, he had si.x children, named respectively 
I'riscilla, Rebecca, Catherine, Josiah, Debo- 
rah, and Rachel. Catherine and Josiah were 
twins, as were also Deborah and Rachel. 
The first five are no longer living. Rachel 
(latchell married James ]?urke, a native of 
Litchfield, Me., and is now a resident of Lee, 
Penobscot County, Me. 

His first wife dying, Mr. Jknjamin Gatchell 
married for his second wife Mrs. Judith Jack- 
son Small, widow of Isaac Small, a native of 
Limington, Me. She was the mother of three 
children by Mr. Small, namely: Samuel; 
Zana, who became the wife of ICben Sawyer, 
of Baldwin, Me. ; and Luther, who died soon 
after the close of the Civil War,^ in which he 
served in tlie Union forces with the rank of 
Lieutenant. By her union with Mr. Gatchell 
she had six children — Isaac, Mary A., Alex- 
ander, Hiram, Maria L. , and Lucy. Lsaac 
Gatchell was twice married, first to a Miss 
Eolsom. and after her death to a Miss Earnum, 
of Winthrop. He is now a prosjjernus farmer 
in Monmouth. Mary A. Clatchell married 
Darius Blake, of Cambridge, Mass., and both 
have departed this life. Alexander is also a 
successful farmer of Monmouth. He married 
Annette Strout, who is now deceased. Maria 
L. is tlie widow of Silas Strout, and resides 
with her children in Minneaixilis. Lucy, now- 



deceased, married Lemuel Snow, of Somer- 
ville, Mass. Mrs. Judith J. Gatchell, the 
mother of these children, died in i860. The 
father was a veteran of the War of 1812-14. 

Hiram Gatchell, the youngest son, and the 
special subject of this sketch, received his ele- 
mentary education in the common schools and 
pursued more advanced studies at a jirivate 
school. At the age of nineteen he engaged in 
manufacturing shoes with his brother in Wales, 
Me., and remained in that business for six 
years. He then went to Racine, Wis., where 
for a year and a half he was occupied in farm- 
ing. RetLu'ning to Maine and settling in 
Baldwin, for about thirty years he carried on 
farming and lumbering in that locality; but 
in 18S7 he removed to a farm located near 
East Brownfield village, and four years later 
to his present residence. He owns several 
thousand acres of wild land, and is still exten- 
sively engaged in lumbering. 

Although a very busy man during his long 
active career Mr. Gatchell has found time to 
render his share of official service to the com- 
munity. While a resident of Cumberland 
County he was a Justice of the Peace, and he 
represented the towns of Baldwin and Standish 
in the legislature. He was a member of the 
Board of Selectmen in Brownfield in 1892, and 
is now Chairman of the Board of Health and 
Surveyor of Lumber. His first Presidential 
vote was cast for F"ranklin Pierce in 1S52, but 
he has been affiliated with the Republican 
party since its formation. He is connected 
with Ossipee Valley Lodge, Xo. 54, Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Eellows, of Cornish, Me., 
and with the order of Good Templars. His 
business ability and long experience have been 
of great service in assisting to develop the 
natural resources of this region ; and as a lead- 
ing representative of an important indu.stry he 
occupies a jirominent ]iosition among the resi- 
dents of Brownfield. 

On November i, 1852, Mr. Gatchell was 
united in marriage with Mary .S. Given, who 
was born in Corinna, Me., June 24, 183;,. a 
daughter of John and Hannah (Small) Given. 
Her parents were natives of Wales, Me., 
whence in middle life they removed to Co- 
rinna, where they ended their days. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gatchell have had nine children, namely: 




HIRAM GATCHELL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



429 



Willis I.. ; Carrie L. ; Mariim 1-". ; Mary S. ; 
Cora and Flora, twins; Helen S. ; Hannah 
C. and Georgie F., twins. Willis L. Gatch- 
ell is now a practising physician of this town. 
Carrie L. is the wile of Joseph H. Bacheldor, 
of Sebago, and has one cliild, Arthur Willis. 
Marion F. married Z. (J. Wentw-orth, a meat 
dealer nf Fryeburg, and has one son, Herbert 
Hiram. Mar\- .S. married M. C. Dow, and 
resides in l.odi, Cal. She has two children — 
Eva May and Clarence Gatchell. Helen S. 
died February 20, 1889. The children were 
all educated at the Fryeburg Academy, and 
the four daughters residing at home are 
teachers in the public schools of Brownfield. 




'ERGIiANT WILLIAM R. KNEE^ 
LAND, a prosperous farmer of 
Lovell, CJ.xford County, is one of 
our war-scarred veterans. He was 
born November 14, 1840, in the town of 
Sweden, this county, and is a son of William 
H. and Mary (Giles) Kneeland. His grand- 
father, David Kneeland, settled on a farm 
in Sweden township when his son, W^illiam 
IL, was one year old, and there jaassed the 
rest of his life. William H. Kneeland, born 
in Bridgton, Me., was reared in Sweden, and 
there spent the greater part of his life en- 
gaged in agriculture. His wife, who was 
a native of Shapleigh, Me., died in 1879. 
After this event he went to live with a 
daughter in Lynn, Mass., at whose home he 
died in May, 1883,, being then over eighty 
years of age. His children were: Mary, de- 
ceased, who was the wife of William E. 
Delano; Dorcas, deceased, who was the wife 
of Thomas Trull, also deceased; Elizabeth 
D., the wife of Hiram R. Swain, of Rumford 
Centre, Me.; Sarah G., the widow of Joseph 
Barrett, living in Stoneham, Mass.; Cordelia, 
tlie wife of V. G. Lorendo, of Lynn, Mass. ; 
William R., the subject of this sketch; 
h'lora P., the wife of David Walker, of Lynn, 
Mass. ; and a child who died in infancy. 

William R. Kneeland received a common- 
school education. On his twenty-first birth- 
day, November 14, 1861, he enlisted at 
-Sweden, Me., as a private in Company B, 
Twelfth Maine Regiment of \''olunteer Infan- 



tr\\ under Captain S. IS. rackar<l. lie joined 
the ranks as a three-years man, and was in 
active service most of the time. J'he Twelfth 
Regiment was organized in Portland, Novem- 
ber 16, 1861, and under the command of 
Colonel Kimball was assigned to the Second 
l^rigade, Fourth Division. It left for Lowell, 
Mass., November J4, and embarked on a 
south-bound steamer, Januar)' u, 1862. It 
was conso-lidateil with General ButUr's New 
Englantl Division, and took part in its first 
battle in the e.vtreme South. In December, 
1863, Mr. Kneeland was promoted to the rank 
of Corporal. On May 27, 1863, during an 
engagement at Port Hudson, hi; received a 
gunshot wound in the left leg below the 
knee, which confined him to the hosjjital for 
three months. On his recovery he went home 
on furlough for si.Kty days. Returning to his 
company at Carrollton, La., December r, he 
was honorably discharged December 31, 1863. 
He re-elisted January i, 1864, joining Com- 
pany D, Twelfth Maine Regiment, and was 
promoted to the rank of Sergeant on July 22 
of the same year. After receiving his final 
discharge at Savannah, Ga. , April 18, 186G, 
he returned to Sweden, and, ])urchasing a farm 
in that town, he liveil there until 1879. In 
that year he bought the ]{astman farm in 
Lovell, his present home, an estate of forty 
acres, in the management of which he has 
been very successful. He also owns other 
land in the township. 

Mr. Kneeland was married Jul)' 4, 18^11, td 
Miss Mary Parker, of Lovell, wlm was born in 
December, 1840, daughter of Levi Parker, a 
well-to-do farmer of Lovell. .She died Ma\- 
27, 1864; and on January 35, 1868, Mr. Knee- 
land was united to Miss Marilla J. Sanderson, 
of Sweden, Me., who was born in 1S49. "c-r 
father was lulwin .Sanderson, a farmer of 
Sweden. She died June 11, 18S5, leaving 
two children, namely: Lillian, who was born 
February 25, i86g, now the wife of Arthur 
Mason, and residing near her father; and 
F"rcd Gustavus, who was born June 5, 1874, 
now a student in Bowdoin College. Mr. 
Kneeland contracted a third marriage, Septem- 
ber 2, 1886, with Miss Sarah P. Keniston, of 
Lovell. She was born August 2, 1S43, and is 
a daughter of William and Caroline (Hani- 



43° 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIF.W 



iiKin) IvL-nistdii, hiith nf Lon'cII. Her father, 
wlio was a farmer, died in December, 1878, 
while her mother is liviii,t;' in Lovell. Mr. 
Kneeland, who is a Democrat, has served as 
Selectman of Lovell. He is a member of 
Delta Lodge, No. 153, A. F. & A. M., of 
Lovell village: ami of I'arker Post, No. 151, 
Grand Army of the Republic, of Lovell 
Centre. Well known throughout the locality, 
he is highly esteemed, and has many friends. 



i'> 



'AMES GL0VP:R, a successful farmer 
ami stock trader of the town of Hart- 
ford, Oxford County, was born in 
Hartford, on his present farm, July 
1827, son of James and Anna (Bonney) 
Glover. The family has been American for 
more than two and a half centuries. Its 
founder, John Glover, who was born in Eng- 
land, August 12, 1600, settled in Boston, 
Mass., about the year 1628. His death oc- 
curred in that place on November 12, 1653. 
James Glover, grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, was born September 22, 1748, in 
I'em broke, Mass., son of Robert and Bethiah 
Glover. A ship carpenter by trade, and a 
good general mechanic anti industrious, he was 
successful in his undertakings. He came to 
this county in 1803, and was one of the early 
settlers of Sumner, where he reclaimed and 
cultivated a farm. In jiolitics he was a 
Whig, in religious belief a L'niversalist. He 
dietl in Sumner, December 12, 1846, lacking 
but two years of completing a century of life. 
His wife, Ruth, a daughter of Robert Stet.son, 
of Pembruke, Mass., was born September 29, 
1772, and died July 22, 1S37. She was the 
mother of three sons and one daughter, who 
all attained maturity. They were: Nathaniel 
S., born March 20, 1793; James, born Sep- 
tember 2J, 1796; Joshua S. , born November 
29, 1806; and Caroline, born December 11, 
1813. 

James Glover, Sr., wh(} was also a native of 
Pembroke, Mass., in 1824, settled on the land 
now occupied by his son. At that time it was 
wild and unimjiroved, and he devoted the rest 
of his life to its development and cultivation. 
The property, which at first covered one 
lumdre<l and twent\--five acres, was extended 



by him from time to time until it became one 
of the largest estates in the locality. He 
began to take an interest in jiolitics as a mem- 
ber of the Whig party, but in the latter part 
of his life he was a Democrat. Reared a L'ni- 
versalist, he became interested in Spiritual- 
ism, and died in that belief. This event oc- 
curred on the homestead May 29, 1873. His 
wife, who was born in the town of Sumner, 
April 16, 1797, died on the Hartford farm 
June 8, 1885. They had eight children, 
namely: .Susan, born January 29, 1820, now 
residing in Lewiston, Me. ; Charles, born 
February 2/, 1822, now in Hartford; Ben- 
jamin F., born March 30, 1825, in Illinois; 
James, the subject of this sketch: John T., 
born March 7, 1832, who lives in Hartford; 
Ruth, who was the twin sister of John T. , and 
died in 1837; Sewell, born April 10, 1S35, 
who died in 1886; and George O"., born Sep 
tember 4, 1838, who died March 12, 1842. 

James Glover was educated in the common 
schools of his native town. He began to earn 
his own livelihood when eighteen years of age, 
obtaining work in a shoe factory in Massachu- 
setts at very good wages. After five years of 
steady employment, during which he had care- 
fully husbanded his earnings, he returned to 
Hartford, and purchased the old homestead. 
This was in 1850, forty-six years ago. Mr. 
Glover has since made many improvements on 
the farm, and has added to it, so that, with 
the additions made by his father, it now covers 
two hundred acres. During all this time he 
lias been successfully engaged in mixed hus- 
bandry, and in raising and trading in cattle. 
He is looked upon as one of the leading 
farmers of the locality. 

Mr. Glo\er was married April 21, 1850, to 
Miss Cynthia E. Crockett, a native of Hart- 
ford, born May 4, 1832, daughter of John and 
Cynthia (Morell) Crockett. They have two 
daughters — Adaline K., born in Hartford, 
November 30, 185 i ; and Bertie H., born Oc- 
tober 2, 1868. The elder is the wife of Israel 
F. Gammon a farmer and carpenter of Sumner, 
and has two sons — James Glover Gammon; 
and one not yet named. Bertie H. Glover is 
married to Oscar E. Turner, and she and her 
husband reside with her parents. Mr. Glover 
votes the Democratic ticket. He is a believer 



HIOGRAl'HU'AL RKVIKW 



431 



in the teachings of the Universal ist churcli, 
while Mrs. Glover is a Spiritualist. 




'REMONT E. TIMBERLAKE, the 
present Hank Examiner for the State of 
Maine, was born in Livermore, July 
1 8. 1856, son of Nathan and Adelia (Millctt) 
Timberlake. Mr. Timberlake's family trace 
their ancestry back to two brothers who came 
from London at an early date, one settling in 
iMassachusetts Colony, the other going South. 
James Timberlake, grandfather of Fremont 
E., came to Maine from Massachusetts in the 
year 1800, and settled in T.ivermore. He 
"cleared the farm which has since remained in 
possession of the family, and at the present 
time is owned by Asa G. Timberlake, brother 
of the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Timberlake's early life was spent on 
the farm, and his early education was obtained 
in the common schools of his native town and 
at Monmouth and Wilton Academies. He 
taught school winters, and was at one time as- 
sistant in Bethel Academy. Having decided 
on the practice of law as his permanent pro- 
fession, he entered the office of Hutchinson & 
Savage, Eewiston, Me., in 1879, was admitted 
to the bar early in the summer of 1883, and 
opened an office in Phillips, Me., where he 
has since resided. Diligent and capable, it 
was not long before he built up a large and 
varied practice, his candor, his fairness, his 
zeal in the advocacy of the claims of his 
clients, when assured their claims were just, 
soon causing him to obtain the respect and 
confidence of all. Much of his legal work for 
several years has been in connection with the 
railroads of this section of the State. He is 
Attorney of the Sandy River Railroad, and it 
was largely through his influence that the 
I'hillips & Rangeley Road was built. During 
the construction of the latter road he was its 
Treasurer. He has always been its attorney 
and one of the Directors, and he was recently 
elected General Ticket Agent, and re-elected 
Treasurer. As a business man his abilities 
have been generally recognized, and the public 
have full confidence in his judgment. For 
eleven years he was Treasurer of Phillijis 
Savings Bank, and one of its Trustees. In 



1895 he was appointed State Bank Ivxaminer. 
Mr. Timberlake has always been a stanch Re- 
publican, and has been continuously active in 
forwarding the interests of his party. He is 
a member of the Republican State Committee. 
He was elected County Attorney for l'"ranklin 
Countv in 1886, and served three consecutive 
terms. As a citizen Mr. Timberlake has 
shown himself to be public-siiirited and pro- 
gressive, having always sought to promote 
every enterprise that might benefit the \illage 
where he resides, that would have a tendency 
to promote its financial, moral, and social 
welfare. 

The home of Mr. 'Pimberlake is the abotle of 
hospitality. He has a large circle of friends, 
whom he has won by his liberality, genial 
nature, quiet and unassuming manners. From 
his exceedingly busy life he manages occasion- 
ally to steal a few hours for rest and recrea- 
tion at his cottage on the shore of Rangeley 
Lake. Many are the friends who can attest to 
the happy hours enjoyed under his generous 
hospitality at this delightful retreat. 

June 16, 1883, he married Emma Augusta 
Grover, of ]5ethel. Me., only daughter of 
Leonard A. and Mary A. (Barnes) Grover. 
Mrs. Timberlake was born August 10, 1862, 
at Ro.xbury, Mass., and died in April, 1S87, 
mourned not onlv as a true wife and loving 
mother, but b\' a witle circle of friends, to 
whom she had endeared herself by her beauti- 
ful character. Slie left three children, who 
are now living — Mellie Grover, Leonard Fre- 
mont, and I'lmma Augusta. 




EORGE W. RIDLON, one of the 
prominent residents of Mexico (Rid- 
lonville), Oxford County, was born 
in the town of Woodstock, January 23, 1S56, 
son of Ezra and Eliza ,J. (Thurlow) Ridlon. 
The father, a native of Cornish, Me., was for 
many years a farmer and lumberman. He has 
been an invalid for twent\- years, and is now a 
resident of Mexico. His wife, who is ;i na- 
tive of Woodstock, still lives to cheer the 
evening of his life. 

George W. Ridlon received his education 
in the common schools, and remained with his 
parents until he attained his majority. He 



43-' 



BIOGRAI'HICAL REVUAV 



was afterward engaged in the poultry and pro- 
vision inisiness for one season in Washburn 
and Arousto()i< County- Subsequently return- 
ing to liis native town, lie there carried on 
tanning and hnnbering until he was thirty- 
three years olii. Then he became a travelling 
salesman for the I^ioneer Chair Factory, and 
later a member of the firni. He sold out this 
interest after two years, and for the three fol- 
lowing years travelled through Maine, New- 
Hampshire, and X'ermont for Shaw, Hammond 
& Curry, a Portland grocery firm. In 1894 
Mr. Ri(llon"s enterprise led him to jiiu'chase 
a large tract of the best land on the Andros- 
coggin River, and to organize the Shavv-Ridlon 
Land Company, of which he has since been 
the manager. This land, which is located in 
Mexico — a small inland town, containing but 
two stores — has been laid out in building lots. 
The company has erected about thirty cottages 
and Hotel Ridlon. These buildings form a 
little settlement, which is called Ridlonville 
in honor of its builder. Mr. Ridlon is also 
President of the Rumford 1^'alls Brici< Com- 
pany, having been one of the organizers. 

In October, 1883, Mr. Ridlon married Miss 
Gertie Owen, of Woodstock. She died Au- 
gust 31, 1885, leaving one son, Clarence L. 
Mr. Ridlon contracted a second marriage in 
iSgi with Winnie E. 1-^idler, of Paris. By 
this union lie has a daughter, Bertha A. 

His religious creed is that of the Uni\'er- 
salist church. In polities he is a stanch Re- 
publican, is Chairman of the Paris Republi- 
can Committee, and one of the best jiarty 
workers in the county. In 1S94 he was 
elected County ('ommissioner. He is a prom- 
inent Mason, having membership in Granite 
Lodge, of West Paris, and L^nion Chapter, 
No. 36; and he is an Odd P'ellow through his 
connection with Lodge No. 15, in the same 
town. Mr. Ridlon is one of the most enter- 
[irising men in Oxford County. 




AkREN TYLER VOTER, an en- 



terprising and highly respected resi- 
dent of West I'^armington, Me., was 
horn ill iiis |iresent home March 2, 1839. He 
is a son of Wan-en and Lucv (Corbett) \'oter, 
and a grandson of Louis and Pollv (Haccus) 



Voter. Louis Voter, who was boin in P'ree- 
town, Mass., when a )-oung man accompanied 
his uncle, John Voter, to -Sandy Ri\er, Me. 
In 1797 he settled on lot .\o. 23, in the north- 
ern part of P'armington, comprising one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, now occupied by a Mr. 
Partridge, cleared the land, and devoted the 
rest of his life to its cultivation. He died at 
the age of sixty-six. 

Warren \'oter was born in Earmington, De- 
cember 7, 1806. He, too, was an enterprising 
farmer, and owned one of the finest estates in 
the town. It comprised two hundred acres of 
land, a \n\rt of the Page and part of the Stod- 
dard farms, and commands one of the finest 
views in this section, overlooking the valley 
and the villages. Although the land is so 
high it is of the very best qualit}-. Warren 
Voter made a fortune here. He then sold the 
property to his son, and, purchasing a smaller 
place in West Earmington, retired, and died 
December 6, i88i. He was a man who had 
no fear of hard work. Besides attending to 
his farm he took contracts for heavy labor of 
different kinds, including bridge building and 
road building. In politics he was a Democrat. 
He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. His wife, a daughter of John Corbett, 
of West I'armington, now eighty-four years 
old, is yet living. The\- had three children — 
Andrew J., Apphia J., and Warren Tyler. 

Warren Tyler Voter received a good educa- 
tion, attending the public schools and P'arni- 
ington iXcademy. He was thirty years of age 
when he bought his father's farm. .Since that 
time he has accomplished a great deal as a 
farmer and a dealer in real estate. His prop- 
erty now comprises four hundred and twenty- 
five acres in the home farm, several outlying 
lots, and the farms formerly owned by J. Hil- 
man, G. Gower, L. Hardy, and W. Mosher. 
Besides raising general crops he has several 
large orchards of fine grafted fruit, and keeps 
some thirty head of valuable cattle and two 
hundred and twenty-five sheep. In 1886 he 
erected, at a cost of two thousand dollars, a 
barn eighty-six by forty-four feet, with ba.se- 
ment and modern conveniences. Pie is now 
building a fine residence. 

Mr. Voter was married March 2, 1861, to 
L\-dia, daughter of Joseph and Betsey (Hobart) 



BIOCRArillCAL RKVIKW 



White, of Temple, I\Ic. J^orn in 1840 she 
(lied in 1.S73, leaving four children — Cora ]•'. , 
(/harles A., Henry B. , and Mark I.. Cora 1'"., 
liiii-n liih' 22, 1.S6J, is the wile nf Ainliii H. 
Knssell. and has three ehildreii — Marion, 
Arline, and Cora. Marion is now deceased. 
Charles A., horn Jannar}- 9, 1X65, married 
Laura Sherman, and has one child. Hazel. 
Henrv 11, born May X, 1867, married Miss 
Anna Randall. Mark L. was born June 2, 
1 87 1. Mr. \'oter was married again June 20, 
1875, when Mrs. Klla Eliza (Ccmant) McLeary 
became his wite. She is a daughter of Ephraim 
and I'^liza (Doble) Conant, and the widow of 
Justin I-]. McLeary. By her first marriage 
she had two children: Wilfred, born June 6, 
1866, who married Miss Affie Butler; and 
Justin !•;., born July 5, 1871. ]5y his second 
marriage Mr. Voter has four children. These 
are: Nellie G. , born December 25, 1876, now 
the wife of H. G. Jennings; Ernest W. , born 
lulv 3, 1879; Arthur L. , born May 17, 1883; 
and Pearl C. , born April 30, 1889. He votes 
the Democratic ticket, and he attends the 
Methodist ICpiscopal church. 




ON. JONATHAN K. MARTIN, 

once a prominent resident of Rum- 



ford, wdio died October 2, 1878, 
was one of the best-known and most 
highly respected citizens in the State of 
Maine. A son of Jeremiah and Nancy 
(Brown) !\Lirtin, he was born in Rumford, 
January 6, 1S29. His father, a native of 
Concord, N.H., was one of the first settlers in 
Rumford, locating here about 1820. Jere- 
miah Martin lived first in that part of the 
town known as Red Hill, and afterward moved 
to a farm which was his son"s home for a 
number of years. There he died at the age of 
seventy-six. 

Jonathan K. Martin received good educa- 
tional advantages, finishing his studies at the 
high school. He resided during the entire 
period of his life on the farm in Rumford, 
which he inherited from his father, and he was 
extensively engaged in general farming and 
stock dealing. A stanch Republican, he was 
very active in political matters, and had the 
fullest confidence of his constituents. He 



was Selectman of the town ol Rumlorcl tor a 
number of years, was in the House ol Repre- 
sentatives two years, and in the State .Senate 
two years. Though not a professing member 
of any religious societ)'. he attended and con- 
tributed towanl the sujiport of the llniversal- 
ist church. He was well known throughout 
the .State, and had a great man}' friends, 
standing high in the estimation of all. His 
death occurred in his forty-ninth year. Mr. 
Martin married Miss l'"rances I{. Willard, a 
native of Colebrook, N.H., who s]3ent most of 
her life in Rumford, her parents moving to 
this town when she was a child. -She dietl 
July 30, 1863, at the age of thirty-four, leav- 
ing four children, namely: Susan M., wife of 
S."' ]•:. Newell, of Hyde Park, Mass.; Jerry 
IL; Freelon-li ; and Frances A., the wife of 
J. \V. Doolittle, of New York City. Jerry 
H. and Freelon ]-!. are now managing the 
homestead, which is one of the best farms 
in the township, and besides raising general 
crops they keep summer boarders. They are 
brisk and enterprising young men, and occupy 
a leading position in the town. Politically, 
they are affiliated with the Republican party. 
Jerry H. Martin is now serving his fourth 
year as Selectman of the town, while h^reelon 
11 has entered on his seventh year as Town 
Treasurer. The)- ha\'e both live<l on this 
farm since birth. 




RANCIS 11. SKILLINGS, one of the 
most pi'ominent business men of .South 
Paris, was born in this town. May 2, 
1834, son of Robert and Caroline (Ryerson) 
Skillings. The family is of .Scotch ancestry. 
Its founder, John .Skillings, was :i native of 
Scotland who settletl in the north of Ireland. 
He was a weaver by trade, and a devout 
Presbyterian who officiated as a ]ireacher of 
that faith. On June 11, 1822, he emigrated 
with his family to the L'nited .States, his des- 
tination being New York ; but, on account of 
sickness, the entire family landed at Portland. 
John .Skillings eventually went to New York, 
where he passed the rest of his life; and he 
lived to the advanced age of one hundred years, 
lohn .Skillings, second, Mr. Skillings's 
grandfather, was l)orn in Tollinagee, Count)' 



434 



i;i()(;R.\riii(AL 



••.V 1 1-:\\' 



l).>wii. Ireland, Seiitcmbcr 23, 1790. He 
learnL'd the weaver's trade, and followed it in 
his native country until he came to America 
with his father. He and his family remained 
in rortlaml. His national dialect was at first 
an iniiieilinient to his progress, as it was diffi- 
cidt to make himself understood ; but, being a 
Mason, the sign of distress brought immediate 
relief from his brother craftsmen, and ere long 
he was placed in a position to follow his trade. 
He was an expert weaver of muslin, and he 
subsequently fcdlowed that calling in Port- 
land until his death, which occurred July 13, 
1861. He married I'.leanor Mum, who was 
of iMiglish ancestry. His children were — 
Robert, James, Mary, ]\Ilen J., Elizabeth K., 
Nancy R., James W. , and Caroline. Robert 
-Skillings was born in Ireland, February 25, 
I Si 2. lie learned the carriage-maker's trade 
in I'ortland, and in 1S33 he came to South 
I'aris, where he was employed as a journeyman 
by J. Langlev. He was an industrious and 
able mechanic. Purchasing a desirable lot of 
land here he erected a pleasant home for him- 
self and family, and there resided for the re- 
maintler of his days. He took the interest of 
an intelligent citizen in public affairs, and he 
served with ability as a member of the Board 
of .Selectmen. His wife, Caroline, a daughter 
of Colonel William Ryerson, of Paris, bore 
him four children — Francis H., Augusta ¥.., 
.Sarah 1'., and Caroline J. .She was about fift_\' 
\ears cdd at her death. 

h'rancis II. Skillings actpiired a good prac- 
tical education. At the age of seventeen he 
went to Portland, where he filled the position 
of mailing clerk in the office of the Portland 
Advertiser for a year and a half. Returning 
then to .South Paris he was emjiloyed in the 
shop with his father for some years, later 
entering a mercantile business with C. P. 
Knight. In 1861 he went to California, where 
he was engaged in mining and carriage paint- 
ing until 1865. He then I'eturned east, and 
during the succeeding five years acted as agent 
of the True Flouring Mills of this town. Be- 
coming then a meinber of the firm, a connec- 
tion lasting six years, he infused a spirit of 
enter|)rise into its management that brought it 
into prominence as one of the leading floiu" 
firms of this section, so that its daily product 



reached as high as one hundred and t\venty-fi\'e 
barrels. In 1876 he engaged in the manufact- 
ure of gas at Chippewa Falls, Wis., superin- 
tending the work for. one year, after which he 
sold his interest in the enterprise. Becoming 
then a general agent for William Deering, of 
Chicago, a manufacturer of machinery, he tra\'- 
elled throughout the United States, .South 
America, and Pairope until 1892. Since then 
he has resided in South Paris, having charge 
of the okl True Mills, and superintending the 
grinding and handling of flour, grain, and feed. 

On December 31, 1855, Mr. Skillings 
wedded P'llen Dunn, daughter of David Dunn, 
of Poland, Me. Mrs. .Skillings has had three 
children, namely: Cora, who was born May 
i3> I'^^'SQ' 3"cl is now the wife of George A. 
Briggs; Katie, born January 16, 1863, who 
married L. M. Linder, cashier of the l^'irst 
National ]-!ank of Mankato, Minn., and has 
four children: and Roy, who died at the age 
of seven months. 

The father is prominent in the Masonic fra- 
ternity, being a member of Paris I,odge, No. 
94, the Chapter and Commandery in Portland, 
and the Norway Council. His presence in 
South Paris, with his prolonged and practical 
experience acquired in different jjarts of the 
world, is regarded as a boon to the business 
interests of the place. 



..iARLi':s theodorp: EADD, a 

'-^ leading merchant of P'rveburg, was 




born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Decem- 
ber 6, 1847, son of Stephen L. and 
Maria (Hapgood) Ladd. Stephen L. Eadd, 
who was a native of Starks, I\Ie., in early man- 
hood engaged in mercantile pursuits. He 
conducted business in Saco for several years, 
was similarly engaged in other jjlaces, and also 
resided for some time in Ohio. He died in 
1869. His wife, Maria, was a native of Ivast 
Fryeburg, and a daughter of William Hajigood, 
who at different times fcdlowed farming in 
Waterford and P'ryeburg, dying in the last 
named town. Mr. and Mrs. .Stejihen L. Ladd 
reared two children: Augustus A., who is a 
carriage ironcr by trade ; and Charles T. , the 
subject of this sketch. The mother tiled Oc- 
tober 25, 1865. 



BIOCIRAI'HRAI, KF.VIEW 



435 



Charles Theodore Ladd, after attending the 
common schools, at the age of fifteen began 
life for himself. His first employment was in 
a carding-mill at Saco, where he remained for 
eight years. Going thence to ]?oston he was 
a conductor uixm the street cars in that city 
for three \ears. lie then established himself 
in the gentlemen's furnishing business, which 
he carried on for some time; but finally sell- 
ing out his store he came to Fryeburg village, 
and in the summer of 1875 he opened a barber 
shop here, which he carried on in connection 
with the fruit and confectionery business for 
fifteen years. Subsequently, enlarging the 
store, he put in a full line of drugs, gentle- 
men's furnishings, and other articles, and now 
has one of the largest and best appointed es- 
tablishments of its kind in I"'ryeburg. As he 
gives his personal attention to every detail of 
the business, he knows just what his customers 
I'equire, and by meeting their wants has built 
up a large trade. On November 29, 1S87, he 
was united in marriage with Sarah F. Kimball, 
a native of Bu.xton, Me. In politics Mr. Ladd 
is a Democrat, and has voted with that parly 
since attaining his majority. He is a member 
of Pythagorean Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & 
A. M., and of Peckwankee Lodge, No. 34, 
Knights of Pythias, of this town. He is a self- 
made man, having begun life without cash 
capital, and, with nothing but his own individ- 
ual resources to aid him, he has attained his 
present high business standing. 



REELAND HOWE, a representative 
real estate and insurance man, who for 
many years has been closely identified 
with the growth and prosperity of Norway, 
Me., is a native of Sumner, Me., born Decem- 
ber 5, 1833, son of Jacob F. and Polly B. 
(Howe) Howe. Following up the ancestral 
line, the lineal representatives of this branch, 
so far as traced, beginning with the grandpar- 
ents of Freeland Howe, are: Jesse and Lydia 
(Dunham) Howe; Jacob, third, and Betty 
(Foster) Howe; Jacob, second, and Lydia 
(Davidson) Howe; and Jacob and Lidea 
(Davis) Howe, of Rowley, Mass. 

Jacob Howe, second, who was born in 
Rowley, Mass., February 9. 1724, was a pa- 



triot soldier of the Kevululionar}- War. His 
son, Jacob Howe, third, born in Rowle}', Jul}' 
9, 1760, married Miss Betty Foster. After 
serving for a time in the Revolutionary War, 
in 1782 he settletl in Baldwin, Me., but subse- 
quently removed to Bridgton. He was the 
first mail carrier from tlic latter place to Port- 
land: and, being ;i man of great physical en- 
ilurance, he followed this occupation until 0.\- 
ford County was settled, when he was made 
the first mail carrier between Oxford and Port- 
land. In both cases the trips were made on 
horseback, there being for a part of the dis- 
tance only a bridle ]:)ath. He finally settled 
in Paris, where he died on June 30, 1830. 
His wife survived him until 1853, reaching 
the venerable age of ninety-four years. PHeven 
children were the fruit of their union; namely, 
P'anny, Jesse; Salome, Jacob J., Betsey, Jere- 
miah, Huldah, Lydia, Roxanna, Polly, and 
Miranda. 

Jesse Howe, the eklest son, born I""ebruary 
16, 1786, in .Sumner, Me., where his parents 
resiiled a while, was married on March 23. 
1809, to Lydia, daughter of Asa Dunham, of 
Norway. Jesse Howe and his wife continued 
to live in his native town, where he became 
the owner of five hundred acres of land, a 
large ]5art of which he cleared and put into 
shape for pasturage and tillage. He died 
March 2, 1870, and his wife on December 20, 
1871. Nine children were born to them; 
namely, Henry, Jacob I-"., Jeremiah, Jesse, 
Jr., Eli, Cyrus H., Benjamin I*".. Pldwin W., 
and William R. 

Jacob F. Howe, the father of I'reeland, was 
born November 30, 1811. On starting out in 
the battle of life he chose the occupation of a 
farmer, and purchased two hundred acres of 
land at West Sumner, on which were a saw- 
mill and grist-mill. He at once proceeded to 
the task of clearing his timbered land, a part 
of which he aftervvaril sold to adjoining- 
farmers, also carrying on both lines of the 
mill business with success. Several years 
after he built a large house and store, and car- 
ried on a general mercantile business until his 
death, which occurred May 31, 1865. He was 
a Democrat in politics, and for several years 
served as Postmaster of West .Sumner. The 
temperance cause had in him an ardent advo- 



43 6 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IEW 



cale. Polly Howe, his wife, was a daughter 
of Jcrciiiiah and Syh'ia (Benson) Howe. Her 
father was engaged in mercantile business at 
Sumner, and was Captain of a company of 
State militia. Mrs. Polly Howe is still liv- 
ing and enjoying good health. She bore her 
husband three sons, namely : Freeland ; Lester 
M., who died in infancy: anil P'rank \V. 

P'reeland Howe received his early education 
in the district school; and, being an ambitious 
scholar, he fitted for college, and was a student 
of Colb)- University one year, leaving at the 
end of that time, then about twenty years old, 
to engage in teaching. Among the places in 
which he taught are: Kent's Hill, Sumner, 
Bryant's Pond, West Paris, and P'airfield, 
Va., and Stillwater Academy in New York 
State, teaching for eighteen years in Maine, 
New York, and \'irginia. P^or thirty-three 
terms he taught penmanship in different 
places, during nine of wliich he was Professor 
of Penmanship in Westbrook Seminary. For 
two years, beginning with 1857, he travelled 
and sold maps and books, after which he be- 
came an adjuster of fire insurance, and as time 
went by interested himself more and more in 
that business until he now represents a large 
majority of the leading fire and life insurance 
companies of the country. He came to Norway 
to live in 1S63; and the year following he es- 
tablished the Oxford County Insurance Agency, 
which he still conducts with credit and honor. 
His handsome residence at 100 Main Street, 
formerly known as the Jeremiah Howe home, 
was built ill 184", but has since been greatly 
altered and improved. At 104 Main Street, 
in the business centre of the town, is the 
building in which he has his ofifice. Mr. 
Howe has dealt quite largely in real estate, 
buying and selling, and laying out house lots. 
When others had failed, it was through his in- 
strumentality that the First National Bank 
charter was secured; and he was for many 
years one of the bank Directors. He was also 
for some years a Trustee of the savings-bank. 
In the organization and establishment of the 
shoe factory Mr. Howe, together with I. A. 
Denison, rendered very material service; and, 
when the railroad was proposed, he went him- 
self with the paper, and solicited the support 
of the people. He was a charter member of 



the water works company, and was a charter 
member and stockholder of the street electric 
railway company, of which he is now Presi- 
dent. In fact, all worthy enterprises tending 
toward the development of the town have met 
with his hearty co-operation; and he is justly 
held in the highest esteem by his townsmen. 

On December 5, 1857, Mr. Howe was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Fields, 
daughter of George and Mary (Taylor) P"ields. 
Her father, who was a carpenter by trade, at 
his death left five children — George; John; 
Mary I,., now Mrs. Howe; Annie T. ; and 
Lucy. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have three chil- 
dren, namely: George R., born August 4, 
i860, a mineralogist and insurance agent, who 
married Miss Emma J. Boardman, by whom 
he has a daughter, Marjorie May: P"annie R., 
born November 15, 1S68, now the wife of 
Arthur K. Morrison, of Rumford Falls, Me., 
antl mother of two children — Robley H. and 
P'reeland J.; and Freeland Jr., born May 30, 
1870, who holds the position of cashier in the 
Jl'or/t/ ofifice. New York City. 

Mr. Howe has always been a stanch Repub- 
lican. In religious views he is a Universal- 
ist. P^raternally, he is a member of O.xford 
Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M., in which he 
is Past Master; Union Chapter, No. 36, Royal 
Arch Masons; O.xford Council, No. 14, Royal 
and Select Masters; Portland Commandery, 
No. 2, Knights Templars; Norway Lodge, 
No. 16, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; 
and the Grand F)ncampment of Indei)cndcnt 
Order of Odd Fellows, State of Maine. 



^^ILBRIDGF H. RACKLIFFE, a pros- 
pi perous general merchant of Allen's 
^ ^ ■■ ' '' Mills, in the town of Industry, 
P^ranklin County, Me., and a veteran of the 
Civil War, was born in Industry, October 20, 
1827, son of Henry B. and Elizabeth (Oliver) 
Rackliffe. Mr. RacklifTe's parents were na- 
tives of Georgetown, Me. His father, who 
was in his younger days a seafaring man, and 
also a shoemaker, moved to Industry in 1823, 
and bought a farm. He was engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits successfully for the rest of 
his life, and died in Jay, Me., August 8, 
1886, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. 



^^ 




ELBRIDGE H. RACKLIFFE. 



B I OG R A IM I U ■ A L. K KV 1 1 .W 



439 



His first wife, Elizabeth Oliver, died August 
29, 1877; and he was again married to the 
Widow Bean. ]5y his first union there were 
five children, as follows: John Sumner, a 
teacher and afterward a farmer, who was born 
lanuary 2, 1823, married Mary Cordis, of 
liridgton, and died in Kansas, leaving a 
widow and two children; Emeline, who was 
l)orn March 6, 1826, married Samuel A. 
Walker, of ]'".mbtlen, by whom she had seven 
children, and died January iS, 1878; Elbridge 
II., the subject of this sketch; Ivlizabeth, who 
was born July 16, i82t;, and died December 
16, 1836; and Sarah K., who was b(jrn July 
15, 18 — , and married first Lucius W. Hall, 
of Westbrook, Me. Mr. Hall died a prisoner 
in the Civil War, December 4, 1864. He 
left one daughter, Addie, who was born Sejv 
tember 16, 1863, married Charles H. Rrann, 
and died March 18, 1886, leaving one son. 
Mrs. Hall wedded for her second husband 
John E. Johnson. 

Elbridge H. Rackliffe acquired a commnn- 
school education in his early years; and at the 
age of fifteen he went to Anson, Me., where 
he served an apprenticeship at the tinner's 
trade. He later worked at his trade in Wil- 
ton, Bethel, and Bridgton ; and during his 
residence of two and one-half years in the 
last-named town he was a member of the firm 
of W. J. Hayden & Co., dealers in stoves, 
tinware, and general merchandise. After his 
withdrawal from this firm he worked in differ- 
ent places in Connecticut and Massachusetts; 
and in 1852 he went to Saco, Me., where he 
followed his trade for some time, being mar- 
ried while residing in that town. Erom Saco 
he went to Bridgton, from there to Fryeburg, 
and thence to Denmark, in the latter place 
following his trade in connection with farm- 
ing for about two years. Returning to the 
homestead in Industry in 1859, he resided 
there for a year; and then he went to West 
Mills, where for nearly four years he followed 
his trade, and held the office of Postmaster. 
On September 26, 1864, he enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company B, Eighth Regiment, Maine 
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain A. Walton. 
His service in the Civil War extended through 
its most decisive period, and his regiment 
participated in a series of engagements which 



culminated in the defeat of the Confederate 
forces. He was present at the battles of 
Chapin Farm, Hernnula Hundred, Fair Oaks, 
Deep Bottom, the siege of Petersburg, and 
several other battles of note; and he was dis- 
charged June 12, i8r)5. He maile out the 
voting list for the Regiment when the soldiers 
voted in the Presidential election. He was 
afterwards offered promotion, but declined 
on account of poor health. Upon his return 
from the army he bought the Rackliffe home- 
stead in Industry; and, after carrying on the 
farm for two years, on account of failing 
health he moved to Lewiston, where for the 
ne.xt ten years he was engaged at his trade. 
Returning once more to his farm, he tilled 
the soil steadily until 1889, when he en- 
gaged in trade at Allen's Mills. His store 
is well stocked with groceries and general 
merchandise, including tinware; and, aside 
from doing a very profitable business in that 
line, he still continues to work at the tin- 
ner's trade, which he seems unwilling to 
relincjuish. 

On August 29, 1852, Mr. Rackliffe was 
united with Oraville S. Potter, a daughter of 
John and Huldah (Simons) Potter, prominent 
and esteemed residents of Sebago, Me. Mr. 
and Mrs. Rackliffe became the parents of four 
children, namely: Frank D. and Joseph 
Henry, twins, who were born July 18, 1856; 
Charles S. , who was born November 5, 1857; 
and William Luther, who was born March 8, 
1859. Joseph II. Rackliffe wedded for his 
first wife Nellie Mary Brackett, who died in 
1876, leaving one daughter, Lillian M. R. 
By his union with his present wife, who was 
before marriage Ida Hardenbrook Lewis, and 
is a native of Auburn, Me., there are four 
children, namely: Lena D. , who was born Oc- 
tober 31, 1879; Garfield E. , who was born 
September 8, 1881; Mildred 1-:. and Millard 
L. , twins, who were born August 20, 1883. 
Frank D. Rackliffe wedded Emma Rogers, 
and has five children; namely, Eugene E. , 
Maude, Orrie, Verna Mabel, and Estella. 
Charles .S. Rackliffe married Annie ¥.. 
Wheeler, and has five children — Bert W., 
Charles Guy, Minnie M., Hattie, and Sybil. 
William Luther Rackliffe married Hattie M. 
Niles, of Auburn, Me., and has one daughter, 



44° 



BIOGRAPHICAL RI':VIEW 



Dora E. , who was born September 2S, 1882. 
Mrs. Oraville S. Rackliffe died July 11, 1895. 
Ill politics Mr. Rackliffe is a firm supporter 
(if Republican principles. He was Postmaster 
at Allen's Mills for several years; but, having 
no desire for political honors, he has never 
taken an interest in public affairs beyond cast- 
ing his \-ote. He was formerly connected 
with several fraternal orders. He and his 
famih' attend the Congregational church. 



/f^: 



]-:OK(n-: 1. liL'RXHA.M, a i)nis|)en.us 
\ •) I and succes.sful farmer of Gilead, is a 
member of one of the old anti re- 
spected families of the town. He was burn in 
Gilead, June 18, 1S53, on the farm cleared by 
his grandfather about a century ago, and of 
which his own farm is a jjart. His parents, 
(ieorge and Flora (Hurbank) J^urnhani, are 
also lix'ing on this farm, where the father was 
liorii Februarv 2, 1S16. The latter, who is 
now ver)' feeble, was a successfid farmer, and 
a jirominent and influential man. A member 
of the Republican jiartv he filled a number of 
local offices. He Avas in the .State legislature 
in 1864, ser\'ing as chairman of a committee, 
and working successfully for the erection of 
the suspension bridge across the .Xiulroscoggin 
at Gilead. His wife, who is a daughter of 
James and Susan (Ingalls) lUu'bank, was born 
in Gilead, October 23, 1823. Now, at the 
age of seventy-three, she is an active and in- 
telligent lady, attends to her household duties, 
and cares for her ailing husband. 

George 1. Burnham has had the advantage of 
a good education received in the common 
schools of Gilead and (lould Academy at 
Bethel. After remaining with his parents 
until about thirty years of age he purchased 
a part of the homestead farm and erected on it 
his present residence. His land lies along the 
Androscoggin River and is beautifully situ- 
ated. He is engaged in mi.xecl husbandry and 
keeps some live stock. He was married Au- 
gust 24, 1 88 1, to Stella L. Willis, a native of 
Massachusetts, and a daughter of John W. and 
Stella J. (Felton) Willis. Mr.' Willis was 
born at Paris Hill, this count)-, in 181 1. He 
followed the business of miller for many years, 
and is now living retired in his native town. 



His wife, who was a native of Massachusetts, 
died at the age of seventy-nine. ]ioth were 
members of the Methodist Flpiscopal church. 
Mrs. Burnham is a skilled musician, and has 
quite a number of jjiano jnipils. Mr. Burn- 
ham, who is a Republican, has ser\'ed as Se- 
lectman of Gilead four years in succession, 
and has been on the School Board two years. 
Though he is not a regular church member he 
contributes to religious work. He sings in 
the choir of the Union Church, in which Mrs. 
Burnham has been organist about fifteen vears. 




KRGEANT WHJJAM WARREN 
DURGIN, of Stoneham. a veteran 
of the Civil War, was in Wash- 
ington at the time of President Lin- 
coln's assassination, and took an active jxut 
in the events that followed. He was born in 
Stoneham, December iS, 1839, son of Levi 
and Sarah (Parker) Durgin. His father was 
born in Limerick, York County, ant! his 
mother in Lo\ell, this county. His grand- 
father. JCjihraim Durgin, was a lifelong resi- 
dent of York County. 

Levi Durgin, who was a native of Limerick, 
York County, moved to O.xfonl County when 
a young man. lie was a blacksmith, and he 
worked at his tiadu for a while. Afterward 
he settled on a tarni in the [lart of .Stoneham 
now called Durgin Hill. An active and ath- 
letic man, he worked at his trade, tilled his 
farm in summer, and worked at lumbering in 
winter, and won fame as a hunter, killing 
man)- bears in Stoneham. In tow^n affairs 
also he took a prominent part, and served in 
sundry public offices. He died October 23, 
1865. His wife, to whom he was united in 
Stonehani, was a native of the town of Lovell. 
She died October 9, 1865. Eleven children 
blessed the marriage of this couple, namely: 
Martha, the widow of Philip Barrows, now- 
living with her children in Stowe, this 
county; Hannah, the widow of Barber B. 
Barker, of Bridgton, Me., residing in Stone- 
ham; Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of 
Captain George J. Thestrup, master of a ves- 
sel, yet following the sea: Angeline, who died 
October 20, 1865; Benjamin, a police ser- 
geant, who has been one of Boston's "finest" 



BIOCRAPHICAT, REVIEW 



441 



Idi- the [last thirty years; Josopli 1'., who dicil 
at the age of sixty; IClias, who died in in- 
fancy; Phctbe 1'., the wife of Samuel Davis, 
of Bridgton, Me., and the mother of eight 
children; William Warren, the subject of this 
sketch; Ellen S., deceased, who was the wife 
of Benjamin Whitehouse, also deceased; and 
Barber B., now in Lynn, Mass., who married 
Miss Lillian i'hompson, of Gorham, Me. It 
is further stated of Barber B. that he served in 
the late war with the Twelfth Regiment, 
Maine Volunteers, having enlisted at the age 
of sixteen, and that he is now a comrade of 
Post 5, Grand Army of the Republic. 



William Warren Durgin was given a 



i'ood 



practical education in the common schools. 
He went to work at farming and lumbering 
when seventeen years of age, and was steadily 
employed thereat until his twent)--second 
year, when he respondetl to the call of his 
country for men to defend the L'nion. He en- 
listed April 25, 1861, in Company G, First 
Maine Infantry, under Captain (leorge L. 
Beal, of Norway, and Colonel N. J. Jackson. 
After serving three months he returned home 
and re-enlisted in Company K, Ninth Maine 
Infantry. This company participated in the 
capture of Port Royal, S.C.; of Fernandina, 
Fla. ; of St. Mary's, Ga., of Talbert Island, 
Fla. ; and of Yellow Bluff on the St. John's 
River. In jLily, 1S63, Mr. Durgin was trans- 
ferred from the Ninth Maine Infantry to the 
Tenth Regiment of Veteran Reserves, being 
assigned to Company F. In the spring of 
1864 he re-enlisted, joining the same company 
and regiment. He was promoted to the rank 
of Orderly .Sergeant while in Company K, 
and retained his rank when transferred to 
Company F. He has to-dav a more forcible 
reminder of his term of military service than 
his commission, for he was wounded in the 
ankle, and suffers yet from the hurt. When 
President Linc(dii was assassinated Sergeant 
Durgin, then in the veteran reserve force, 
was immediate!)' called into action. He was 
one of the military bearers who escorted the 
body of the President to the rotunda of the 
Capitol, and was one of the guard of honor 
that accompanied the remains to Springfield, 
111. He is the proud possessor of a medal 
presented to him on that occasion, one <if 



twenty-nine in the whole I'liited -States, and 
the only one in Maine, lie was one ot the 
guards who surrounded Mrs. Surratt's house, 
the alleged place of rendezvous for the conspir- 
;itors. He also retains a vi\'id recollection of 
the excitement caused b)' the news that Booth 
had been shot by Sergeant Corbett on 
Garrett's farm, near Port Royal on the Rap- 
liahannock. 

.After serving in a]l four years ant! seven 
months. Sergeant Durgin receiveil his dis- 
charge in November, 1865, and returned to 
.Stoneham. Settling in North Stoneham, he 
remained there four years, working at farming 
and lumbering. He was subse(|uently engaged 
in turning spools in a mill in Stowe, this 
county, where he remained one year, and for 
nine months. working in a clothespin factory 
in Chatham, N.IL Then for eighteen or 
nineteen years he was engagetl in turning 
spools at North Lovell. At the end of that 
time he settled on the farm where he now 
lives, and has since given his attention chiefly 
to agriculture, except one year spent at Al- 
bany, N.H., turning spotds. He has forty- 
five acres of farming land, and he owns timber 
land in different parts of the county. He has 
been very successful as a farmer and stock 
raiser; but he is unable to do much acti\'e 
work, on account of his ankle, ami is now re- 
ceiving a pension from the government. A 
stanch Republican, Sergeant Durgin takes an 
active interest in politics. He is now serv- 
ing his eighth term as Noble Grand in Cres- 
cent Lodge, No. 25, Independent Order of 
Odd F"ellows, of North Lovell; and he is a 
comrade of Parker Post, No. 151, Grand 
Army of the Re]niblic, at Lovell Centre. 



fOSIAH G. ADAALS, who owns and 
conducts one of the most productive 
farms in Fast Wilton, was born in the 
neighborhood of his present residence, 
August 3, 1833, son of Je|)htbah H. ami Han- 
nah (Green) Adams. His paternal grand- 
parents were Moses and Martha (Kinney; 
Adams. Jephthah H. Adams was born in 
Bowdoinham, Sagadahoc County, in 1706. 
He served as a soldier in the War of i cS 1 2 
while still a \'outh, and his wife receised a 



442 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



]_)L'iisii)n fiiini the gnvcnimciit after hi.s death. 
Having acquired a good district school educa- 
tion he was quite noted as a schoolmaster in 
his (la\'. -After residing for a few years upon 
a farm in the western part of this town he 
bought in March, 1S23, the farm now owned 
by Mr. Newman. The buildings upon this 
estate were erected by him. He owned in all 
some one hundred and seventy-five acres of 
land. ()riginally a Whig in iiolitics he subse- 
quently i<iined the Republican ]3arty, and held 
various town offices, but declined most of the 
nominations tendered him. Jephthah Adams 
died in 1872, regretted as a model farmer and 
a progressive citizen. He married Hannah 
Green, who was born in Wilton in 1799, 
daughter (jf Josiah Green, a native of Dun- 
stable, Mass. (A more extended account of 
Mr. Adams's maternal ancestors will be found 
in the sketch of Charles L. Green.) Mrs. 
Jejihthah Adams was the mother of twelve 
children; namely, Ale.xis, L)'dia li. , Hannah, 
Jefferson J., Albion K. P., Nathaniel R., 
Betsey D., Dorcas, Josiah G., Flavilla S. , 
Jonas G., and William D. Jefferson, Albion, 
Nathaniel, and Jonas G. served as soldiers in 
the Civil War. The mother died in 181S6. 

Josiah G. Adams attended the district 
schools and resided at home until he was 
twenty years old. He then went to Ashland, 
Mass., where he was employed at A. Tilton's 
shoe factory for three )'ears, during which time 
he operated the first w-a.xed-thread machine 
introduced in the United States. From Ash- 
land he went to Minnesota upon a prospecting 
trip, and while there was engaged to some 
extent in the lumberintr business. Not having 
been favorably impressed with the people he 
returned to the East. Settling in Dixtield, 
Oxford County, he bought a farm, which he 
subsequently sold after carrying it on for eight 
years. He then came to Wilton and pur- 
chased the I'rescott farm of seventy acres. 
This farm is a part of the property originally 
owned by his father, and was later occupied bv 
Mr. Adams's brother, who erected the present 
buildings. These latter he has remodelled 
and enlarged, besides making other improve- 
ments. He keeps twelve head of fine Jersey 
stock, carries on the butchering business, both 
wholesale and retail, and rears a number of 



horses. He also handles an agricultural de- 
vice known as a horse fork, one hundred and 
fifty of which he has sold in this and adjoining 
towns. 

On April 5, i860, Mr. Adams wedded Ellen 
R. Staples, who was born November 18, 1836, 
daughter of Ansel and Rebecca Staples, of 
Dixfield. Mrs. Adams's father was a pioneer 
settler and a prominent resident of Dixfield. 
Mr. and Mrs. Adams have had four children. 
Their elde.st child, Amy E., born June 7, 
1861, who commenced teaching when she was 
fourteen years old, has been engaged in that 
occupation for thirty-six terms; Wellen died 
at the age of eighteen months; Albion L. , 
who was born May 16, 1868, is now employed 
by H. C. Baxter & }?rother of Brunswick, 
Me. ; and Harry H., who was born August 10, 
1876, graduated from the Shaw Business Col- 
lege, and is now engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. Politically, Mr. Adams acts with the 
Republican party. His natural abilit}- joined 
to his personal characteristics has gained the 
sincere good-will and esteem of the entire 
community. He and Mrs. Adams attend the 
Universal ist church. 



Xf RANK H. NOYES, of the firm of 

r* Noyes & Andrews, Norway, Me., large 

dealers in dry goods and clothing, was 

boiai in this town, Januaiy 17, 1856, son of 

Amos !•". and Lydia F. (Hobbs) Noyes. 

Ward Noyes, the father of Amos F., settled 
in Norway in 1800. He was a carpenter by 
trade, and a large number of the houses and 
barns of that day were erected by him or 
under his supervision. He was born in An- 
dover, Mass., in 1772, and died in Norway in 
1822. He married Miss Clarissa Wood, also 
a native of Andover, who was born in 1776, 
and died in 1840. They were the parents of 
eleven children, of whom four sons and four 
daughters grew to maturity; namely, Alice 
B., Ward, Sophia, Harriet N., Clarissa, 
Amos F., David F., and George. 

Amos F. Noyes was born in Norway, De- 
cember 14, 1812. He became the owner of a 
fine farm in this town, and spent the greater 
part of his working period of life profitably 
engaged in agricultural inirsuits. Shortly 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



443 



after the beginning of the Civil War, although 
then past the age when military service was 
required, he responded to the call of Presi- 
dent Lincoln for troops to defend the L^nion. 
He was made I-'irst Lieutenant of Company 
G, Fourteenth Maine Regiment on December 
12, iS6i, antl resigned his commission on 
June 14, 1862. After a few months, on Oc- 
tober 17, 1862, he again entered service as 
Captain of Company H, and was discharged 
with the regiment on July 15, 1863. He be- 
came the Captain of Company 15 of the Thirty- 
second Maine Regiment on March 10, 1864, 
was wounded May 18, and, on account of the 
consolidation of the regiments, was honorably 
discharged on December i, 1864. Having 
sold his farm and purchased a residence in 
Norway, he is now living quietly, enjoying 
good health and the society of a large circle 
of acquaintances. He is a Republican in pol- 
itics, and has served six years as Selectman. 
He is an honored member of the Masonic 
order, also of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic. His wife, Mrs. Lydia F. Hobbs Noyes, 
who was born June 2"], 18 14, died I'ebruary 
9, 1895. She was a daughter of Jeremiah 
Hobbs, Jr. Cajitain and Mrs. Noyes had 
three sons and seven daughters; namely, 
Amos Oscar, Lorenzo H., Georgianna, Marcia, 
Elizabeth F., Catherine IL, Clara A.. Lydia 
E., Frank H., and Wealthy H. 

As a boy, Frank H. Noyes attended the 
common schools of Norway. When fourteen 
years of age he entered the drug store of his 
brother, A. Oscar Noyes, for whom he worked 
five years. The constant indoor confinement 
having proved injurious to his health, he took 
a vacation, spending much of his time in the 
open air, and in a few months had so far re- 
covered that he was able to accept a position 
in a grocery store at Mechanics Falls, and 
later on he held a similar position at Paris. 
In 1876 he started a grocery store on the old 
bakery stand in Norway, remaining there a 
year, then removing to the old Shackley stand 
at the head of Main Street, where he carried 
on his business for three years. Having 
erected a new store, the one now occupied by 
Henry Bangs, he moved into it, and remained 
until 1886, when failing health compelled 
him to again take a season of rest. His con- 



ilition was such that he had little hope uf liv- 
ing beyond a few weeks at the must, and he 
accordingly put his affairs in order: hut le- 
lease from business cares and outdoor exercise 
again wrought a cure so that in a compara- 
tively short time he was once more able to le- 
sume business, and in company with 1' W. 
Judkins he opened a gentlemen's clothing 
store. 

Some time after, he purchased his [lartner's 
interest, and carried on the business alone up 
to 1892, when he formed a co-partncrshii) with 
L. B. Andrews, and started a dry-goods store 
in the Beals Block. They soon found they 
had not sufficient room for their business, and 
moved into the Noyes Block. In January, 
1894, they purchased the T. L. Weeks Blue 
Store, and added a large line of gentlemen's 
furnishings, including ready-made clothing, 
hats antl caps; also adding a custom depart- 
ment. They to-day carry the largest line of 
clothing and gentlemen's furnishings in the 
county, and their dry-goods department also is 
quite extensive, employing from five to eight 
clerks. In addition to his mercantile business 
Mr. Noyes has dealt to a considerable extent 
in real estate, and invested in such enterprises 
as have helped in the progress of the commu- 
nity, owning stock in the shoe factory and 
water works, and being a Trustee of the .Sav- 
ings Bank. 

On January 14, 1877, Mr. Noyes was mar- 
ried to Miss FLlla .\. Bennett, a daughter of 
James C. Bennett, of this town. They reside 
on Crescent Street in a substantial ami attrac- 
tive house which Mr. Noyes owns. In politi- 
cal affiliation Mr. Noyes is a Re|Hiblican. 
He has served as Selectman and Corporation 
Assessor. F'raternally, he is a member of 
Norway Lodge, No. 16, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows; Wiley Encampment, Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows; and Wellington 
Hobbs Camp, Sons of Veterans. 



BR EPHRAIM CALVIN WALKER, 
a noted veterinary surgeon of the 
town of Norway, Oxford County, 
has a wide reputation as an expert 
practitioner, thoroughly acquainted with the 
different branches of his profession. He was 



444 



bio(;raphical review 



born September 26, 1847, in Denmark, Me., 
son of Daniel Walker, and is a grandson of 
J^phraim Walker, an earlv settler of Albany, 
X.H. 

Ephraim Walker and bis wife, I\Iar\ Wood- 
man, were both natives of Wolfeboro, N. H., 
where they lived until after their marriage. 
They then removed to Albany in that State, 
there engaging in farming for a time, after 
which they came to Maine, locating in the 
town of Denmark, where the grandfather 
cleared and improved a homestead. Both 
lived to a ripe old age, he dying in his 
eighty-fifth year, and she in her eighty- 
seventh. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, as follows: Eli, Daniel, and Orin, now 
deceased; Lorenzo, a farmer in Fryeburg, who 
first married Judith Charles, and after her 
death married Caroline Sands: Charles, who 
died while in the army; Richard, in Pennsyl- 
vania; Sarah, widow of the late Ephraim San- 
born, living with her children in Denmark, 
Me.; Benjamin, a minister of the gospel, who 
is preaching near Johnstown, Pa. ; and George, 
who died in 1895. 

Daniel Walker, the second son, lived for 
many years of his earlier life in Albany 
X.H., where he ran a saw-mill. He subse- 
quently engaged in agricultural pursuits in the 
town of Denmark, this State, living there 
until 1854, when he removed to Stoneham, 
another O.xford County town, a few miles 
north, and there continued in the same occu- 
pation nine years. Going thence to Xorth 
Lovell, bordering on the town of Stoneham, 
he carried on farming si.x years, with the ex- 
ception of the months from March, 1864, until 
the close of the War of the Rebellion, when 
he was in the Federal army. .Subsequently 
buying land in Norway Centre, he carried on 
general farming until his death, January 29, 
1885. He married Julia Ann Walker, a 
daughter of Robert and .Sallie (Martin) 
Walker, the latter of whom was born in the 
town of Denmark, Me., and the former in 
Kennebuuk, where he spent his life in agri- 
cultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 
Walker had a family of seven children, 
namely: Mary Ellen; Malora Edward, who 
died at the age of two years; Ephraim Cal- 
vin; Jennie I.; Daniel; Laura; and Austin, 



who died at nineteen. Mary Ellen first mar- 
ried William Etter, who died in the army, 
and she is now the wife of William Nelson, 
formerly of Nova Scotia, but now of Lynn, 
Mass; Jennie L is thfe wife of Levi L. Pierce, 
a tanner by trade, but now engaged in, farming 
at Rockland, Mass.; Daniel, who lives in 
South Paris with his children, married the 
late Melissa Judkins; Laura has been five 
times married. Her first husband was Ros- 
vvell Sylvester; her second, Henry Sawyer; 
her third, Charles Smith; the fourth, Ed 
Copeland. Her present husband is the pro- 
prietor of a wholesale and retail store in 
Lynn, Mass. Dr. Walker's mother died in 
August, 1882, and his father afterward mar- 
ried Mrs. Jane M. Williams. 

Ephraim C. Walker acquired his general 
education in the common schools, and some 
time afterward obtained his professional 
equipment at the Veterinary College of Lynn, 
Mass., where he pursued a thorough course of 
study, and was graduated March 5, 1875. 
After receiving his diploma. Dr. Walker 
located in Norway Centre, and during his resi- 
dence there he built up a good practice. 
Being burned out in 1886, he then removed 
to Noble's Corner, and, buying a farm, erected 
a house, and made other substantial improve- 
ments. In 1889 Dr. Walker purchased his 
present propert}-, known as the Highland 
Blueberry Farm, containing seventy acres of 
land, on which he has since resided, carrying 
on general farming in addition to attending to 
his professional duties. He is the only 
veterinary surgeon in this part of O.xford 
County, and has a very extensive business, 
which takes him to all parts of the State. 
He has had a varied experience as a practi- 
tioner, and is considered eminent authority on 
all diseases of cattle and horses, having been 
very successful in his treatment of the cases 
to which he has been called, especially in per- 
forming delicate and difificult operations. 
The Doctor compounds his own medicines, 
such as Walker's Blistering Ointment for 
ringbone and bone spavin. Walker's Liniment 
for sprains and lameness, and Walker's Condi- 
tion Powders, in the sale of which he has a 
large business, their merits being recognized 
by the public generally. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



44,: 



Dr. Walker was married to Mrs. Ilannali 
J. (Reed) Brown, widow of John Brown, of 
Norton, Mass. Mrs. Walker was born in 
Norton, a dauf;hter of Lorenzo and Jane M. 
Reed. Her father die'd when she was an 
infant; and her mother subsequently married 
first Bradish Williams, who died January 
28, 1869; and second, Daniel Walker, the 
Doctor's father. Since the death of her third 
husband Mrs. Jane M. Walker has lived in 
Stoneham, Me., with her brother. Dr. and 
Mrs. Walker have three children, namely: 
Dellbert C, born August 19, 1882: Guy L., 
born February 24. 1884; and Richard A., born 
Mav 21, 1 888. 



bjV]<:RETT FOSTER, engineer on the 
pl Maine Central Railroad, and a well- 
'^^ -^ - '' known and highly respected resident 
of West Farmington, Me., was born on the 
20th of November, 1S37, in the town of Leeds, 
Me., the son of Timothy and Nancy (Morse) 
Foster. 

Mr. Foster is a grandson of Stephen Foster, 
who was born in Winthrop, this State, and 
who was among the early settlers of the town 
of Leeds, where he bought a tract of land, 
and, clearing a portion of it, erected some 
stanch farm buildings. Leeds, at that period 
of its e.xistence, was little more than a w^ilder- 
ness, and it was no small thing to become a 
pioneer in such a place in those days. Stephen 
I-'oster was very industrious and capable, and 
naturally became a very well-to-do man. He 
died on his own farm at an advanced age. 

Timothy Foster, son of Stephen, early in 
life learned the trade of a shoemaker, but cir- 
cumstances [)revented him from giving much 
of his time to it, as he was greatly needed at 
home, where he took care of his parents in 
their declining years, besides carrying on the 
farm, and doing a large business in shingles, 
manufacturing them himself on the place. 
Inheriting the homestead on the death of his 
parents, he made many improvements, remod- 
elling and repairing the buildings, and gener- 
ally enriching the farm and increasing its 
value. 

He died in 1867, at the age of seventy- 
nine years and seven months; and liis wife 



died in 1874, al the age of eighty-six years 
anil nine months. They had twelve children, 
as follows: Alonzo Foster, born July 21, 
1808; Aurelia, born July 14, 1810; William 
H., M;irch 20, 1812: Leonard, July 2, 1814; 
Lydia, June 9, 1816; Hannah .A., September 
2, 1821; Ward L., January 17, 1823: Charles 
R., February 14, 1825; Mai')- Ann, Novem- 
ber 14, T826; Martha L., June 4, 1828; Eme- 
line, July 21, 18^2: Everett, November 20, 

1837-' 

Everett Foster, who was the youngest born 
of the twelve childr-en, was etlucated al the 
district schools of his native town and at the 
Lewiston High .School, afterward going onto 
the farm, and helping his father in agricult- 
ural labors. He was thus emj^loyed until he 
had arrived .at the age of twenty-eight years 
when he came to West Farmington, and went 
into the machine shop of the Maine Central 
Railroad. Here he spent thi-ee years learning 
the ti'ade of a machinist and engineer; and in 
1867 he was given charge of an engine run- 
ning from F"arrington to Lewiston, drawing a 
freight train. The position was a more oi- 
less responsible one, and Mr. I'oster filled it 
faithfully for ten years. In 1879 he was 
promoted to the management of the engine of 
an express and passenger train from I'arming- 
ton to Lewiston, Me., and later running from 
Farmington to Portland. This position he 
has filled ever since that time with the utmost 
satisfaction to his emplo)^ers. It is moreover 
worthy of note that, in all the years that he 
has passed in the employ of the Maine Central 
Railroad, he has never received a single repri- 
mand, or been i-eproved for the least negli- 
gence. He has never had any accitlent that 
was at all serious, or in any wa\' due to his 
lack of vigilance and care. 

Mr. F"oster married Miss Myrtie ,\. Morse, 
the daughter of J. Lewis and Anna J. (Lyford) 
Morse, of Livermore P'alls, Me. In 1S66 he 
bought land of Thomas Davis on Water .Street, 
in the town of West Farmington, and built a 
substantial set of buildings on the same. 
Here he has lived ever since 1866, and has 
made many friends and acquaintances in the 
neighborhood. 

Mr. Foster is a constant attendant of the 
Free Will Baptist church, and has been one of 



446 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



the rnistees of tliat institution for three 
years. Mis wife is a member of the Metho- 
dist I{]:)iscopal church. Both are well known, 
and are justly popular and prominent members 
of society in the town in which they live. 
After the death of his father, Mr. Foster's 
mother lived with him, till she, too, passed 
away. 




[ATIO CHAXDL1<:R, a prosperous 
t;jeneral farmer and real estate owner 
of Sumner, Me., is a native of this 
town. He was born July 7, 1S35, 
son of Stephen and Lovina (Gray) Chandler. 
His paternal grandfather, Mlijah Chandler, 
who was a native of Massachusetts, settled 
among the ])ioneers of the town of Minot, An- 
droscoggin County. A hardworking and suc- 
cessful farmer, he died here at a good old age. 
His wife also lived a long and useful life. 
Both were members of the Baptist church. 
They reared a family of four children — .Allen; 
Betsey ; another daughter, who became Mrs. 
Record; and Stephen, who was the father of 
the subject of this sketch. 

Stephen Chandler was born in Minot, Au- 
gust 16, 1793. He was reared to farm life 
and labors, and settling in Sumner he bought 
the farming property now owned by George G. 
Whitman. Here he was actively engaged in 
tilling the soil until his death, which took 
place January 8, 1863. He was one of the 
stirring men of his locality. Honest and up- 
right, through toil and industry he acquired a 
good estate, and was held in high regard by 
his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. Relig- 
iously, he was a Baptist, and, politically, a 
Democrat. His wife, Lovina Gray, who was 
born in Paris, Me., November 21, 1794, be- 
came the mother of six children, as follows: 
Vesta Walker, born June 2, 1820, who died 
May 10, 1857; AugLista, who was born Au- 
gust 28, 1 82 1, and is now Mrs. Bates, of West 
Sumner; Sanford, born October 31, 1823, now 
residing in California; Horatio, first, born 
May 4, 1827, who died March 29, 1832: Han- 
nibal, born May 7, 1830, who died in Septem- 
ber, 1852; and Horatio, second, the subject 
of this sketch. 

Horatio Chandler was educated in the ilis- 



trict schools, and, after completing his stud- 
ies, he began to assist in carrying on the 
farm. At the age of twenty-one he acquired 
an interest in the paternal homestead, which 
eventually fell to his possession; and, selling 
it after his father's death, he bought his pres- 
ent home farm of one hundred and fifty acres. 
He has made good use of his means and op- 
portunities, managing his affairs judiciously, 
and has bought other lands in this town, his 
holdings in all amounting to two hundred and 
twenty-five acres. 

On December 4, 1857, Mr. Chandler was 
united in marriage with L^mily Dunham, who 
was born in North Paris, April 9, 1S37, 
daughter of Sylvanus and Esther Dunham. 
Mrs. Chandler is the mother of eight children, 
as follows: Ella A., born May 17, 1858, now 
the wife of Rodney Chandler, of South Paris; 
Elsie G., born June 15, 1861, who married G. 
Horace Barrows, of Sumner, and has two chil- 
dren living, — namely, Nellie C, and Charlie 
A.; Jennie E., born February 4, 1864, who is 
now the wife of C. AI. Thomas, of Sumner, 
and has one child, Arthur M. ; Herbert H., 
born February 16, 1866, now foreman of the 
shoe shops at the Massachusetts State Prison; 
Frank L. , who was born May 12, 1868, and is 
now a shoemaker in Haverhill, Mass.; James 
E., born November 12, 1871, now engaged in 
teaching and farming in Sumner; Fred M., 
born July 4, 1875, who also is a farmer of this 
town; Alice M., born March 31, 1880, resid- 
ing at home. Mr. Chandler is considered as 
one of the leading representative farmers and 
progressive citizens of Sumner. He is a 
member of the South Paris Grange, No. 44, 
Patrons of Husbandry. He acts with the 
Democratic party in politics, and both he and 
Mrs. Chandler are liberal in their religious 
views. 




R.AXK L. WARREN, a repre.sentative 
farmer of Hartford, O.xford County, 
Me., son of David and Phcebe (Libby) 
Warren, was born February 4, 1S49, on the 
farm where he now lives. His father was born 
in Buckfield, Me., and his mother in Saco, 
York County. 

LI is paternal grandfather, David Warren, 









t-i*!t:' 




,»^^ 



SAMUEL W. DUNHAM. 



hioCtRai'hical review 



449 



Sr. , was one of the pioiK'cis ol Hucklklil, 
Init ill 1S05 or 1806 he came to- Hartford and 
settled on the farm which his grandson owns 
and which was then jM-actically unimiiroved. 
He died here at a good age. For eleven terms 
he served as a Representative to the General 
Court in Boston, and he also held the office of 
Jwstice of the Peace. David Warren, son of 
David, .Sr., spent his life on this farm. lie 
died at si.\ty-tvvo years of age, and Phcebe, his 
wife, at eighty-four. l^oth w-ere members of 
the Free Will Baptist church, and in piditics 
he was a Republican. They were the jiarents 
of one son and three daughters, but only the 
son, Frank I.., is living. The daughters were : 
Alary, Emily, and Lucy. 

Frank I.. Warren, wdio is the direct subject 
of the present sketch, was a mere boy when 
deprived of his father's care. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools of Hartford and 
East Sumner. Since then he has given his 
attention to general farming, cultivating the 
soil and keeiiing stock. He also deals in 
srain and fertilizers. Me owns about three 
hundred acres of land. 

On September i, 1889, Mr. Warren married 
Louella J. Hersey, the daughter of Henry B. 
Hersey. Three children live to bless their 
union; namely, Mary A., Hersey, and George 
L. Mrs. Warren is a member of the Congre- 
gational church, and Mr. Warren is of the lib- 
eral faith in religion. In political affiliation 
he is a Republican, and for seven years has 
served his town as Selectman, being the pres- 
ent Chairman of the Board. He was also a 
member of the House of Representatives in the 
year 1893. He is a member of Neginscot 
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 
Buckfield. 




'AMUEL W. DUNHAM, a retired 
merchant living at West Paris, was 
born in Woodstock, this county, Feb- 
ruary 8, 1828, son of Sylvanus and 
Esther (Benson) Dunham. His grandfather, 
Asa Dunham, was one of the early settlers of 
Norway. Asa was a farniei' by occupation, 
served in the War of 1S12, and died in Bur- 
lington, \'t. Lydia (Cobl^) Dunham, his wife, 
was between ninety-seven and ninety-eight 



)eais of age wlien she died. Theii' family 
consisted of eleven chiUhen, all ol whom grew 
up, but none survive. 

Sylvanus Dunham, born in Norway, Me., 
July 9, 1795, w'ho grew to manhood in Nor- 
way and Paris, in early life turned his atten- 
tion to general farming. When only twenty- 
two or twenty-three years of age he niox-ed 
into the woods of Woodstoi'k, took up a tract 
of wild land, cleared a ten-acre lot, and built 
a log house, in which he lived for several 
years. He subsequenth' removed to the town 
of Paris, purchased land, and carried on gen- 
eral farming until his death, which occurred 
May 4, 1879. He was a hard-working man, 
and, being a good manager, his labors brought 
him good returns. P'rom the foimation of the 
Republican- party he was one of its stanch sup- 
porters; and he was a member of the Baptist 
church. His wife, who was a nati\'e of Paris, 
born November i S, 1800, bore liim ele\-en 
children, of wdioni five have passed away, 
namely: Lydia and Polly, who died yoimg ; 
William; Jackson; and Augusta, who lived to 
be twenty-two years old. The living are: 
Laura, widow of John Reed, of West Paris; 
Samuel W. , the subject of this sketch; Joseph 
H., living in North Paris; P'mily, the wife of 
Hoi-atio Chandler, of Sumner, Me. ; Welling- 
ton W. , residing in North Paris; and Anna, 
the widow of James Rowel 1, late of North Paris. 

Samuel W. Dunham spent the early years of 
his life in North Paris, and was educated in 
the district schools of that town. At the age 
of twenty-one he started for himself. A year 
later he bought the old homestead, and there- 
after carried on general farming for seveial 
years. He then sold it and purchased other 
land. Later in life he conducted a general 
store in North Paris for about twenty-two 
years, and a milling business in West and 
North Paris for several years. Selling out in 
1884 to James Bird he came to West Paris, 
where he is now living in retirement. He 
was Postmaster of North Paris for si.xteen years. 

On March i, 1849, Mr. Dunham was mar- 
ried to Miss Rachel E. Andrews, who was 
.born in Woodstock, this county, December 18, 
1829, daughter of the Rev. Ziba and Thankful 
(Washburn) Andrews. Her father, who was 
a Calvinistic Baptist preacher, was born in 



45 « 



lU OG R A P H [ C A L R E V I F.W 



I'.ui^, (Jctobcr 24, uSo6, ami died May 10, 
iM.SS, Ilcr mother was born in Hebron, 
Ml-., .Sc|)tciiiber 10, 1S05, and died Novem- 
ber 29, 1876. They had twelve children, 
of whom six, besides ]\Irs. Dunham, arc 
livinji, nanielv : Isaac \V. Andrews, of Wood- 
stock; Anna F. l-lllingwood, of West Paris; 
the Rev. John C. Andrew's, a Haptist minister 
located in Utah; Lizzie Carlton, M.D. , of 
Hrookline, Mass. ; Lottie D. 15enson, of South 
Weymouth, Mass. ; and Charles A. Andrews, 
of Buckfield, Me. Those who have passed 
away aie: C_\'rena, born May 22, 1826, who 
died June 23, iS2<S; Alvesa, born January 22, 
1S28, who died September 24, 1852; Morton 
C. , born .Xpril 22, 1834, who died October 23, 
1853; Ziba, born November 9, 1847, who died 
I'"ebruary 13, 1871 ; and C\'nthia, born October 
22, 1850, who died November 5, 1851. I\L-. 
and Mrs. Dunham have hatl ten children. 
These were: Hiram W. , born October 27, 
1850, merchant and the Postmaster of North 
i'aris; Cynthia K. Cintis, born September 13, 
1852, who died July 15, 1885; Lineas I\L , 
born ( )ctober 4, 1855, who died December 7, 
1864; Charles W., born Jul)- i, 1857, a whole- 
sale and retail boot and shoe dealer of Prattle- 
boro, \'t. ; George L. , born June 15, 1859, 
who is in business with liis brother; Horatio 
R., born January 16, 1861, who is a clothier of 
Water\-ille, Me. ; Lizzie A., born June 29, 
1864, who died May 26, 1867; Lilly A., born 
March S, 1866, who died April '28, 1866; 
Lyndon L., born Ju]\- 7, 1868, who li\-es at 
15ellows l'"alls, \'t. , and is a member of the 
boot and shoe firm of Dunham ]-!rothers; and 
Fannie I*"., born Januaiy 10, 1872, unmarried, 
who is lixing at \V'est Paris. -The father casts 
his \-ote with the Republican ]iarty. He is a 
member of Granite Lodge, No. 182, A. F. & 
A. M., at West Paris; of West Paris Lodge, 
No. 15, Independent Order of Odd F'ellows, 
at West Paris; and of the Rebecca Lotlge. In 
religious belief he is a Universalist. 



'l'AVl-:i.L GOFF, a lirst-elass farmer 
of the town of Mexico, O.xford 
County, Me., was the first child 
born within the present city limits 
if .Xiiliurn, the date of his birth beint: Linuarv 




15, 1824. His ]iarents were James, Jr., and 
Rachel (Brown) Goff ; and his grandfather was 
James Goff, Sr. , who served as a patriot soldier 
during the Revolutionary War, becoming Ser- 
geant at the early age of sixteen, and after the 
war settled in Yarmouth, but finalh' went to 
West Minot on a farm. 

His son, James Goff, Jr., a native of Minot, 
lived on the farm, and was a merchant for a 
short time in Stephen's Mills. He was prom- 
inently iilentified with the history of Auburn, 
where he was engaged in business for a great 
many years, opening the first store, and doing 
much to promote the growth of the city. Mr. 
Goff owned most of the land on the present 
site, but at an early date he sold the greater 
part of it for building lots. The returns from 
this sale made him wealthy. James and Goff 
Streets were named for him. He was the 
largest contributor to the building of the L'ni- 
versalist church, being a member of that so- 
ciety. Mr. James Goff enlisted in the latter 
]5art of the War of 181 2, but was not in active 
serx'ice. He li\ed to be seventy-six years of 
age. The maiden name of his wife was 
Rachel Brown. She was a native of North 
Yarmouth, Me., and a respected member of 
the LTniversalist church. Her earthly course 
was ended at the age of fifty-eight years. 

Sewell Goff spent his early manhood work- 
ing on the farm with his father; but in 1857 
removed to Williamsburg, Me., where he was 
engaged in farming for six years. Returning 
to Auburn he devoted his energies to the stone 
business for six 3'ears more, subsequently buy- 
ing a fine agricultural estate of six hundred 
acres on Swift River, where he now lives. 
This is one of the most desirable farms in the 
town of Mexico, and Mr. Goff is one of the 
largest tax payers. 

In politics he is a stanch Republican, being 
at present (1896) Chairman of the Republican 
Committee in this town. He has also offi- 
ciated for a great number of years as Select- 
man. Having led a good life, Mr. Goff grows 
old gracefully, being well jireserved and active 
at the age of seventy-two. On March 4, 1845, 
on the day of James K. Polk's inauguration at 
Washington, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Sarah Ham, of Lewiston, Me. Their 
union has been blessed b\- the followin"; 



B I ()C. R A I ' H K ■ A 1 . R FA' I VM' 



children: Marcia, wh" died at the aj^c of 
twenty-six; Wallace, who passed away at the 
age of seventeen ; Sewcll, who did not outlive 
liis infancy; Albion, a farmer in this town; 
Inlia. who married R. L. Taylor, also a resi- 
dent of this place; Rachel, who married 1-'. R. 
Reed, civil engineer of this county, residing at 
Rumford I''alls; and Sadie, wife of Jolm Reed, 
a farmer and mill owner of Oxford County. 



AMES M. DAY, a well-known native 
resident of Rryant's I'ond, Woodstock 
township, ex-Deputy Sheriff of Oxford 
County, was born on the 31st of July, 
1852, the son of Elijah and Mahala F. (Jack- 
son) Day. 

The first of the name in Woodstock was his 
grandfather, Alexander Day, who came to this 
place from Kennebunk. His wife, Mercy 
Dacey Day, came from Roland. They settled 
about a mile below where the pi'esent home- 
stead is located. Their son, Elijah Day, was 
born on the 3d of September, 1820. He re- 
ceived his early education in the public 
schools ot Woodstock, and spent his entire 
life following the occupation of a farmer. 
He was married on the 1 2th of September, 
1848, to Mahala F. Jackson, the daughter of 
Benjamin Jackson, a general farmer of Wood- 
stock. From this union were born four chil- 
dren — Belinda, who is now the wife of 
Gaveston Cole, who is a resident of Green- 
wood; James M., about whom this biograph- 
ical notice is written; Flmogene C, the wife 
of James H. F'arnum, of Woodstock; and Ben- 
jamin F-ranklin, who died at the age of eleven 
months. 

The original farm bought by Alexander Day 
comprisetl about one hunilred and fifty acres; 
but his son FLlijah worked hard, and finally, 
by dint of immense expenditure of energy, 
and by careful calculation and indomitable 
will, brought it up to the large extent of four 
hundred and eighty acres of arable land, and 
three hundred acres more of valuable wild ter- 
ritory. 

James M. Day spent his boyhood days on 
his father's farm, and received his education 
in the public schools of Woodstock. At the 
age of twenty-three years he started in life for 



himself, carrying on a general shipping busi- 
ness from the almost limitless resources of the 
farm, dealing almost exclusively with the 
products of the great estate. 

He was married on the 1st of March. 1874, 
to ICtta A. Cole, a daughter of William II. 
Cole, a farmer and merchant of Woodstock. 
15v this marriage he became the father of one 
child, Matoira 1".., who was born on the sixth 
anniversarv of the marriage of her parents, 
March i, i88[. 

Both Elijah Day and his son James, who 
live together on the old homestead, are true 
Republicans in politics. The latter favors 
the Universalist church, and his father is a 
liberal man in religious matters, not being 
connected with any particular denomination. 

James M_. Day is a member of Jefferson 
Lodge, No." 100, A. !•". & A. M.. of Bryant's 
I'ond; of Christopher Lake Commandery, 
Knights Templars; GoKlen Cross Society of 
Bryant's ro)id : and F'ranklin Grange, Patrons 
of Husbandry, No. 55, of 15ryant's Pond. He 
held the office of Deputy Sheriff of Oxford 
County from 1 880 to 1884, and was the in- 
cumbent of the office of Tax Collector ot the 
county from 1878 to 1SS2. All that he and 
his father own has been made b\- hard lalior 
and continuous industry, and they may well 
be proud of the fact that their success is the 
result of self-helii. 



f5]Y*'-'^"L'A !•:. COIT.INS, a well-known 
carriage manufacturer and general 
blacksmith of Knowlton's Corner, 
]''armington, was born l^'ebruary 13, 
1857, in New Sharon, this county, son of 
F2ben and Jennie (Sherman) Collins. His 
grandfather, Lemuel Collins, a native ol Cape 
Cod, Mass., who in young manhooi.1 settled 
upon a tract of unimproved land in New 
Sharon, reclaimed a good farm, and resided 
there for the rest of his life. Lemuel was 
successful both as a farmer and a business 
man, and lived to an advanced age. He mar- 
ried Sally Greenleaf, who reared three chil- 
dren, and lived to a good old age. 

ICben G. Collins, Mr. Collins's father, was a 
native of New Sharon. I'ptni reaching man- 
hood he took charge ol the home farm, and 



45^ 



lUOGKAl'lIICAL REVIEW 



cared lor his parents during their declining 
years. Succeeding to the property, he contin- 
ued to resitle there until iS6i, when he sold 
it and bought a farm in Starks, Me. This 
after a short time he also dis]3osed of, and re- 
movetl to Intlustry, where he was engaged in 
farming for four years. From Industry he 
moved to the Craig farm, situated in the 
northern part of Farmington. Selling that 
pro]5erty in turn, he bought the McKeen farm 
at Farmington Falls, where his last years 
were passed. He died in i S94, aged seventy- 
four. He was an able, industrious farmer, 
and a useful, n]iright citizen; and his chil- 
dren had from him the advantage of a com- 
fortable home and a good education. In poli- 
tics he was a Republican, while in religion he 
w-as a Methodist. His wife, Jennie, became 
the mother of si.\ children, namely: Joshua 
E., the subject of this sketch; Hersey J., 
Joshua's twin l)rother: Carrie; Gardner J.; 
Ellen D. ; and .Anna E. Mr. Collins's mother 
is now si.vty-nine years old. 

Having acc[uired his education in the com- 
mon schools, Joshua E. Collins served an ap- 
prenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. After 
working as a journevman for four years he 
bought the William Page property at Farm- 
ington Falls, and engaged in business for 
himself. At a later date he sold this prop- 
erty, and moved to Auburn, Me., where he 
followed his trade for a year. From there he 
went to Philadelphia, Pa., where he was em- 
])loyed for four years. Returning then to 
P"armington, he carried on business for him- 
self for about three years. At the expiration 
of that time he bought the Knowlton property 
at Knowlton's Corner, comprising one hun- 
dred and si.xty acres of land, with good build- 
ings, and excellent facilities for carrying on 
the general blacksmith business. After estab- 
lishing himself here as a general blacksmith 
he began the manufacture of light Concord 
wagons and sleighs, an enterprise which is 
l)roving very profitable. He is also engaged 
in general farming and dairying, and keeps a 
heril of fine Jersey cows. His orchard, which 
is one of the largest in this vicinity, has sev- 
eral choice varieties of grafted fruits, and 
brings him a gootl income. 

On November 20, 187C, Mr. Collins wedded 



Belle F. Knowlton, daughter of John and 
Romelia (Conner) Knowlton, late of this 
town. John Knowlton, Mrs. Collins's great- 
grandfather, was a general farmer and carriage- 
maker in this locality, which bears his name, 
and was widely known as a local preacher and 
an exemplary citizen. He married Sally 
Green; and his son John, Mrs. Collins's 
grandfather, was born at Knowlton's Corner, 
June 17, 1820. Besides following his father's 
trade he tilled the soil. He was a lifelong 
resident of Knowlton's Corner, and left be- 
hind him an honorable record as a worthy and 
useful citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have 
had two children, namely: Donald K., who 
died in infancy; and Sarah May, who was 
born June 5, 1889. Mr. Collins is one of the 
leading spirits in the organization of Good 
Templars here, and he is connected with the 
Knights of Pythias Lodge, in which he has 
held all of the important chairs. In politics 
he supports the Republican party, and in re- 
ligion he is a Congregationalist. 




VRUS SHAW TUCKER. — For 
nearly a century has the name of 
Tucker been prominently identified 
with the manufacturing interests of 
the town of Norway, Me. ; and Cyrus S. 
Tucker is the third saddler and harness-maker 
of his family. He was born in Norway, Oc- 
tober II, 1841, the fourth son of Benjamin 
and Sarah (Millett) Tucker. 

His grandfather, Benjamin Tucker, Sr., was 
born in Canton, Mass., .September 20, 1776. 
He removed to Worcester, Mass., and from 
there to Norway, Me., walking hither from 
Portland in 1801. Having learned the 
saddler's trade, he engaged in the business of 
making saddles, which were much in use in 
those days, when most of the travelling was 
done on horseback ; and after the country be- 
came more thickly settled, and good wagon 
roads were common, he filled many orders for 
harnesses. An expert and thorough workman, 
he soon established a large trade, and he was 
the only harness-maker in the town for many 
years. He owned many acres of land, and he 
built a number of houses, including one for 
himself, which is still standing, now owned 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



453 



by C. N. Tubbs. In 1S32 Grandfather Tucker 
sold his business to Lewis Crockett, and re- 
tired. In politics he was successively a Whig 
and a Republican. He was Deacon of the 
Universalist church, the first church in the 
town, and contributed liberally toward its es- 
tablishment. The first meeting of the Nor- 
way Universalist Society recorded was held 
November 20, 1798, and the first meeting- 
house was built in 1801. Deacon Benjamin 
Tucker, .Sr., died October ij , 1857. His 
wife, whose maiden name was Mary Pike, 
passed away October 5, 1859. Their children 
were: Benjamin, John, Jane, Mary, Rosilla, 
Luther P., and nine others who died in early 
childhood. 

Benjamin Tucker, son of Benjamin, Sr. , 
and Mary (Pike) Tucker, was born in Nor- 
way, April I, 1805. He learned to make 
saddles antl harnesses in his father's shop, and 
after finishing his apprenticeship he was in 
business two years in Sebec, and two years in 
Buckfield. In 1832 he returned to Norway, 
and, purchasing his father's old stand from Mr. 
Crockett, he conducted a successful business 
there until 1866, when he retired, selling the 
business to his son, Cyrus Shaw, the subject 
of this sketch. The house which Benjamin 
Tucker occupied was destroyed in the great 
fire of 1 85 1, and he immediately erected 
another building. He was one of the leading 
citizens of the town, a Whig and later a Re- 
publican, and represented Norway in the legis- 
lature in 1842. He, too, was a Deacon and a 
liberal supporter of the Universalist church. 
He died March 2, 1876. His wife, Sarah, 
who was a daughter of John and Martha 
(Sawyer) Millett, died in 1869, aged sixty-one 
years. She was the mother of nine children 
— Benjamin, third, born March 11, 1831; 
Sarah Melissa, born November 17, 1832; 
Charles Henry, September 12, 1834; Will- 
iam, March 25, 1836: Angel ia, December 17, 
1838; Cyrus Shaw, of whom more anon; 
Henry, born March 27, 1843; Albert Eugene, 
October 4, 1846; and Mary Alice, June 24, 
1850. 

Cyrus Shaw Tucker, having obtained his 
education in the public schools and the old 
Norway Liberal Institute, learned his trade, 
working with his father in Norway, and with 



his brother in Skowhegan. Enlisting in July, 
1862, in Com]rany F, .Seventeenth Maine 
Regiment, for the defence of the Union, he 
went to the seat of war and for some time was 
called to endure the hardships and brave the 
dangers of a soldier in the ranks. At length, 
becoming unable longer to march with his com- 
pany, he was detailed for special duty, being 
employed as a .saddler at the brigade head- 
quarters till his discharge on June 10, 1865. 
Mr. Tucker's military service seriously under- 
mined his health, which he has never fully 
regained; but by close application to business, 
while observing hygienic laws, he has been 
enabled to accomplish more than many who are 
physically sound, yet lacking in mental and 
moral stamina. 

In 1866 he purchased the business which 
has now been under his able management for 
thirty years. His father's shop was in an ad- 
joining bui.lding on the second floor, the first 
floor being occupied by a shoe store. In 
1867 Mr. Tucker built a small block on the 
site of his present place of business, which 
was also the site of a house erected by his 
grandfather. In this block the shop and sales- 
room were on the first floor, while the upper 
floor was occupied by Mr. Tucker as a dwell- 
ing. Here for twenty-seven years he con- 
ducted an increasingly successful business, 
meeting with no serious financial check until 
1894, when the second great fire that visited 
Norway destroyed his building. The disaster, 
however, only seemed to give a fresh impetus 
to his enterprise, for he immediately began to 
build the handsome brick block, thirty-four 
by si.xty-seven feet in dimension, which now 
bears his name. There is a fine suite of rooms 
on the second floor heated by steam and lighted 
by electricity. The ground floor is occupied 
by the harness shop and salesrooms, the manu- 
factory in the rear, where some of the finest 
harnesses made in the State are finished. The 
salesroom has a handsome plate-glass front, 
and, well stocked with a complete and fir.st- 
class line of harnesses and carriage furniture, 
trunks, grips, valises, and other leather goods, 
is the crowning beauty of an establishment 
which commercial men say is the finest of its 
kind in the .State. 

As a successful business man Mr. Tucker is 



45 4 



BIOGRA I'll I( AI, RKVIKW 



actively interested in other financial enter- 
prises of the locality. He was one of the 
founders of the Norway Savings Bank and the 
National Hank, and is now President of the 
Savings Hank; is a Director and stock holder 
in the water works, being one of the company 
that jnit in the plant; also was one of the 
company organized to supply the town with 
electric lights: and is a stockholder in the 
Opera House Block and in the railroad; in 
fact, he has been one of the foremost in inaug- 
urating local improvements; and the town of 
Norway owes much to his energy, public 
spirit, and foresight. 

October lo, i,S66, Mr. Tucker was married 
to Kate .S., daughter of Lucius and Adeline 
C. (Hohart) Ucnison. Her mother was an 
.-unit of Garret A. Hobart, of Peterson, N.J., 
\'ice-President I-^lect of the United States. 
Lucius Denison came from Boston to Norway 
in 1 86 1, and was for ten years engaged in 
trade with L A. Denison, selling his interest 
at the end of that time, and building a large 
inilp-mill on Crooked River. The latter part 
of his life was spent in retirement in Norway, 
where he died in 1882, at an advanced age. 
Mrs. Kate S. Tucker died March 14, 1875, ^t 
the age of thirty-two, leaving three children 
— Kate, born December 7, i86g, who died 
July 2, 1876; Carrie, born .September 1, 
1871; and Agnes, born March 3, 1875, ■''"^^' 
teaching school. Mr. Tucker was again mar- 
ried .Sejjteinber 12, 1876, to Miss Georgie A. 
Nel.son, (laughter of Chaplin and Lmilv 
(Hicks) NeLson, of South Waterford, Me. 

In politics he favors the Republican party. 
He has been clerk of the Norway Village Cor- 
jioration a number of years, receiving his ap- 
jiointment in 1867, and Town Treasurer eight 
years, entering on his duties in 1880. He is 
a member of O.xford Lodge, No. 18, A. F. & 
A. M. ; L'nion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, 
Oxford Council; and Portland Commandery, 
Knights Tem[)lars; and has been Treasurer of 
all the Masonic societies in Norway since 
187S, lie was the first Adjutant of Harry 
Rust Post, No. 54, Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, and has ever been an active comrade. He 
is an active member of the L'^niversalist 
Parish, as were his father and grandfather 
before him, and he has efficientlv served for 



fifteen years as one of the Parish Committee, 
a leader in the good works which are the out- 
ward manifestation of savinu' faith. 



"CS^/aLLACE reed TARBOX, a 
vSY' prominent business man of l-"rye- 
•^ '^ burg. Me., son of Dominicus G. 
and -Sarah (Paine) Tarbox, was born in Den- 
mark, Me., March 25, 1S52. Mr. Tarbox's 
father was a native of Biddeford, Me. He 
was born in 1800, and was a year old when 
his parents removed to Kennebunk, Me. 
L^pon reaching manhood he settled in F"rye- 
burg, where he ran a carding-mill until 1830. 
He then moved to Denmark, Me., and engaged 
in the clothier's business, in which he contin- 
ued several years, .Squire Tarbox possessed a 
large amount of natural ability, which, com- 
bined with his honesty and candor, enabled 
him to be of great assistance in transacting 
legal affairs, as he was for years Justice of the 
Peace, anil filled many other offices of trust. 
His advice was considered of inestimable 
value by all his associates in the community 
where he lived, also in the adjoining towns. 
His death, which occurred in 1885, was pro- 
foundly regretted by all who knew him. His 
wife, Sarah L. Paine, who was a native of 
.Standish, Me., was a very sweet, amiable 
lady, beloved by all who knew her. She died 
in 1SS3. They had nine children — Samuel 
P., who died in 1896; William Henry, whose 
home is in P'ryeburg, but who is engaged in 
business in Boston; Sarah E., wife of C, H. 
Walker, of Fryeburg; Mar\' O., who married 
M. M. Rogers, and lives in Cambridge, Mass. ; 
James L., who died in June, 1877; Augusta 
R., wife of Nathan Sanborn, of Baldwin, Me. : 
Ena M., who died in 1863; Wallace R., the 
subject of this sketch: and George E., who 
resides in Harrison, Me. 

Wallace R. Tarbox attended the common 
schools in his boyhood, later he was employed 
for a time on a farm, and he completed his 
education at Fryeburg Academy. He learned 
the harness-maker's trade with Deacon John 
E)vans, of Fryeburg, coining here in 1870. 
After completing his apprenticeship Mr. Tar- 
box went West, with the intention of locating 
there, but after working at his trade for a few 



HIOllRAI'HICAL RKVIK.W 



455 



years in Wisconsin and in Minneapolis and 
St. Paul, Minn., he decided that his prefer- 
ence was for the East. He therefore returned 
to Fryeburg, bought the business which his 
former employer, Deacon Evans, had carried 
on for forty years, made extensive improve- 
ments, and is to-day doing a good business as 
a manufacturer of harnesses and horse cloth- 
ing, and carrying a fine line of saddlery, hard- 
ware, robes, trunks, and so forth. His store 
is one of the finest of the kind in the State. 
It does not, however, absorb all the energies 
of Mr. Tarbo.x. He is the local agent for sev- 
eral reliable fire, life, and accident insurance 
companies, and he has been very successful in 
securing a large number of risks in this local- 
ity, and does a profitable business, especially 
in the fire insurance. 

His well-won reputation for being upright 
and honorable in all his dealings has securetl 
for him merited confidence, and is thus the 
keynote of his success. In all movements rel- 
ative to the improvement of the town and the 
development of business, Mr. Tarbo.x is deeply 
interested, and may be depended upon for ac- 
tive support. He has been Treasurer of the 
West O.xford Agricultural Society for the past 
ten years, and at one time acted in the same 
capacity for the Oxford Hotel and Land Com- 
pany. He is also Treasurer of all the lodges 
with which he is connected. He is a member 
of Pythagorean Lodge, A. h\ &. A. M., of 
Fryeburg; Oriental Chapter, Royal Arch 
Masons, of Bridgton ; and of Portland Com- 
mandery. Knights Templars, of Portland. He 
was Master of the Blue Lodge here for two 
years, and District Deputy for several years. 
He was a charter member of Pequawket Lodge, 
No. 34, Knights of Pythias, of this town. The 
leading citizens of the town and county are 
numbered among his friends and acquaint- 
ances, his prominence and popularity in busi- 
ness and social circles being largely due to his 
enterprise and progressive tendencies and his 
naturally genial manner. Mr. Tarbox is ac- 
tively interested in political affairs, and votes 
the Republican ticket. 

He was married June 21, 1892, to Miss 
Mary E. Reardon, a native of Belfast, Me. 
Mrs. Tarbox is a graduate of St. Mary's Acad- 
emy, Manchester, N.H., and for several years 



previous to her marriage was a po]nilar teacher 
in Maine and Massachusetts. 




IIARLI'IS B. lUJNNlA', a veteran of 
. the Civil Wai', and an industrious and 

is , successfid farmer of Sumner, was 
born in the adjoining town of Peru, 
Oxford County, Me., January 10, 1832, his 
parents being Asa and Elizabeth (Bisbee) 
]5onney, the former of whom was a native of 
Pembroke, Me., and the latter of Sumner. 

Isaac Bonney, the -father of Asa, was one of 
the first to settle in East Sumner, Me., where, 
with the indomitable energy which character- 
ized the thrifty pioneers of that day, he set 
himself to the task of clearing his land, and 
before his death had brought his one-hundred- 
and-twenty-five-acre farm into good sha])e for 
cultivation. During the struggle of the 
American colonies for independence, he did 
])ersonal service as a soldier. He died in 
-Sumner at an advanced age. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Mar\' Robinson, bore him 
the following chikh-en: John, David, Isaac, 
Olpha, Annie, Asa, and Abigail. 

When Asa Bonney, the youngest son, went 
out from the ]5arental roof to gain his own 
livelihood, he took up the occupation to which 
he had been reared, and his life was success- 
fully spent in agricultural pursuits in the 
towns of Peru and Sumner. In ])olitics he 
was at one time a Free Soiler, but during his 
later years he became a Republican. He died 
in .Sumner when eighty-two years of age. His 
wife, lilizabeth l^isbee Bonney, also lived to 
be over fourscore years of age. Both were 
members of the Methodist church. They were 
the parents of twenty-one children, of whom 
eighteen, seven sons and eleven daughters, 
grew to mature years. Of this number, eleven 
have passed away, namely: Sarah, the eldest- 
born; Elmira; Abigail; John; Stephen; 
Ann; Vesta; Elizabeth; Lydia; Jones; and 
P'anny — the seven now living being Mary, 
Elizabeth (second), Isaac, Asa, Cyrus, Charles 
B., and Thankful, the last named being the 
youngest child. 

Charles B. Bonney, the youngest son, 
passed the early years of his life in the towns 
of .Sumner, Hartford, Turner, and Peru, his 



45^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



education l:)einij; obtained in tiie schools of 
Sumner and Turner. At the age of sixteen 
he went to Boston, where he secured employ- 
ment in a linseed oil factory, at eight dollars 
])er week, wliich was two dollars more than 
the usual wages then paid for the class of 
work which he did. After a year spent in 
15oston he returned to Peru, and purchased his 
first land, a timber lot, and renting a saw-mill 
he engaged in the manufacture of lumber for 
two and one-half years. Selling the land in 
I'eru, he then moved to West Sumner, and 
bought a farm, which he carried on with profit 
for six years. 

For five months the open contest between 
North and South had been gathering force, 
when, on Seiitember 21, 1 86 1, Mr. Bonney 
enlisted in the NintJi Maine Regiment, Com- 
jiany F, under Captain Horatio Bisbee. He 
was first given the position of teamster, and 
later that of wagon master, serving in the 
latter capacity until his honorable discharge 
in 1865. Returning to Oxford County he 
purchased a farm of sixty acres in Turner, 
having in the mean time sold his West Sum- 
ner farm ; and four years later, in January, 
1872, he sold the Turner farm, and bought 
the place on which he has since resided here 
in Sumner. This farm contains about one 
hundred and sixty acres, is under good culti- 
vation, and has well-kept and convenient 
buildings. He is engaged in mixed farming, 
and keeps a dairy of blooded stock, including 
grade Jerseys. 

On September 30, 1855, at the time he was 
engaged in clearing his first land, Mr. Bonney 
married Cynthia Cary, who was born in East 
Sumner, Me., January 4, 1830, daughter of 
Dr. Bethuel and Lucy (Robinson) Cary. 

John Cary, the first American progenitor of 
the family, was a native of Somersetshire, 
England, whence he came to this country about 
1634. On his arrival he connected himself 
with the Plymouth Colony, and settled in 
Duxbury, but subsequently removed to Bridge- 
water, Mass. Ezra Cary, the father of 
Bethuel, was a native of Bridgewater, Mass. 
born in 1749; '^"^1 h's wife, whose maiden 
name was Cynthia Brett, was born in Stough- 
ton, Mass. He came to Turner, Me., at an 
early date, and was known as a progressive 



farmer. He also followed the occupation of a 
tanner. For fifty years he was a Deacon in 
the Congregational church. He dietl in 
Turner in 1839, aged eighty-nine years, ten 
months, and fifteen days. He was twice mar- 
ried, and by both unions had eleven children 
(eight sons and three daughters), as follows: 
Thomas, Zachariah, Luther, Ezra, Daniel, 
John S., Cynthia, l-iethuel, Tolman, Cynthia, 
and Susanna. 

Bethuel Cary, the eighth child, was born in 
Turner, Me., in 1793. He spent his life 
principally in East Sumner, where he was a 
pioneer in the medical profession, and ac- 
quired a large and successful practice, devot- 
ing fifty years of his life to this work. In re- 
ligious faith he was a Baptist, in political 
affiliation, a stanch Republican from the for- 
mation of that party; and in 1841 he repre- 
sented the towns of Sumner and Hartford in 
the Maine legislature. For a number of years 
Dr. Cary served as Town Clerk, and he was 
Postmaster for quite a period. He died at 
East Sumner, September 2, 1866, aged 
seventy-three; and his wife, Lucy Robinson, 
who was born in .Sumner in 1797, died March 
9, 1880, at nearly eighty-three years of age. 
They had six children, of whomthree are still 
living, namely: Benjamin F. Cary, of ll.^rt- 
ford; Cynthia, Mrs. Charles B. Bounc; ; 
-Sarah D., born .May 16, 1832, who was mar- 
ried May 28, 1854, to Isaac Bonney, a suc- 
cessful farmer of Sumner, brother of Charles 

B. Bonney. The others were: Lucy A., wife 
of tlleazer l-'.llis, of .Sumner, born May 13, 
1818, who died April 16, 1890; Bethuel 
Cary, a boot maker by trade, born May 19, 
1825, who died August 29, 1852; William R. 
Cary, late a farmer and breeder of fancy 
cattle and horses, residing in Hartford, Me., 
born July 8, 1820, who died August 13, 
1891. 

Four children have been born to Charles B. 
Bonney and his wife, Cynthia Cary Bonney, 
and three are still living; namely. Sadie D., 
Hattie May, and Charles Augustus. Tolman 

C. died, aged five years. Sadie D. , who is 
now the wife of Frank W. Palmer, the depot 
master at Eiast Sumner, has five children — 
Howard, Bessie, Raymond, Elsie, ant! Doro- 
thy. Hattie May married Epyrus Bosworth, 



iiUKJRArmCAL REVIKW 



457 



;i farmer ul Sumner. Charles Aumistus 
lionncy, unmarried, is engaged in farming. 

Politically, Mr. Bonney is a supporter of 
the Republican party; fraternally, he is a 
member of Nezinscot Lodge, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, at Buckfield. He and 
his wife anil family are all members of the 
Baptist church, in which he has been a Deacon 
for many years. 




iHARLliS rORTER FULLER, one 

of the oldest and best-known residents 
of Oxford, Oxford County, Me., 
was born in East O.xford, April 2, 
i(S20, son of Ira and Sally (Merrill) Fuller. 
In the latter part of the last century, when 
this locality was a dense wilderness abounding 
in game, and inhabited by a few venturesome 
settlers who were obliged to travel on horse- 
back, finding their way by means of marked 
trees, to reach Portland, the nearest market 
town, Mr. Fuller's grandfather, Nathaniel 
Fuller, a native of Massachusetts, began clear- 
ing up a farm in East Oxford, which was then 
a part of the town of Hebron. The sturdy 
pioneer of those days, which witnessed the 
dawning of civilization in this part of Maine, 
was under the necessity of producing nearly 
everything used in his family, including the 
flax and wool which were spun, woven, and 
made into clothing by the thrifty housewife. 
By dint of hard work, long continued, Grand- 
father i-'uller cleared and improved a good 
farm. In 1794 a Methodist meeting was held 
at the house of John Caldwell in East Oxford, 
its members later organizing a class or society, 
which for sixty years formed a part of the 
Hebron and Oxford circuit: and Mr. Nathan- 
iel F"uller was one of the promoters of this 
religious movement. He died here at the age 
of nearly eighty-five years. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Julia Holmes, lived to attain 
a good old age, having reared to maturity five 
children — Ira, Nathaniel, Pamelia, Jerusha, 
and Caleb. 

Ira Fuller, son of Nathaniel and Julia 
(Holmes) Fuller, was born in East Oxford, 
September 24, 1786. He grew to manhood 
upon the farm which his father had cleared, 
and in his turn became an energetic and indus- 



trious farmer, and a highly respectetl resident 
of this town. In politics he supported the 
Democratic party, and in his religious views 
he was a Methodist. The greater part of his 
mature life was spent in useful and honorable 
toil: and his last days were passed at the house 
of his son, Charles P., where he died December 
I, 1S55. His wife, Sally Merrill, who was 
born in Hebron, March 15, 1796, and died 
September 21, 1874, was the mother of eleven 
children, as follows: Merrill VV., who was 
born January 13, 1817: James O., who was 
born February 11, 1818; Charles Porter, the 
subject of this sketch; Prescott IL, who was 
born F"ebruary 29, 1822; Harriet N., who was 
born June 6, 1824; George C. W., who was 
born February 15, 1826; Augustus I., who 
was born April 19, 1828; Sarah J., who was 
born May 25, 18,^0; Jabez H., who was born 
September 17, 1832; Janette IL, who was 
born April 7, 1835; and Edward H., who was 
born August i, 1838. The surviving sons 
are: Charles P., Prescott IL, George C. W., 
and Edward H., and a daughter, Janette LL, 
it is thought is still living also. 

Charles Porter Fuller was the third-born 
son of his parents. As he grew toward man- 
hood he attended the district schools of his 
native town, and, when old enough to be of 
use in assisting upon a farm, he began work 
for Zebulon Cushman, of East Oxford, who 
paid him eighteen dollars for six months" ser- 
vices. He continued as a farm laborer for 
several years, giving the greater part of his 
earnings to his father. During the years 1836 
and 1837 he was in the steamboat service be- 
tween Portland and Boston, being employed 
on the steamers "Portland" and "McDon- 
ough," commanded by Captain J. Howe and 
Captain Stanley, respectively. He enlisted 
in the militia at the time of the North-eastern 
boundary trouble in 1839, known as the Aroo- 
stook War, also serving the .State in an 
incipient Indian uprising. The first real es- 
tate bought by him consisted of a farm known 
as the Joseph Swift place, situated upon the 
Rumford road in the town of Paris. He re- 
sided there until 1861, when he moved to his 
present farm in Oxford, where he has fifty 
acres of excellent tillage land, w-hich he has 
brought to a high state of cultivation: and he 



45S 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



has also made various imiirovL'ments u]X)n the 
hiiiUlings. As a general farmer he has made 
the most of his facilities and opportunities, 
raising large and superior crops, which he 
markets to good advantage, and his untiring 
inilustry has always been attended with pros- 
perity. 

On May 8, 1.S42, Mr. Fuller was united in 
marriage with Abbie A. Swift, who was born 
in Oxford, June 13, 1820, daughter of Samuel 
and Statira A. (Gammon) Swift. Her father, 
Samuel Swift, was born in Paris, Me., Febru- 
ary 2. 1 79 1. The greater part of his life was 
passed in Oxford, where he was a prosperous 
farmer and a worthy citizen. He lived to 
reach the age of eighty-four years. His wife, 
Statira Gammon, who was born in Oxford in 
1802, died July 25, 1837, aged thirty-five 
years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have hatl two children, 
as follows: Charles B., who was born in Paris, 
December 30, 1844: and Augusta S.. who was 
born in the same town, December 16, 1846. 
married Eugene F^. Record, and died March 5, 
1871, leaving two children — Abbie L. and 
Mabel A., neither of whom is living. 
Charles B. F^iller resides with his parents. 
He owns a farm of fifty acres, and in addition 
to general farming he gives special attention 
to raising fancy poultry, and keeping bees of 
the Italian variety, of which he usually has 
from twenty-five to fifty stands. He is a pro- 
gressive and useful citizen, and in politics 
acts with the Democratic party. 

Charles Porter Fuller and his wife have for 
many years been members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in which Mr. F'uller has 
taken an active interest, and has been a class 
leader. Politically, he is a Democrat. Mr. 
and Mrs. Fuller are among the best-known 
residents of Oxford. In May, 1892, their 
friends assembled in large numbers at their 
home, to congratulate them on the occasion of 
the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, and 
to wish them "many more of quiet years." 



rwTs 



]:SSIUS FLORUS JENNINGS, 
V [ST now living in retirement, who was 
station agent of the Maine Central 
Railroad Company at l'"armington for twcntv 



years, was born in Leeds, Me., January 28, 
1S29, son of I'eiez S. and Joanna (Lane) Jen- 
nings. Mr. Jennings's grandfather, Samuel 
Jennings, born in Sandwich, Mass., November 
15, 1762, came to Maine in early manhood, 
and bought a tract of wild land. Samuel 
erected a log house, cleared a portion of the 
land tor cultivation, and, returning to Massa- 
chusetts, induced his brother John to take half 
of his purchase. Dividing the tract between 
them, the brothers made two good farms, 
erecting on them substantial buildings. Sam- 
uel Jennings died March 23, 1842. He mar- 
ried Olive Tupper, who was born in Sandwich, 
Mass., February 10, 1763, daughter of Enoch 
Tupper. Her children by him were: Samuel, 
who was born February 7. 1787; and Perez 
S. , Mr. Jennings's father. She died April 
20, 1848. 

Perez S. Jennings was born in Leeds, 
March 2, 1792. When a young man he en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits, which he carried 
on successfully for several years. He retired 
from trade in order to care for his aged par- 
ents. Succeeding to the homestead, he con- 
tinued to reside there until his death, which 
occurred June 19, 1853. A worthy, upright 
citizen, whose ability both as a farmer and a 
business man was of the highest order, he had 
the esteem of his townsmen. Originally a 
Whig, he later supported the Republican 
party; and he was a member of the Free Will 
Baptist church. His wife, Joanna, who was 
born in Leeds, October 18, 1794, daughter of 
James and Abigail Lane, became the mother 
of six children, as follows: Orville, born Jan- 
uary 14, 1825, who graduated from Bowdoin 
College in 1849, became United States Attor- 
ney for the FLastern District of Arkansas, and 
died at the age of forty-three years; Gustavus 
A., born June 13, 1827; Gessius F. , the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Eliza Ann, who was born 
October 9, 1831 ; Roscoe G., M.D., born June 
17, 1833; and Rollin F., born June 15, 1837. 
The mother died April 9, 1863. 

Gessius Florus Jennings attended the Mon- 
mouth and Litchfield Academies. At the age 
of twenty-one he went to Massachusetts, where 
he was for a year and a half engaged as an 
operative in a shovel factory. Upon his re- 
turn he settled at the homestead for the pur- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



459 



])ose of caring for his parents during tlicir de- 
clining years, and for the succeeding twenty 
years he tilled the soil during the summer 
season, and taught school in the winter. In 
1872 he came to Farmington as station agent 
for the Maine Central Railroad Company^ a 
position which he ably filled for twenty years, 
giving the most complete satisfaction to the 
general public, as well as to his employers. 
Upon his retirement in 189J, the company 
lost the services of a faithful and popular 
official. 

On May 24, i860, Mr. Jennings wedded 
Orra M. Foss, daughter of Uriah and Mary 
(Leadbetter) Foss, both of whom were natives 
of Leeds. He has since become the father of 
two children, namely: Elmer E., a popular 
young man, who succeeded his father as sta- 
tion agent here; and Flora M., April 9, 1865, 
who is now the wife of luigene Brown, a 
printer of Farmington, and has two children 
— Zikla J. and Leo J., born respectively No- 
vember 2/, 1891, and August 10, 1895. 
Upon retiring from the railroad service, Mr. 
Jennings bought the .Stillman Tarbo.x House, 
situated at the corner of High and Middle 
Streets, and has since resided there. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat, and in religious belief 
a Baptist. He takes a lively interest in the 
jirogress of the town. While in Leeds he was 
Town Clerk and superintendent of schools. 
He is connected with Franklin Lodge, No. 
58, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of 
which he is Past Grand. 




TEPHEX R. PAR.SON.S, who 
owns and cultivates a large and 
exceedingly productive farm in 
Paris, O.xford County, Me., was 
born in the adjoining town of Norway, August 
15, 1830, son of John and Apphia (Robinson) 
Parsons. 

The family of which Stephen R. Parsons 
is a representative was founded by Jeffrey Par- 
sons, a native of Ashprington, County of 
Devon, England, who emigrated first to the 
Island of Barbadoes, and from there to 
Gloucester, Mass., where he settled perma- 
nently. He married Sarah Vinson. The 
line of descent continues through their son, 



|ohn, Sr., and Isabella (Haines) Parsons; 
John, Jr., and i:;iizabeth (Haskell) Par.sons; 
William and Sarah (Rust) Parsons; to John, 
third, and Dorothy (Stevens) Parst)ns who 
were Stephen K. Parsons' s grandparents. 
P'rom Gloucester, Mass., some of the family 
removed to Xew Gloucester, Cumberland 
Countv, Me., where they were among the early 
settlers. 

(Irandfather John Parsons was born in that 
town. In 1787 he settled in Norway, O.xford 
County, upon a large tract of unimproved land, 
from which he cleared a good farm. The rest 
of his life was passed in Norway, where he 
died December 5, 1847, aged eighty-two years 
and nine months. He was an attendant of the 
Baptist church. He was three times married, 
his first wife being I-]sther Smith. Plis second 
wife, Dorothy Stevens, who was a daughter 
of Deacon Stevens, of New (Jloueester, died 
P'ebruary 11, 1809, having been the mother 
of nine children, as folhjws: P^sther, who 
was born December 26, 1791; Abigail, who 
was born April 13, 1793; John, fourth, 
who was born Ajiril 21, 1795; Jacob, who was 
born I'ebruary 22. 1797; Dorothy, who was 
born February 11, 1799; J"<-'' ^- - w'""" ^^'''-"^ 
born February 5, 1801; Betsey, who was born 
December 22, 1803; Olive, wIkj was born De- 
cember II, 1805; and Isaac, who was born 
April 2, 1808. Grandfather John Parsons 
wedded for his third wife lumice Witham, 
and to this union there were born four chil- 
dren, namely: Charles, who was born P'ebru- 
ary 9, 181 1; Moses, who was born March 29, 
1 812; Eunice, who was born September 19, 
1814; and George W. , who was born May 16, 
1816. 

John Parsons, fourth, son of John and Doro- 
thy (Stevens) Parsons, was born in Norway, 
on the date above mentioned. He acquired a 
good education in the schools of his native 
town and at the Hebron Academy. When a 
young man he was a schoolmaster of consid- 
erable note, and presided over schools in Paris 
and other towns in this vicinity, in P'reeport, 
Cumberland County, Me., and also in Massa- 
chusetts; and he later engaged in farming. 
Purchasing the Tubbs farm in Norway, located 
about two and one-half miles from the village, 
he there carried on general farming for a num- 



460 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ber of years, and about 1845 moved to the 
Robinson farm in Paris, which was the prop- 
erty of his wife's father, and which is now 
owned by his son. Here he continued to till 
the soil, diligently laboring to obtain the 
best results; and he retained his customary 
activity until his death, which took ]5lace in 
April, i.Sfi.S. In politics he was originall)- a 
Whig, later acting with the Republican party; 
and while residing in Norway he served one 
year as a member of the Board of Selectmen. 
In his religious views he was liberal. His 
wife, -Apphia Robinson, w'hom he married 
October 26, 1829, was a daughter of Stephen 
Robinson, of Paris. She died in November, 
1861, having been the mother of but one child 
— Stephen Robinson, the subject of this 
sketch. 

Stephen Robinson Parsons began his educa- 
tion in the schools of Norway, and, removing 
with his parents to Paris when he was fourteen 
years old, he completed his studies in the 
schools of this town. Since reaching manhood 
he has given his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits, owning the old Robinson homestead of 
twii hundred and fifty acres, which is a desir- 
ably located and valuable piece of projierty. 
The substantial buildings were erected by his 
grandfa.ther, Stephen Robinson, about the year 
1802. Mr. Parsons is one of the most success- 
ful general farmers and well-to-do residents 
in this section of the county, his long-contin- 
ued activity having produced such satisfactory 
financial results as to place him in easy cir- 
cumstances, while his well-known energv and 
capacity ff)r hard work are still unabated. 

On January 3, 1865, Mr. Parsons was mar- 
ried to Mary Chase Thomas, who was born in 
O.xford, Me., February 10, 1843, daughter of 
George W. and Margaret Ann (Blankenburg) 
Thomas, neither of whom is now living. Mr. 
and Mrs. Parsons have si.x children, as fol- 
lows: ApphiaJ., who was born November 2, 
1865; John T. , who was born I'ebruary 12, 
1868; Annie I., whc) was born December 
30, 1869; Dora A., who was born October 15, 
1871 ; Mary T., wIkj was born June 29, 1875 • 
and Oscar \V., who was born January 18, 1879. 
The children have been well educated. All 
are still single, except Apphia J., who, on 
August 19, 1886, became the wife of Wallace 



K. Clifford, and now has four children: Wal- 
lace, who was born June 30, 1887; Carrie M., 
who was born July 16, 1889; Earl R., who was 
born October 13, 1893; and Stephen Longley, 
born June 28, 1896. 

Politically, Mr. Parsons supports the Re- 
publican party, and though not an aspirant for 
ofifice he takes an active interest in all matters 
of public importance. He is a member of the 
Congregational church in South Paris, of 
which he has been Deacon for a number of 
years; and both he and Mrs. Par.sons are 
among the most highly esteemed and best 
known residents of their neighborhood. 



AMES J. ABBOTT, a retired farmer 
and produce dealer of Sumner, O.xford 
County, Me., and an e.x-member of the 
Maine legislature, was born in this 
town, March 3, 1824, son of Daniel and Sally 
(Tripp) Abbott. His grandfather, George 
Abbott, was an early settler of p'almouth, 
Me. Later, however, he removed to Sumner, 
where the rest of his active days were passed 
in industriously tilling the soil. He lived to 
reach a good old age, esteemed and respected 
by all who knew him. He married and was 
the father of six children, namely: Daniel; 
Amos; George; Hannah; Levi; and Andrew, 
who died young. 

Daniel Abbott, who was the eldest of the 
five sons of George Abbott, was born in I'^al- 
mouth, July 11, 1790. Accompanying his 
parents to Sumner, when a young man he 
settled upon a farm in the north part of the 
town near Black Mountain; but, after carrying 
on general farming in that locality for a num- 
ber of years, he removed to Franklin Planta- 
tion, and there made his home for a time. 
His last days Were passed in Sumner, where he 
died August 16, 1872. By his first marriage 
he had one child; and by his second wife, 
Sally Tri|D]), who was born in Gloucester, Me., 
June 3, 1792, he was the father of seven chil 
dren, as follows: Margaret C, Lucy C, and 
Andrew, who are no longer living; ARen G., 
a prosperous farmer of Sumner; Marian, who 
is now the widow of Barney Rowe, and resides 
in Sumner; James J., the subject of this 
.sketch; and AlpheusA., who lives in P"rank- 



BtOGRAPHlCAL REVIEW 



461 



lin Plantation. IMrs. Sally Tiii)]) Abbntl died 
June 7, 1888, having lived to the advanced age 
of ninety-six years. Both [larents were active 
members of the Free Will Hajitist church ; and 
the father was a Republican in politics from 
the formation of that party until his death. 

James J. Abbott, whose antecedents have 
thus been made known to the reader, passed 
his boyhood and youth in Sumner and Franklin 
Plantation, and acquired his education in the 
schools of his native town. He has followed 
various occupations, giving his principal atten- 
tion, however, to farming and the Inu'ing and 
selling of country produce, having been suc- 
cessfully engaged in this latter business for 
many years, or until his retirement from active 
inirsuits. 

Mr. Abbott's first wife, Nancy R. McAllis- 
ter, with whom he was united in marriage on 
November 29, 1850, died March 26, 1854, 
leaving one daughter, E]]a R., who died in 
December of the same year. His ])resent 
wife, whom he married Januar\- 16, 1855, was 
l)efore marriage dementia ]5uck. .She was 
born in .Sumner, March 13, 1832, daughter of 
Charles A. and Charlotte (Ileald) J^uck, both 
natives of Sumner. Her father was born De- 
cember 24, 1806; and her mother was born 
I-'ebruar)' 23, 1808. Mrs. Abbott's maternal 
grandfather, Captain Benjamin Heald, was one 
of the first settlers in the town of .Simmer, 
where he owned more land than any other man 
of his time. To-day the family name stands 
high in the list of summer residents. 

Mrs. Abbott's great-grandfather on her 
father's side, Moses Buck, first, was one of 
the early pioneers of .Sumner, where her grand- 
father, also named Moses, was born March 12, 
1781. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Polly Warren, was born in Paris, Me., Novem- 
ber 25, 1 790. Grandfather Buck passed the 
active period of his life as an industrious gen- 
eral farmer; and he died in Sumner, November 
22, 1840. His wife died October 6, 1857. 
Charles A. Buck, Mrs. Abbott's father, was 
one of the stirring and successful agriculturists 
of his day, and resided in Norway, Me., thir- 
teen years preceding his death, which took 
place November 10, 1878. In politics he was 
originally a Whig, and later joined the Repub- 
lican party. He and his wife Charlotte reared 



three children, as follows: Clementia, who is 
now Mr.s. Abbott; Harriet J., who was born 
March 17, 1837, and is now the wife of Hiram 
Howe, of West Sumner; and James M., who 
was born November 22, 1838, married Alice 
I.eighton, of Monmouth, and I'esides in West 
Sumner. Mrs. Charlotte H. Buck died Au- 
gust 20, 1854. Mrs. Abbott's parents were 
Universalists in their religious views. Mr. 
and Mrs, Abbott have one daughter — Ella C. , 
who was born May 31, 1857, and is now the 
wife of Dr. C. M. Bisbee, of Rumford j-'alls. 
I\Ir. Abbott is an earnest worker in uphold- 
ing the principles of the Re]Hib]ican ])arty ; 
and, being a man who possesses great natural 
energy and ability, he has necessarily attained 
a far-reaching influence in the political affairs 
of the county. While residing in Franklin 
Plantation- he served as superintendent of 
,schools and in other offices; and in Sumner he 
has been a member of the Board of Selectmen 
four years, and has also held office as Collector 
and Treasurer, As Representative to the leg- 
islature during the session of 1892 he tiis- 
played careful judgment and a due regard for 
the interests of his tlistrict. He is connected 
with Tyrian Lodge, No. jt^, A. V. & A. M., 
of Mechanic I'alls, having joined it in 1853; 
and he is also a member of the lodge of ()dd 
F'ellows at West Paris. Both he and Mrs. 
Abbott attend the Univer.salist chLuxh. He 
is highly respected as a public-spiiited citizen 
and a representative of an old famil\-, a man 
whose success in life is the result uf steady 
application to business. 




HOMAS HUNTINCrroN I'.ROWN, 
M. D., who was widely known and 
honored throughout O.xford County, 
was actively engaged in the practice of medi- 
cine for more than twoscore 3'ears at Paris, 
Me., where his death occurred August 3, 18S0, 
His life record was a praiseworthy one, ren- 
dered notable by professional skill, integrity, 
and sterling worth; and his memory will long 
he clierished throughout this community. He 
was born August 27, 1813. in Minot, Andros- 
coggin County, a .son of Thomas Brown, a 
resident of that town. 

Thomas Brown was born in Newburv', ]{sse.\ 



46: 



bioctRaphical review 



County, Mass., and there grew to years of 
maturity. In the early part of the present 
century he came to Maine, settling in Minot, 
where he was engaged in mechanical pursuits 
until his death. He married in 1811 Mrs. 
Mary Rawson Bridgham. the widow of Sulli- 
van Bridgham. She was born in Sutton, 
Mass., July 5, 1780, daughter of Fbenezer and 
Sarah (Chase) Kawson. 

Thomas H. Brown acquired his elementary 
education in the common schools of Minot and 
]\aris, this county, later attending academies 
in Buckfield and Readfield. At the age of 
twenty years he began the study of medicine 
with Dr. Levi Rawson, of Grafton, Mass. 
He attended his first course of lectures at 
the Maine Medical College in Brunswick, Me., 
subsequently further pursuing his studies at 
Pittsfield, Mass., and being graduated from the 
Jefferson Medical Crdlege at Philadelphia, Pa., 
in 1837. On ]\Iay 15 of that year, just after 
receiving his diploma. Dr. Brown established 
himself in Paris, Me., which had been his 
early home, and here met with such eminent 
success that he continued to practise here 
during his life. He became identified with 
the best interests of the tow-n and county, and 
was very prominent in professional, political, 
military, and religious circles. He belonged 
to the Maine Medical Association, of which 
he was at (}ne time President, antl for five 
years was Judge of I'robate. He was .Surgeon 
of the P'irst Regiment of the P"irst Di\'ision of 
the Maine State militia, receiving his honor- 
able discharge after seven years of service, and 
tor eleven years was E.xamining Surgeon for 
the Pension Department. He was a stanch 
Republican in politics, and in religion was a 
conscientious member of the Baptist church. 
He was a clear and forcible writer, ably filling 
the chair of political editor of the O.xford 
Democrat from 1853 until 1856 and from 
1874 until 1876. 

Dr. Thomas H. Brown was twice married. 
His first wife, Maria S. King, daughter of 
.Samuel King, was born in Paris, Me,, in 
1813, and died in this town in November, 
1846. Of their three children all died in 
infancy. On December 7, 1847, the union of 
Dr. Thomas H. Brown with Juliette Ham- 
mond was solemnized. Mrs. Brown was born 



in Paris, a daughter of Moses Hammond. 
Her great-grandfather, Benjamin Hammond, 
Sr. , who held the rank of Captain in the Rev- 
olutionary army, is said to have been the thir- 
teenth of the original settlers of this town. 
He died from sickness at Ticonderoga, while 
in the service of his country. His son, Ben- 
jamin, second, was born in New Gloucester, 
Cumberland County, Me., July 15, 1760. 
About the x'ear 1785 he came to O.xford 
County, locating in. Paris, where he took up a 
tract of heavily timbered land, on which he 
erected a log house, and in the years of inces- 
sant toil that followed won from the wilder- 
ness a comfortable homestead, where he re- 
sided until his decease, l-'ebruary 28, 1838. 
He married Rebecca Smith, who was born 
October 13, 1763, at Cape Ann, Massachusetts, 
and died in Paris, Me., on the home farm, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1843. They reared a family of eight 
children, namely: Rebecca; P2sther; Benja- 
min, third; Moses; Sally; lizra ; Olive; and 
Bela. In politics Benjamin Hammond was a 
Whig and in religion a Baptist. 

Moses Hammond, son of Benjamin and Re- 
becca (Smith) Hammond, was born on the old 
homestead, about a mile and a half frt)m the 
village of Paris, June 2, i/gi, and died April 
10, 1871. He was a man of great enterprise, 
an expert mechanic and draftsman, and in his 
}'0unger days was engaged in trade at Paris 
Hill. He subsequently became extensively 
engaged in the lumber business, buying large 
tracts of timber in both O.xford and Penobscot 
Counties, and owning large saw-mills. He 
selected the site of his home on Paris Hill, 
and there built a fine residence, in which he 
spent his remaining days. He was liberal in 
his religious beliefs and a stanch Republican 
in politics. A man of fearless honesty, he was 
prominent and popular in public life, and for 
many years was one of the Selectmen of Paris. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Mehitable 
Keith, was born in Bridgewater, Mass., in 
December, 1794, and died in Paris, Me., Juh' 
13, 1867. They had eight children, three of 
whom died in infancy, the others being as 
follows: Mrs. Elizabeth S. Prince, of Paris 
Hill; Jairus Keith, who died in 1892; Mrs. 
Juliette H. Brown, widow of the late Dr. 
Brown; Albert M., of South Paris; and Miss 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



463 



Frances A., who livrs on the Hamiiinnd Imnie- 
stead. 

Dr. Thomas H. Brown left three chilch'en, 
namely: Edward Thomas, born June 7, 1S49; 
Agnes Mar}', born September 7, 1850; and 
Gertrude Juliette, born February 12, 1855. 
Edward Thomas, who is a Lieutenant in the 
Fifth United States Artillery, married Ange- 
line Watson, of Ohio; and thev have two chil- 
dren — Thomas W. and Edith. Gertrude J. is 
the wife of Major J. R. Brinckle, who was born 
at Wilmington, Del., and is now an officer in 
the Fifth United States Artillery. Major and 
Mrs. Brinckle lost their only son, John R., 
who died in infancy, and have now three 
children living — Julia B., Gertrude, and 
]•" ranees H. 




^(^^VLVANUS PORTER STEARNS, 
one of the leading farmers of 0.\- 
ford County, an extensive land- 
holder in the town of Paris, was 
born March 20, 1832, on the farm where he 
is now residing, awaiting the completion of 
his handsome residence at South Paris. He 
comes of old Colonial stock and of substantial 
P^nglish ancestry, being a direct descendant 
of Isaac Stearns, who came from England in 
1630 in the same ship, it is thought, with 
Governor Winthrop, and settled at Water- 
town, Mass., where he was admitted as a free- 
man. May 18, 1631. He served several years 
as Selectman. The next in line was his son, 
Samuel Stearns, who in turn was succeeded 
by three bearing his name, Captain Samuel of 
the fifth generation having a son William, 
who was the grandfather of Sylvanus Porter. 
William Stearns was born in Watertown, 
Mass., and in his early manhood married 
Mary, daughter of Phineas Stearns, of the 
adjoining town of Waltham. They subse- 
quently removed to this State, locating in 
Paris, where the grandfather bought eight 
liundred acres of land, a portion of which is 
included in the present Stearns homestead. 
With the true pioneer perseverance and cour- 
age he set to work clearing a homestead. He 
first built a humble log house, bringing the 
shingles to cover the roof a distance of six 
miles on a horse's back. He subsequently 



bouyht a portion of the land under cultivat ion, 
and was engaged in general farming until his 
decease, November 25, 1850, at eighty-six 
years of age. He was the father of nine chil- 
dren, namely: Mary; William, Jr., the father 
of Sylvanus Porter; Phineas; Abigail; .Sam- 
uel; Thomas; Marshall; Nancy; and 
Thomas, the second. 

William Stearns, Jr., was born in Waltham, 
Mass., Novembers, 1790, and was brought to 
Paris by his parents when hut an infant. In 
connection with carpentering, a trade whicli 
he learned when young, he was engaged in 
farming throughout his )X-ars of activitv. He 
succeeded to the management and ownership 
of the old homestead, and was known far and 
wide as one of the sterling farmers of his day, 
being systematic and progressive in his 
methods and successful in his various under- 
takings. In politics he was a Whig and in 
religion a Baptist. He attained a venerable 
age, dying March 20, 1877. He married Jo- 
anna Porter, who was born August 6, 1798, 
at Yarmouth, Me., a daughter of Nehemiah 
Porter. Their nuptials were solemnized on 
January 30, 1819; and their wedded life lasted 
fifty-eight years. The}' had eight children, 
namely; William Porter, born August 22, 
1 8 19, who died in January, 1890; Charles H., 
born October 28, 1820; James, born August 
9, 1823, who died in November, 1888; George 
F., born September 20, 1825; Lucy A., born 
April 12, 1828; Sylvanus Porter, born March 
20, 1832; L}clia H., born June 2, 1835, now 
the widow of the late J. K. Hammond ; and 
Mary S., born February 11, 1839. The 
mother survived her husband seventeen years 
and seven months, passing away on the 8th of 
November, 1894. 

Sylvanus Porter was the sixth child and the 
youngest of the five sons. He passed his boy- 
hood days on the old home farm, receiving his 
education in the public schools of Paris; and 
since reaching man"s estate he has been here 
engaged in farming, gardening, and dealing 
in real estate. Possessing foresight and good 
financial ability, Mr. Stearns has been emi- 
nently successful in business, accumulating 
a competency. In recent years he has been 
especially interested in building projects, and 
at the present time is erecting at South Paris 



464 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



for his (iwii occupancy one ot the most beauti- 
I'lil houses in tliis section of Oxford County. 
(Jii renioviu^L;' to it with his family he expects 
to ii\'e retired from active pursuits, enjoying 
the cK-served leisure earned by many years of 
labor. An uncompromising Republican in 
p >litics, Mr, .Stearns takes a genuine interest 
in the welfare of his native town and county. 
He has served as .Selectman two \'ears, having 
been Chairman of the Hoard one year. He is 
a inemher of the Board of Directors of the Ox- 
ford Count \- Agricultural Society, of which 
he was a Trustee three years; and he also be- 
longs to the South T'aris Grange, No. 44, 
Patrons of Husbandry. Religiously, he and 
his wife are Universalists. 

Mr. .Stearns was married April 29, 1856, to 
Isabella R. Partridge, daughter of Austin 
Partridge, of Paris. The following is a 
record of their eight children: Austin P., born 
January 20, 1858; Frank P., born October 5, 
i860: Henry K., born November 20, 1862; 
Willie C, born May 10, 1865; Mary I., born 
.September 14, 1 868 : iMiiily R., born Novem- 
ber 24, 1871, died June 14, 1875; George, 
born November 5, 1877, died January 15, 
1878: and Joan, born February 26, 1879. 
1^'rank P., the second son of Mr. and Mrs. 
Stearns, was the .State Auditor of Kansas in 
i8gi, and was a candidate for Clerk of Courts 
at Oklahoma, (^k. Ter. , in 1896. 




!5ix 1-Hp:rt mf:lli:n greenwood, 

who is successfullv engaged in the 
jewelry business in Phillips, Me., 
was born in Augusta, Me., l^'ebru- 
ar\' 2, 185^, his parents being Zina H. and 
lunih M. (Fellows) Greenwood. He was 
educated in the schools of Farmington and 
Wilton Academv. After leaving school he 
worked a few years with his father and older 
brother in carriage manufacturing, then 
learned 'the jewelry business, and opened a 
store in Phillips in March, 1S80. Six years 
later he was obliged to give up the business 
on account of poor health ; and for five years 
he worked at carpentry, after which he again 
resumed the jewelry business, which he has 
since successfully conducted, carrying a fine 
line of watches, clocks, jewelry, optical goods. 



etc. In politics he is a Republican, and is 
now serving the second year as one of the 
Assessors of the Phillips Village Corporation. 
He is a member of the Congregational church, 
and for a number of years has held the office 
of Deacon and Treasurer. 

The family is without tloubt of English 
origin, though the connection has been traced 
only to a Thomas Greenwood, who was a 
weavei' in Boston, Mass., in 1665, and who 
soon removed to that part of Cambridge now 
Brookline. He was made freeman in 168 1, 
was a member of the church, and held the po- 
sitions of Constable, Town Clerk, and Select- 
man. He married July 8, 1670, Hanna, 
daughter of John Ward. She died a few years 
later, leaving him two sons. Thomas, the 
elder, graduated at Harvard College, and was 
minister of the church in Rchoboth, Mass. 
John, the second son, became a prominent 
citizen of Newton, Mass. Thomas Green- 
wood, Sr., by his sect)nd wife, Abigail, had 
two sons. The younger, William, born Octo- 
ber 14, 1689, married June 21, 1715, Abigail, 
daughter of John Woodward, of Cambridge, 
and removed about 1725 to Sherborn, Mass. 
Here he held the responsible positions of 
Deacon, Selectman, Representative, and Town 
Clerk. He died about 1756. 

The ninth child of William Greenwood was 
Joseph, who was born June 10, 1734. He 
was a carpenter, joiner, and weaver, living 
first in Sherborn, afterward in Holden, and 
still later in Dublin, N.H., where he was the 
most prominent citizen in the town, serving as 
Selectman, Treasurer, Town Clerk, school- 
master. Justice of the Peace, and Representa- 
tive to the F'irst Pro\incial Congress of New 
Hampshire. In 1793 he removed to Maine, 
and died at Bethel, December 27, 1825. Jo- 
seph Greenwood married about 1758 his 
cousin Sarah, daughter of Josiah Greenwood. 
They had three sons — Ebenezer, born in 
'759; John, born in 1760; and Nathaniel, 
born November 6, 1761. Nathaniel Gieen- 
wood married June 24, 1782, Mary, daughter 
of Moses and Lydia (Knap) Mason. In 1793 
he removed to Bethel, Me., wdiere his wife 
died F'ebruary 25, 1S25. In 1S27 he married 
Mrs. Abigail Irving, of Paris. The later 
years of his life were spent in F\irmington, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



4f.5 



Me., where he died November 7, 1846. lie 
liad eleven children by the first marriage and 
three by the second. 

Among the former was Nathaniel, Jr., born 
December 27, 1790, in Dublin, N.H. When 
he was three years old his father removed to 
Bethel, Me., where he spent the early part of 
his life, and where he married May 11, 1815, 
Huldah, daughter of Jacob and Betty (Foster) 
Howe, her father having been a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. In January, 1832, Mr. 
Greenwood moved to P'armington, Me., where 
lie engaged in the lumber business and farm- 
ing, and where he died April 15, 1867. His 
wife, Huldah, after that lived with her .son 
Zina until her death, at the age of ninety-si.\ 
years. 

Nathaniel and Huldah (Howe) Greenwood 
were the parents of ten children; namely, 
Julia, Mason Knap, Albert Newton, Zina 
Hyde, Alfred Alanson, Marcin Almeda, Hul- 
dah Jennie, Alma Esther, Charles Mellen, and 
Charles. Julia, born March 14, 18 16, mar- 
ried in 1847 George B. Brown, of New 
Sliaron, who died May 4, 1862. They had 
three children, all of whom died young. Mrs. 
Brown now lives with her niece at Farmington 
Falls, Me. Mason Knap, born July 17, 18 18, 
died December 9, 1827. Albert Newton, 
born August 14, 1820, married Matilda Soule; 
and they removed to Fairfield, Me., where he 
carried on farming, buying and selling wool, 
sheep, etc. He was Justice of the Peace and 
County Commissioner two terms, besides doing 
quite a business in fire insurance. He died 
about 1887. His widow now lives in Nor- 
ridgewock, Me. They had one child, who 
married George Kimball, of Pittsfield, Me. 

Zina Hyde Greenwood, born .September 21, 
1824, married November 8, 1849, Emily M. 
F\'llows, born in Athens, Me., June 11, 1829. 
He settled in Augusta, Me., and pursued his 
trade as a carpenter until 1854, when he re- 
moved to Farmington, Me., where he carried 
on farming, and at one time manufactured 
carriages. The latter part of his active busi- 
ness life he was engaged in fire insurance. 
He served si.x years as Selectman of the town 
of Farmington, Me., and is a life member of 
both the State and County Agricultural Socie- 
ties. He left the farm in 1885, and now lives 



in the village of Farmington. lie and his 
wife have si.\ children — lulward, Albert M.. 
Orville S., Chester, Lizzie A., Emilie. 

Edward Greenwood, born November 17, 
1850, married January i, 1880, Emma R. 
Dutton, born in Phillips, Me., November 27, 
i860. He followed the carriage manufactur- 
ing business for a number of years in West 
P'armington. In 1890 he came to Phillips, 
Me., and went to work in the shops of the 
Sandy River Railroad Com])any, where he is 
now foreman. 

Albert Mellen Greenwood, whose name ap- 
pears at the head of this sketch, born Febru- 
ary 2, 1853, married June 22, 18S2, Affie M. 
Sanborn, born January 7, 1861. (3rville 
Short Greenwood, born July 14, 1855, married 
April 6, 1882, Cora L. Prescott, and has three 
children. Ffe is now in the hardware and 
plumbing business in Maiden, Mass. Chester, 
born December 4, 1858, married October 12, 
1884, Isabel S. Whittier; and they have four 
children. He invented and is manufacturing 
Greenwood's champion ear protectors, is also 
engaged in the telephone business, and deals 
in mill supplies in Farmington, Me. Lizzie 
Armsby, born Ajiril 13, i86[, is a school- 
teacher in Haverhill, Mass. Emilie, born 
June 28, 1863, lives with her parents in 
Farmington, where she does quite a business 
in selling tomato plants and other products of 
her hot-house. 

Alfred Alanson Greenwood, born I-"ebruary 
25, 1827, married in 1851 Eliza Ann Ness, 
who died in March, 1867, in Attica, Ind., 
where they had previously moved. He mar- 
ried the second time, in 1868, Mrs. Amelia 
Greenwood, and still lives in Attica, Ind. 
He has five children. Marcia .Almeda, born 
March 28, 1829, married July 1, 1847, Ira 
Armsby, who died September 20, 1849. .She 
married the second time October 9, 1852, 
Zadoc Mayhew, of Hampden, Me., who died 
November 2}, i860; and she married the 
third time, November 11, 1863, Cyrus G. 
Morrill, who died in Washington, D.C , April 
9, 1869. She had two children, both now 
deceased. 

Huldah Jennie Greenwood, born June 17, 
1831, was a school-teacher in Haverhill, 
Mass., where she died March 28, 1885. Alma 



46fi 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



Esther, born May ii, 1833, married in 1S58 
James II. Biillen, and removed to Kansas, and 
now lives in Oklahoma, Ok. Ter. Charles 
Mellen, born December 31, 1834, died De- 
cember 14, 1836. Charles Greenwood, born 
February 17, 1837, married November 27, 
1862, Martha A. Prescott, of Hallowell, Me. 
He carried on the hardware business, first in 
l-"armington, Me., then in Augusta, and later 
in Lewiston, Me. He now lives in .Maiden, 
Mass., and carries on a wholesale woodenvvare 
business at 4 South Market Street, Boston. 
They have had three children, but only one is 
now livinir. 




M 



EWIS A. SAWIN, an esteemed resi- 
ent of Albany township, Oxford 
County, was born here, March 20, 
1 85 5, son of Lewis H. and Lydia 
Abbott) Sawin. His maternal grand- 
father was Obed Abbott. His father, who 
was a native of Waterford, Me., remained in 
that town until one year after his marriage. 
Then, with his wife, he came to Albany, the 
birthplace of the latter, and settled on the 
farm where his son lives at present. Here he 
was engaged in farming until the end of his 
life. He died November 16, 1870, leaving a 
wife and three children to mourn his loss. 
The widow now resides on the old homestead 
with her eldest son, Lewis A. Sawin. The 
other two children were Merritt and Lottie M. 
Merritt, born on the 26th of September, 1859, 
married Nettie J. Hersey, of Waterford, by 
whom he is the father of two children — 
Annie L. and Grace. The family live with 
Mr. Sawin and his mother on the old home- 
stead. Lottie M., who was born on the loth 
of February, 186S, is a dressmaker in Au- 
burn, Me. 

The subject of this sketch received his edu- 
cation in the common schools of his native 
l)lace. With the exception of a few years, 
during which he worked in a laundry at Man- 
chester, N.H., he has resided on the home 
farm. After the death of his father he and 
his brother Merritt took charge of the farm, 
which they have since both improved and en- 
larged. They now own about one hundred 
and si.xty acres of land, comprising one of the 



most beautiful farms in the locality. Besides 
carrying on general farming they keep a neat 
little dairy. On September 2, 1893, Mr. 
Sawin was married to Miss Martha Brown, 
who was born May 30, 1S63, in Bethel, Me., 
daughter of Walter M. and Elizabeth E. 
(Mason) Brown, both of Albany. The mother 
is now deceased. The father still resides at 
Bethel, where he has spent his life. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sawin have one child, D. Holden, who 
was born June 13, 1894. In politics Mr. 
Sawin is a Democrat. Lie was Selectman of 
the township from 1887 to 1890, and he is 
now serving as Superintendent of the Board of 
Supervisors. He is a member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, O.xford Lodge, 
No. 61, of North Waterford. I\Ir. Sawin has 
been fairly successful through life, chiefly be- 
cause he has been such a hard-working, ener- 
getic man. He is both in a business way and 
socially one of the most prominent men of 
Oxford County. 




\C/V/ILLIAM BARKER, one of the lead- 
fe\/ ing farmers of New Vineyard, was 
born in this town. November 5, 
i860, son of Stephen and ICllen H. (Keith) 
Barker. Mr. Barker's grandfather, \\'illiam 
Barker, a native of Greene, Me., was the 
founder of the family in New Vineyard, where, 
after settling, he followed agriculture through- 
out the rest of his life. .Stephen Barker was 
born in New Vineyard, and always resided at 
the Barker homestead. He carried on the 
farm very successfully during the active period 
of his life, was respected as a worthy and use- 
ful citizen, and died June 4, 1893. His wife, 
Ellen, who was born in England, and accom- 
panied her parents to the L^nited States when 
she was four years old, became the mother of 
three children, namely: William, the subject 
of this sketch; and Ada E. and Ida E., twins, 
who were born October 9, 1862. Ada E. 
married Frederick A. Leavitt, and Ida E. is 
the wife of Elmore Winslow. Both husbands 
are prosperous agriculturists of Farmington. 
The mother is now the wife of George Welch, 
and resides in F"armington. 

William Barker was educated in the public 
schools of New Vineyard, and resided at home 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



467 



until he was seventeen years old. He started 
in life as a mill hand, later working at the car- 
penter's and mason's trades for about seven 
years. He bought the Barker homestead of his 
father some time before the latter's death, and 
has since been engaged there in general farm- 
ing ui)on an extensive scale. He is especially 
interested in dairying, and he raises consider- 
able stock. 

Mr. Barker was first married to Emma S. 
Wilcox, a daughter of Charles and Hannah 
Wilcox, who were prosperous farming people 
of New Vineyard. She died March 16. 1893, 
leaving one son, Almon C. , who was born Au- 
gust 2, 1885. On July 27, 1895, Mr. Barker 
contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Allie 
D, (Doyen) Walton, who was born in Lynn, 
Mass., September 21, 1863. .She is a daugh- 
ter of Charles E. and Carrie Doyen. Her 
first husband was Herbert Lester Walton, of 
New Portland, Somerset County, who died 
September 21, 1889. Mrs. l^arker's father, 
who was a shoemaker by trade, died in 1864. 
In 1870 the mother married for her second 
husband Charles E. Parst)ns, a baker of Lynn, 
who died in 1881. In November, 1883, she 
was again married, this time to Wesley Baker, 
a farmer of New Portland. He died in July, 
1890; and on March 11, 1892, she wedded her 
present husband, Fifield Luce, of Farmington 
I'^alls. He is an industrious farmer, who was 
born June 8, 1823: and Mrs. Barker's mother 
is his third wife. By her first union Mrs. 
Barker had one son, Everett P. Walton, who 
was born in March, 1889. In politics Mr. 
Barker supports the Republican party. Al- 
though not an office-seeker, he has rendered 
good service as Road Commissioner. So far 
he has met with a good share of success. 




LLIAM T. TAYLOR, formerly a 
respected resident of Porter, Oxford 
County, and an ex-Representative 
of the Maine legislature, was born in Freedom, 
N.H., April 24, 1 8 10, son of Samuel and 
Sarah C. (Towle) Porter. His father, who 
was a native of Hampton, N. H., born March 
27, 1 78 1, resided in New Hampshire until 
some time after reaching his majority. Com- 
ing then to Porter among the early settlers, 



Samuel Porter was for several years eng.iged 
in mercantile business at the village. He 
afterward moved to the farm where his grand- 



daughter, Mrs. Norton, 



now 



lives, built 



store, which he carried on in connection with 
farming and lumbering for tlie rest of liis 
life, and died August 31, 1846. His wife, 
Sarah, who was born March 2C', 178-5, in 
Epsom, N.H., bore him eight children, as 
follows: ■ William T., the subject of this 
sketch; .Samuel, Simon, and liliza Ann, who 
are no longer living; Daniel, who succes- 
sively married Jane 'Powle and Mrs. Ann An- 
drews, and is now residing in Iqipinghani 
Flails, N.H.; Josephine, also deceased; 
David, likewise deceased ; and Amos, David's 
twin brother, who married Hannah Andrews, 
and is residing in Philadelphia, Pa. The 
mother, who surxived her husband nearly 
twenty years, died April 10, 1866. 

Having acquired a good practical education, 
William T, Taylor engaged in agricultural 
pursuits in Porter. After his father's death 
he bought the interests of the other heirs to 
the homestead, anrl thereafter made it his resi- 
dence. He was very prosperous, became one 
of the most prominent farmers in the district, 
and died July 26, 1883, at the age of seventy- 
three years. Mr. Taylor first married Sally 
Rice, who, born in Buxton, Me., November 2, 
1809, died March 16, 1866. By this union 
there were four children, as follows: .Samuel, 
a real estate dealer in liast .Somerville, Mass., 
born November 11, 1835, whose wife, F~velyn 
M. (Thompson) Taylor, formerly of Cornish, 
Me., died in August, 1874; Sarah F"rances, 
who, born December 14, 1836, died October 
7, 1864, having married Josejah I-". Parsons, 
who is now living in .Somerville, Mass.; 
Ursula, born June 5, 1838, who is now the 
widow of Gilman A. Norton; and Ruth Rice, 
born October 17, 1840, who married William 
Ridlon, and died June 12, 1885, survived by 
her husband, who now resides in Boston, 
Mass. By a second marriage Mr. Taylor was 
wedded to IVIrs. Judith F". Libby. .She was a 
native of Porter, born November 13, 1821; 
and she died April 12, 1892, leaving no chil- 
dren. In politics the late Mr. Taylor was an 
active supporter of the Democratic party. At 
the age of twenty-one he was elected Town 



46S 



lUOGKAl'HUAL REVIKW 



Clork (if I'ditcr. He was afterward a member 
iif the Hoard of Selectmen, and represented 
his district in the State legislature. l'"or a 
number of years he acted as a Justice of the 
I'eace. He was widely known as an honor- 
able, upright man and an able ]5ublic servant. 
Mi's. Ursula Norton, who now owns and oc- 
cupies the Taylor homestead, was educated at 
the academy in I'arsonsfield, York County. 
( )n April t,, 187J, she was united in marriage 
to (iilnian A. Norton. He was born in 
Porter, September 18, 1838, son of Gilman J. 
and Abra (Fox) Norton, natives respectively 
of Limington and I'orter. Mr. Norton's par- 
ents, who Were well-known and prosperous 
farming people of this town, are no longer 
living. After bis marriage Mr. Norton took 
charge of the Taylor farm, relieving his wife's 
father from all cares: and he successfully man- 
aged the property until his death, which oc- 
curred January i, 1893. He was a successful 
farmer and a useful citizen, and he served the 
town ably and faithfully as a Selectman and 
Town Clerk. In politics he was an earnest 
advocate of Republican jirinciples. Mrs. 
Norton has one son, William T., who was 
born April 19, 1873, and is now residing at 
the Iioniestead. He is an active and intelli- 
gent young man. He manages the farm of 
one hundred and fifty acres with judgment, 
and his prospects in life are of a very promis- 
ing character. 




He was 
County, 
Mary R. 
side he 



AMina. R. BRADI'ORD is a pros- 
perous farmer and fruit grower of 
Hebron, owning one of the most 
e.\tensi\e farms in Oxford County. 
born in Livermore, Androscoggin 
July 4, 1823, a son of Samuel and 
(Loring) Bradford. On the paternal 
comes of Revolutionary stock, his 
grandfather, Peabody Bradford, who was a 
Massachusetts man, having served under 
Washington's banners. Samuel Bradford, 
wdio was born in a part of the State then in- 
iduded in Cumberland County, but now in 
.Androscoggin, removed to Hebron in 1825, 
and there sjient the rest of his life engaged in 
general larming. He served in the War of 
181 2, was a member of the Congregational 



church, olificiating as Deacon for a number of 
years, and died at the advanced age of ninety- 
one. His wife, a member of the same church, 
was born in Hebron, where she passed all her 
life, and died at the age of eighty-four. 
Their children were: Samuel R., Mary (ane, 
and Horace L. The latter, who was born 
I'ebruary 26, 1836, died on November 11 of 
the same year. 

.Samuel R. liradfortl acquired a common- 
schocd etlucation in Hebron. Being the only 
child of his parents who attained maturity, he 
remained with them until he was twenty-five 
years old, when he purchased a farm in his na- 
tive town. This was the nucleus of his pres- 
ent estate, which covered about three hundred 
acres of land. He is engaged in mi.xed hus- 
bandry and fruit culture, and his farm is one 
of the best in the localit)-. He is a member 
of the grange at West Minot, Androscoggin 
County, and was Master of the subordinate 
grange in that county for ten years and of the 
O.xford County Grange for five years. 

On June 27, 1847, Mr. Bradford was united 
in marriage with Miss Ro.xanna Whitamore, 
of Hebron, who died at the age of forty-nine 
years, eight months, and six days, leaving one 
son, Francis W., now in the milk business in 
Portland, Me. There were two other children 
by this union, namely: Henry R., who died 
at the age of eighteen; and Ada, who died at 
the age of thirteen years and ten months. Mr. 
Bradford was again married January 29, 1873, 
when Miss Martha E. Millett, of West Minot, 
Androscoggin County, became his wife. By 
this union he has one son, Samuel E., who is 
living with his parents. Mr. Bradford, who 
is a stanch Republican, has taken an active 
part in local politics. He has served as 
Selectman for three terms. He is not a pro- 
fessing church member. Mrs. Bradford is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



OSHUA R. HOWARD, of Hanover, 
Me., is a man of varied abilities and 
accomplishments, being a practical 
farmer, a carpenter by trade, an experi- 
enced and ]3opular teacher of vocal music, and 
late a conunissioned officer in the Army of the 
Rejiublic. He was born in this town, which 



bioc;rai'1ik'al rkvikw 



469 



was formcrl)' knnwii as Ildwarcl (jorc, Xovcni- 
bcr 3, icS35, siiii (if Joseph ami Zciuiah (Rub- 
orts) Howard. 

His grandfather, Phincas Howard, was a 
native of Temple, N.H. Having lived there 
on a farm during his boyhood years, when quite 
a young man he came to Oxford County and 
jiurchased a large tract of lanti — in fact, all of 
that now included in the town of Hanover, he 
being one of the first to settle here. He 
erected saw, grist, and carding mills, which 
he operated for several years. His success in 
the management of his own affairs caused his 
judgment to be frequently sought in matters 
of public interest, and during the active years 
of his life he was one of the leading men of 
O.xford Count\'. He lived to be eighty-four 
years of age. 

Piis son Joseph was lioin in Hanover, and 
was a lifelong resident of the town, his death 
occurring at the age of seventy-five years. He 
was a successful farmer. In political views he 
was a Democrat, but in\-ariably refused all 
official honors. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Zeruiah Roberts, was born in Hanover, 
and lived here imtil hei- death at sixty-nine 
years. Both were acti\e and influential mem- 
bers of the Methodist Jipiscoiial church. 
Their seven children are; Arabella, wife of 
Henry M. Abbott, of Rumford, Me. ; Milton 
R., a resident of Welchville, Me. ; Joshua R. ; 
Osmond P., a farmer in the town of Rumford; 
I'hilantha L., wife of Isaac C. Wight, of 
Dummer, Coos County, N.H. ; Xex'ille S., 
a farmer in Hanover; and Sarah P., wife of 
I'rescott (ioud, of Dummer, N.H. 

Joshua R. Howard, the second son as the 
names are here recorded, received in his early 
years a common-school education to fit him for 
the duties of life. He remained at home until 
eighteen years of age, then began working at 
the carpenter's trade in Manchester, N.H., 
where he was employed until after the begin- 
ning of the Civil War. .September 10, i<S62, 
he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-third 
Maine Regiment. A short time after he was 
promoted to the rank of Sergeant; and still 
later he became Second Lieutenant, Henry B. 
Cleaves, the present Governor of Maine, being 
First Lieutenant in the home company. Lieu- 
tenant Howard was out about eleven months. 



two months be\-ond the term of liis enlistment. 
Seven months were spent in guard tluty be- 
tween Harper's I'erry and Washington, D.C. ; 
and the remaintler of the time he was at Alex- 
andria, \'a. On his return from the war he 
settled in (jorhani, \'.il., where he worked at 
the carpenter's trade until about 1X71, then 
went to .Stark. N.H., and for cle\'en years had 
chaige of the repairs on a large mill. .\t the 
expiration of that time he came to Oxford 
Count>' and puichased the farm on which he 
still resides, the im])lements of carpentry ha\'- 
ing been laid aside lukI the years profitably 
spent in agricultural pursuits. 

On April 10, 1877, Mr. Howard was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary E. R_\'erson, a daughter of 
Nathan P. Ryerson, of the adjoining ti'wn of 
Newry. In .18(84, about seven years alter 
their marriage, Mrs. Howartl had the great 
misfortune to lose her eyesight. 

Mr. Howard has always taken a deei> inteust 
in local political matters. In 189:; he was the 
Democratic nominee for I\e])resentati\'e from 
this district to the .State legislature, but was 
defeated, owing to the strength of the Re])uh- 
lican party. He has filled the office of -Select- 
man \'er)' acceptablv for ten \ears, has ser\'ed 
on the .School Committee and as Chairman 
of the Board of Health. Although not a 
church member he contributes freely towartl 
church work, and is a member of the choir 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has 
taught singing-school in this vicinity for sev- 
eral \ears. 



LlI>BRH)(;i'; DILL, one of the largest real 
Pl estate owners and most extensive 
''^*" ' ^ farmers of Phillips, P'ranklin County, 
Me., was born in Berlin, Me., October 4, 
1834, son of Orrison and Mary J. (Hammond) 
Dill. Mr. Dill's grandfather, James Dill, 
was a native of Greene or Lewiston, Me., who 
settled in Berlin, and there spent his active 
years in farming, being quite a ]irominent man 
in his day. He died May 12, 1867, aged 
eighty-four years and ten months. He was 
three times married; and by his union with 
his first wife, formerly a Miss Eliot, there 
were three children, of whom the onl\- sur- 
vivor is Seward, a resident of California, who 



47° 



BIOGRAI'IIICAI, RKVIKW 



is iKiw eighty-six years old. By his union 
with Mary Goff, his second wife, there were 
twelve children, two of whom are living, 
namely: Ansel, a resident of Phillips; and 
Delany, widow of William Lake, late of 
]-"armington. The family name of his thirtl 
wife was Hodsdon. 

Orrison Dill, Mr. l)iirs father, was born 
in Berlin, and was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits. A stirring and industrious farmer and 
a worth}', upright man. he served the town of 
Berlin two years as a .Selectman; and he was 
Highwa)' Agent for some time. In politics 
he was a Whig. He died at the age of 
se\'enty-nine vears. His wife, Mary J. Ham- 
mond, was a native of Avon. Me. They had 
four children, three of whom are living, 
namely: Lettice, who is the wife of Joseph 
l'"airbanks, of Granite Falls, Minn. ; Charles 
()., who resides in Phillips; and Elbridge, the 
subject of this sketch. 

P'lbridge Dill acquired a common-school 
education in his boyhood, and after completing 
his studies he assisted his father for two years 
on the home farm. He then engaged in agri- 
cultural labors upon his own account, first 
buying the present Graffam place, where he 
resided for three years, and then buying the 
Benjamin Wilbur farm in Phillips, where he 
has since li\ed. He has been exceedingly 
jirosperous fr<im the start, and owns at the pres- 
ent time a large amount of valuable real estate 
in this town, consisting of five farms, two of 
tiirty acres each, one of thirtv acres, one of 
sevent}' acres, and one of one hundred acres. 
He has made various improvements in his 
homestead property, both upon the land and 
buildings, having one of the finest residences 
in this town; and his large barn, which is one 
hundred and twenty-eight by forty-four feet, is 
tested to its fullest capacity in holding his 
hay and cattle. He cuts an average of one 
hundred tons ot hay annually, and his last 
year's hay crop amounted to one hundred and 
fifty-si.\ loads. He also raises large crops of 
grain and other jiroducts. He keeps an aver- 
age of over thirt}- head of registered Hereford 
stock, making a specialty of this breed; and 
he has eight horses. 

Mr. I':ibridge Dill and (Jctavia H. Bangs, 
a native of Phillips, were married on March 



lo, iS6o, and are the parents of eight children, 
as follows: Myra B., who is living at home 
with her parents; George B. and Seward E. , 
both residents of PLverett, Mass. ; Charles E. , 
who lives in Strong, Me. ; Lizzie M., Robert 
O., Willie A., and Joseph H., all of whum are 
living at the homestead. 

In the capacity of Highway .Siuveyor, for a 
number of \ears Mr. Dill rendered good ser- 
vice to the town. In jjolitics he is a Demo- 
crat ; and dining the recent campaign, 1896, 
he supported the sound money wing of that 
party. He is one of the Trustees of the P'rank- 
lin Agricultural Society, and was instrumental 
in placing it ui^on a sound financial basis. 
His ability to persevere and succeed is fully 
demonstrated by the position he now' occupies 
among the most prominent and wealthy resi- 
dents of Phillips, his success being the result 
of his own personal energy. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dill attend the Union and ^Iethodist churches, 
but are Universalists in religious belief, trust- 
ing that good will come at last to all. 




ILLIAM B. BRADLP:V, formerly 
a successful stock raiser in the I'ar 
West, who is now living in retire- 
nient in his native town, h'ryeburg, Me., was 
born August 20, 1843, son of Alexander R. 
and Mary O. (Barrows) Bradley. Mr. Brad- 
ley's paternal grandfather, Robert Bradley, a 
native of Concord, N.H., settled in Fryeburg 
in 1801 ; and he was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits here for the rest of his life. 

Alexander R. ]-!radley, son of Robert, was 
a prominent lawyer of his day. He was a man 
of sterling abilit\', possessing brilliant legal 
attainments; and he practised successfully in 
the courts of Xew Hampshire and in Oxford 
County, Maine. He resided in Fryeburg for 
many years, and died in this town in February, 
1862. He married Mary O. Barrows, of Yar- 
mouth, daughter of William Barrows, and a 
sister of Judge Barrows, an Associate Justice 
of the Supreme Court of Maine. She became 
the mother of thirteen children, as follows: 
Samuel A., who is no longer living ; Alexan- 
der Stewart, who is now a lawyer in Chicago, 
111.; Maiy P". , who died in February, 1896; 
Williani 15., the subject of this sketch; Rich- 



iii()(;r.\i'iiic.\l rkvikw 



47' 



ard. who is now a resident ot llie State ol 
Washington; iM'ank Y. , who died in US90 ; 
(k'orge'P. , a surgeon in the United States 
Navy; Daniel \V. , who is conducting a real 
estate business in Denver, Col. ; John J., who 
was drowned in Lovell's Pond in 1876; and 
four others who died in infancy. Mrs. Mary 
O. Bradley died in December, i86[. 

William H. Bradley, the third of the eight 
sons above mentioned, when he was two )ears 
old went to live in l^ridgton with his uncle, 
Thomas I". I'erley. He accompanied his rela- 
tives to St. John, I'la. , where he remained 
until he was about seventeen years of age; and 
he then returned to Fryeburg. He acquired 
a college education: and some time after his 
return from I'lorida he went to leside with an 
uncle in Washington, D.C., where he re- 
mained about thirteen months. After another 
visit to his native town he went to Washington 
Territory, where he engaged in sheep raising, 
a business which proved exceedingly profitable; 
and in 18S2 he retired with a fortime sufficient 
to make him independent for the rest of his 
life. Returning once more to Fryeburg, he 
purchased his present residence, which is one 
of the handsomest dwellings on Main Street; 
and he has since passed his time in managing 
his investment interests. He also owns a 
large farm, which is carried on by hired assist- 
ants; and he is to-day one of the mo.st wealthy 
residents of this town. 

In December. 1882, Mr. Hratlley was united 
in marriage with Almira T. Blake, who was 
born in Bridgton, Me. Her father. Dr. Josiah 
Blake, who was formerly a well-known phy- 
sician of that town, is no longer living. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bradley have one daughter, Annie 
Carey. 

In politics Mr. Bradley has supported the 
Democratic party since becoming a voter until 
the recent election in the autumn of 1896, 
when, on account of his views in regard to the 
money question, he felt compelled to act with 
the Republicans. As one of the native-born 
citizens of F'ryeburg and one whose family 
has had an abiding-place here for nearly a cen- 
tury, he takes an active interest in the general 
welfare of the town; and he is highly re- 
spected by all. Mrs. Bradley is a member of 
the New Church at I'ryeburg village. 




J?EI. S.WBOR.X, an able and success- 
d farmer of l'ryel)urg, was born in 
J|^\ this town, I'ebruary 2^,, 1834, son of 
Jonathan and Betsey (Lord) Sanborn. 
Mr. Sanlxirn's father, who was a nati\e of 
Limerick, Me., .settled in l''i\-cburg when he 
was twenty-one years old, and, selecting a 
tract of wild land, improved it into the farm 
now (iwned b\' his sun. He cnntinued to till 
the soil as a general fanner during his years of 
activitw and he li\eil to the ativanced age of 
eightv-nine years. His wife, Betsey Lord 
Sanborn, was a nati\e of Denmark, Me. She 
became the mother of twelve children, of whom 
four are living, namel)' : Jonathan, who resides 
in Windham, Me.; James C. , now of Has- 
tings, Minn. ; FLlias, a resident nf Bu.xton. 
Me. ; and Abel, the subject of this sketch. 
The others were; liliza; Joanna; Mary L. ; 
Lorana ; Daniel, who died while serving as a 
soldier in the Civil War; Deborah; Laura; 
and Job L. , the last named being killed in the 
Rebellion. Mi'. .Sanborn's mother died at the 
age of sixty-four _\ears. 

Abel .Sanborn recei\'etl a common-school 
education, and upon finishing his studies 
began to assist his father u])on the farm. 
Continuing to reside with his parents, he cared 
for them during their declining years, and 
eventually succeeded to the ownership of the 
homestead. Besides the original property of 
one hundred acres cleared and cultivated by 
his father, he has added one hundred and fifty 
acres of adjoining land, thus making a large 
farm, which gives him ample sco|)e to display 
his energy as an agriculturist. The im|irove- 
ments he has made upon the land and buildings 
have greatly enhanced the value of the prop- 
erty and increased his facilities for raising 
large and superior crops. He makes a spe- 
cialty of raising sweet corn, apples, and ha\'. 

On March 27. 1859, Mr. Sanljorn wedded 
Amelia Thompson, who was born in Liming- 
ton. Me., January 19, 1836, daughter of 
Sewall and Statira (I.ibby) Thompson. Her 
father resided for many years in Limington, 
where he followed the carpenter's trade in 
connection with farming. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn have had four chil- 
dren, as follows: Sewall T., born August 30, 
1861, died July 26, 1S62; Sewall T. , second. 



472 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



liorn I'cbniary 21, 1863, married Lucy Iv 
Warren, of Conway, N. II., and is now in the 
grocery business in Chelsea, Mass. ; iMank M., 
born .Septenilier Ti, 1X67, married Mary A. 
Howe, and is now engaged in the bakery busi- 
ness in Chelsea; and Walter L., born Decem- 
ber 6, 1869, is residing at home. 

Politically, Mr. Sanborn is a Republican, 
but is connected with Fryeburg Lodge, Inde- 
])endent Order of Odd Fellows, Pequaket 
Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and witli the 
grange at Fryeburg Centre. He is well 
known as a capable, industrious farmer and an 
upright, worthy citizen, and enjoys the good 
will of his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. 
Mrs. Sanborn is a member of the Congrega- 
tional church. 




VOUIS \'()T]<:i<, a rising young lawyer 
and the present efficient Town Clerk 
of I'"armington, Me., is a represent- 
ative of the f(jurth generation of his 
family in this .State. He was born in Madrid, 
Franklin County, Me.,. March 14, 1862, son 
of Gilbert and Nancy (Bangs) \'oter. 

His paternal grandfather, whose name he 
bears, Louis \'()tei', first, was born in 1774, in 
Freetown, Mass., being, howe\'er, of ]'"rench 
e.xtraction. At the age of nineteen he accom- 
panied his uncle, John Votei", to Maine, and, 
settling upon lot Xo. 2^ in the town of 
Farmington, he built a |)rimitive log cabin. 
He cleared a good farm from the wilderness, 
later erecting a set of frame buildings; and he 
continued a prosperous tiller of the soil until 
his death, which took ]ilace in 1840. On No- 
vember 28, 1799, he married Sally Backus, 
daughter of Nathaniel Backus; and she was a 
most valuable and faithful helpmate in the 
establishment of their home and their later 
progress. The family of Louis and Sally B. 
Voter consisted of eleven children, as follows: 
Mary S. ; Nathaniel B. ; Louis, Jr.; Warren; 
Sarah B. ; Gilbert; Keziah ; Flmina C. ; 
Franklin; Julia A. ; and John ]5. Mr. Voter's 
grandmother lived to be eighty-two years old. 

Gilbert Voter, fourth son of Louis, first, 
was born in Farmington, Me., March 20, 
181 I. When a young man he jjought a small 
farm near his father's property; but later he 



sold it and moved to Salem, Me., where he 
settled upon uncultivated land. After clear- 
ing a good farm and erecting a set of buildings, 
he sold that property, and, removing to Ma- 
drid, cleared and improved another farm from 
the wilderness. ]5ut. having accomplished all 
this, he did not live much longer to enjoy the 
fruits of his toil. Overwork had injured his 
health ; and he died of dysentery on September 
12, 1863. He was respected as an exceed- 
ingly industrious and w^orthy citizen. His 
wife, Nancy Bangs, whom he married Novem- 
ber 29, 1838, still survives. She has reared 
eight children, namely: Sally; La Forest G. ; 
Imogene; Warren S. ; Allen 11; Calista F. ; 
FTora A. ; and Louis, the subject of this 
sketch. 

Louis \'oter attended the town schools of 
Phillips until he was nine years old, when he 
continued his education in Lewiston. He 
prepared for his collegiate course at the Nich- 
ols Latin School in that city, and after pursu- 
ing his studies two years in Bates College he 
taught eighteen terms of school. He began 
the study of law in the office of V. K. Timber- 
lake, of Phillips, later coming to P'armington, 
where he continued his studies with K. O. 
Greenleaf; and, being admitted to the Frank- 
lin Count}' liar in June, 1 8c)4, he located here 
permanently, and has acquired a large and 
profitable general law [iractice. . 

Ill politics Mr. \'oter is an active supporter 
of the Republican jiarty, which his father 
joineil at the time of its formation ; and, ha\- 
ing been elected Town Clerk in 1894, he has 
ably and satisfactorily filled that office ever 
since. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, 
Independent Order of Odd I-'ellows, and of the 
encampment. He is also connected with the 
Good Templars, being now District Templar 
of P'ranklin District Lodge, and has renderetl 
much valuable assistance to the cause of tem- 
perance and total abstinence. 



ISAAC F. JKWIiTT, of Waterfonl, 0.\- 
ford County, Me., unites in his \eins the 
blood of two old and highly respected 
New England families. The son of 
Eben and Tabitha (Frye) Jewett, he was born 
in Waterford, November 24, 1843. His 



ri()c;rafiii(AI, revikw 



473 



jrraiKlfather, I'lljcn Icwett, Sr., was burn in 



Massachusetts in i 



//-• 



In 1790, with his 



father, Captain Stephen Jewett, an officer of 
tlie State militia, he remoxed fnini Rowley, 
Mass., to Waterford, Me., where they engaged 
in agricultural pur.suits. Eben Jewett, .Sr. , 
married Miss Susan .Stickney, of Rmvley. 

Their sun, Eben Jewett, Jr. ,.was born in 
Waterford, and spent his life there as a tiller 
of the soil. He died in the spring of iS6i. 
His wife was the grand-daughter of General 
loseph Frye, the founder of Fryeburg, Me. 
She was caJled to rest in 1871. This couple 
were the parents of nine children, namely: 
Henrv A., born December 22, 1820; Isaac 
v.. born January 30, 1822, who died in in- 
fancy; Nathaniel, born October 27. 1824, who 
died young; -Samuel, who also died before 
attaining maturity; Abbie, deceased; Samuel 
S. , born February 20, 1830, who died in May, 
1 88 1 ; Noyes F. , born July 5, 1834, who died 
in 1852; Susan P., born Ajjril 7, 1836, who 
died in 1867; and Isaac F. , the subject of this 
sketch. 

Isaac F. Jewett acquired his education in 
the common schools of his native town, and 
spent the early part.of his life, with the e.xcep- 
tion of one year, on the home farm. In his 
nineteenth year, May 31, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company D, Sixteenth Regiment of Maine 
Volunteers, and was mustered in at Waterford 
with the rank of Corporal. After reaching the 
seat of war in the South he was in several ! 
skirmishes and important battles, and on De- 
cember 13. 1862, he was shot through the left 
thigh. The wound was a severe and painful 
one; and he was not able to leave the hospital 
until October, 1863. As .soon as he was able 
to move about he was assigned to the Veteran 
Reserve Corps on detached service, and was on 
guard duty about Washington, D. C, until 
July, 1865, when he received his discharge. 
Returning to W^aterford he was employed for a 
year in the general store of Rand & Jewett, 
and then purchased a farm in North Waterford, 
which he was engaged in cultivating for ten 
years. Selling his farm he worked for four 
years in a spool-mill, and ne.\t took charge of' 
C. D. Morse's general store at Waterford 
Mat. He was in trade for a number of years, 
but was finallv obliged to retire on account of 



rheumatism and troulile from the wound re- 
ceived while in the armw 

Mr. Jewett was married .November 5, 1870. 
to Nancy B., daughter of John C. C. and VA\/, 
abeth (Brown) Wari'en, of Waterford. She 
was born in Waterford, Jul}' 7, 1849, and has 
one sister antl twn iMothcrs — Jennie L., wife 
of L. G. .Stone, of Waterford, a carpenter; 
George L. , who married Miss Jessie Bennett, 
of Bridgton.Me. ; and Jesse W., an attorney in 
Wilton, Me., who married Miss Lucy Ma\o. 
Mr. Jewett has many social affiliations, be- 
longing to Mount Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, 
A. F. & A. M., of Waterford; O.\ford Lodge, 
No. 61, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of 
North Waterford, the Order of the I^aslern 
Star, and the Daughters of Rebecca. He is 
widelv known and holds the regard of a large 
circle of friends. 



OHN J. CALHOUN, a leading mer- 
chant of Rumford I""alls, was born in 
Orwell, \'t., Jinie 20, 1865. He is 
the eldest of the eleven children of 
David I'arker and Sylvia Ann (Witherbee) 
Witherbce. As his ojjportunities for attend- 
ing school were few, young Witherbee at the 
age of eleven years left home and walked 
eighteen miles to the village of Orwell with 
the view of earning the means to educate him- 
self. He found employment at the house of a 
physician, for whom he worked mornings and 
evenings and during the summer vacations, for 
his board and clothing, with the privilege of 
attending school. After remaining there four 
years he was employed as a farm assistant for 
a year. Then the Rev. S. F. Calhoun, a Con- 
gregational preacher, who had no children of 
his own. becoming interested in the struggling 
youth, adopted him, at the same time having 
his name changed to Calhoun by act of legis- 
lature. 

John J. Calhoun graduated with honor from 
the Orwell High School. He subsequently 
taught school for several terms in that locality, 
and then entered Phillips E.xeter Academy, 
where he pursued a four years' course, retain- 
ing a position at the head of his class all the 
way through. It had been his intention to 
enter Harvard Lniversitv; but (in account of 



474 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



impaired sight, caused by ])rolonged study, he 
was obliged to change his plans, and he decided 
to Inin his attention to mercantile pursuits. 
In furtherance of this purpose he took a com- 
meicial course at Eastman's National Business 
College in Poughkeepsie, X. \'. , where he 
graduated second in his class. He then went 
to J?oston, and secured a position as travelling 
representative for the Gurne_\' Hot Water Heat- 
ing Company. For this firm he travelled 
thidiigh the .\ew England States until the fall 
of 1S92, when he discovered what he con- 
sidered a good oiiening in Riimforil Falls. 
Thereupon he started a furniture store here, 
and established himself in trade, becoming 
the third merchant doing business in the 
place. His stock now includes house furnish- 
ings of every description, and he has a profit- 
able trade. He is a Director of the Odd I-'el- 
lows Huilding Association and of the Rumford 
Falls i^uikling Association. 

On August 4, 1S91, Mr. Calhoun wedded 
Grace V.. Mallon, of E.xeter, N. H., who grad- 
uated fiom the Robinson I'emale Seminary 
after a course of eight \ears. Thev have one 
daughter, Mae Mallon. 

In ]iolitics Mr. Calhoun actively supjiorts 
the RciHiblican partv, and is Ti'easurer of the 
Reiuiblican Club, having also served as ballot 
clerk. A man of much ability and scholarly 
attainments, he takes great interest in the moral 
anil educational advancement of the community. 
He is connected with Hlazing .Star Lodge, No. 
30, .\. 1". & A. M., and is \'icc-Grand of 
I'enacook Lodge, .\o. 130, Iiulei)endent Ordei' 
of Odd Fellows, of this town. In his religious 
belief he is a Methodist, ami he has official 
connection with the local society as Trustee 
and recortling secretary of the Hoard of Stew- 
ards. Mrs. Calhoun is a member of the Bap- 
tist church. 



TT^LARENCE E. FOSTER, who culti- 
I \y vates a large farm in Buckfield, Me., 
^is^^ and is also interested in stock deal- 
ing and lumbering, was born in East 
Machias, Washington County, Me., February 
12, 1848, son of Moses and Elizabeth (Corn- 
stock) Foster. 

Mr. Foster's father was a native of ICast 



Machias, and upon reaching manhood engaged 
as a lumber operator. He carried on business 
in different localities, finally settling in 0.\- 
ford County; and he continued to reside in 
this part of the State until his death, which 
took place in Paris when he was fifty years old. 
An able and industrious business man and 
a worthy citizen, he took a liberal view of re- 
ligious matters; and in politics he was a Dem- 
ocrat. His wife, Elizabeth Comstock, who 
was a native of I{astport, Me., became the 
mother of si.x children, as follows : Sarah O. ; 
Clara O. ; Mary L. ; Clarence 1{. , the subject 
of this sketch; Lucian W. ; and Alma M. 
Mr. F"oster's mother lived to reach the age of 
sevent\-si.\ years. 

Clarence E. Foster grew to manhood in 
Paris, where his education %vas commenced in 
the town schools, his course of study being 
completed at the Hebron Academy. At the 
age of twenty-one he began to work b\- the 
month as a farm assistant, receiving for his 
services the highest wages of any young man 
in the neighborhood; and b}- carefully saving 
his earnings he soon realized a sufficient sum 
with which to engage in agricultural pursuits 
upon his own account. Buying a farm of 
sex'enty acres in the town of Buckfield, he car- 
lied on general farming so energetically and 
with such good results that in 1888 he was 
able to ]un"chase a much larger piece of pro]o- 
erty, his present farm, to which he removed in 
that _\ear. He owns three hundred acres of 
land, which includes some of the richest soil 
and most desirable ])roperty f(ji' genenil agri- 
cultural purposes in this localitx'; and he is 
not only one of the most extensive farmers 
here, but also one of the most diligent, saga- 
cious, progressive, and successful. Aside from 
tilling the soil and dealing in live stock he 
has utilized his otherwise unoccupied time 
during the winter season by carrying on lum- 
bering operations, in which his capacity for 
hard work and his good judgment have been 
fully demonstrated; and he is still actively 
engaged in conducting a profitable business. 

On August 20, 1880, Mr. Foster was united 
in marriage with Lelia Winslow. She was 
born in Buckfield, September 23, 1855, daugh- 
ter of Kendall and Melissa (Jordan) Winslow, 
well-known residents of this town and repre- 



BIOGRAPHrCAL REVIEW 



475 



■scntatives of highly reiuitable families. Mr. 
and Mrs. Foster arc the parents of seven chil- 
cli-en ; namely, Maud A., Mary L. , Ainos C. , 
Melissa Leora, Stanley Iv, J-iessie Agnes, and 
Florence L. 

Although not in an_\' way an as|3irant for 
public office, Mr. I<"oster takes more than an or- 
dinary interest in local affairs and the general 
progress of the town. A few years ago he was 
elected a member of the Hoard of Selectmen, 
in which capacity he served with ability for 
one term. He supports the Democratic party 
in politics, and both he and Mrs. Foster are 
liberal in their religious views. 




'^l^yi?,FA. T. MASON, one of Franklin 
County's prosperous practical farmers, 
a highly respected citizen of New 
.Sharon, was born in Norridgewock, 
Somerset County, Me., on the 9th of May, 
1835, son of John and Cynthia (Curtis) Mason. 

Mr. Mason's grandfather lived in Hloomfield, 
and he died there at an advanced age. His 
son, John Mason, went to Norridgewock when 
a yoLuig man, bought a farm of one hundred 
acres of wild land there, and proceeded to clear 
and cultivate a [Kirtion of it, ten acres in ex- 
tent. Hy dint of hard and assicUious labor, 
and with the help of his wife, whom he mar- 
ried in the little town of Athens, Me., he 
made a fair living. Jolm Mason leniained at 
Norridgewock, cultivating his farm there foi" 
twenty years; but selling that place in 1 .S46 
he moved with his family to Mercer, where he 
bought another farm of one hundred acres. 
He remained at Mercer, living the laborious 
and useful life of a farmer up to the time of 
his death, which occurred in 1.S71. John 
Mason and his wife Cynthia were the jxirents 
of nine children : William, who died in 1894; 
Ripley 1'^ , who lives in \'erniont ; Ansel T., 
of whose life this is a short sketch; I-jnma, 
who lives at I,owell, Mass.; Fcvi P., who 
lives at Carthage, Me. ; Alexander, who died 
in the Civil War; Flla, who lives in Milford. 
Me. ; Edwin F. , who died in extreme infancy; 
another Edwin I-"., who lives at l-'armington. 
Me. 

Ansel T. Mason spent most of his boyhood 
on his father's farm at Norridgewock, at the 



age of eleven going from theie to Mercer, 
where he resumed his interrupted studies at 
the public schools. .\t the age of seventeen 
he went to work in a logging camj) about one 
hundred miles above the town of New .Sharon, 
deep in the wilderness. He remained theie 
for a season, and then returned to Mercer. lie 
worked on the surrounding farms, and later 
came to New Sharon, where he worked on a 
farm for two years, chiefly for Mr. John Dyei", 
a resident of New .Sharon. Later still, when 
he came of age, he returned to New Shaion, 
and undertook the running of the farm where 
he now lives, managing it for Oliver Could on 
shares. He made a success of it, dciing his 
youth and his ability at once great credit, and 
continued in this wa)- for five years, when he 
bought out Mr. C.ould's interests and made the 
farm his own ])ropcrty. Since that time the 
work has been a labor of love alone, and he 
has made a beautiful and attracti\-e place of 
the farm, on which, so to speak, he worketl mit 
his apprenticeship. His original purchase was 
a farm of only one hniidred acres in extent; 
but he now owns over three hundred, including 
much valuable timber land. 

Mr. Mason's fiist wife, formerl\- IJzzie 
West, of Jay, died in 1863, leaving (ine child 
— Addie, bom in 1862, who died in 1886. 
His second wife, Nancy A. Tolman, of New 
.Sharon, died in 1882, antl left five children, 
of wJKim fdui' are still living, as follows: 
John '1'., born l*"ebi-uar\- 2/. 1 S69, who was 
educated at the New .Shamn schools, and, 
being unmai-iied, lives at hnme; l^zra W. , 
born Ajiril iS, 1871, whu was, like his 
brother, educated at the New .Sharon schools, 
but at the age of twenty left home to go to 
Haldwinville, Mass., where he works for Mr. 
Day, of the firm of Day & Smith of that town; 
A. Hert, born March 8, 1877, who received his 
early educati<in at the schools of New .Sharon, 
and in 1893 entered Wilton Academy, where 
he is still studying, being employed during 
the summer months in the chaii- factor}- of Day 
& Smith, where his brother Ezra works; 
Harold, horn April 4, 1882, who lives at 
home in New Sharon, and is still attending 
school ; and Bertha E. Mason, who was born on 
September 27, 1873, died October 27, 1879. 
On the 28th of September, 1889, Mr. Mason 



476 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



married I'ltnence E. Hanilen, the daughter of 
Lauriston and Mary A. Harnlcn, of New Sharon. 
Mr. Mason is and has always been a hard- 
working man, antl has invariahl)- refrained 
from acce|jting aii_\' town offices. In politics 
he is a stanch Kepulilican, and in his religious 
belief a Congregational ist. His prosperity 
can hardly fail to prove his tireless industry 
and his keen intellect. He is especially fond 
of live stock, antl usually has a great number 
of animals on his ]ilace ; but he is just now 
a little short, although he owns at the present 
time one liundred and fifty sheep with coarse 
wool, six handsome Jersev cnws, and five 
horses. 



/§> 



KORGE W. HOBBS, of Norway, Me., 
\ '•) I proprietor and manager of the largest 
^-'^ variety store in the county, was born 
here, November 30, 1845, son of J. Welling- 
ton and F"anny O. (Greenleaf) Hobbs. His 
great-grandfather, Jeremiah Hobbs, who was 
born in Hopkinton, Mass., in 1747, settled in 
Norway a number of years after his marriage, 
and died January 7, 1814. His wife, Anna 
Fowler, who was born in 1746, died January 
18, 1824, surviving him ten years. They 
were the parents of nine children, as follows: 
Olive, born in May, 1771: Miriam, born July 
17, 1772; Wealthy, born February 10, 1774; 
Anna, born March 15, 1776; Daniel, born 
.September 17, 1778: William, born in 1780; 
Sally, born January, 1782; Jeremiah, born 
January 17, 1785. and Lydia, born in Nor- 
way, August 20, 1789. 

William Hobbs, the next lineal ancestor in 
this particular branch, settled at Norway 
Centre, where he followed farming, was one 
of the first traders, and also owned and oper- 
ated a saw-mill and grist-mill, engaging in 
his various callings with a good degree of 
success. He married Miss Catherine Wether- 
bee, and their union was blessed by the birth 
of the following children: Charlotte, born Oc- 
tober 29, 1808; William W., horn March 28, 
1810: Jeremiah Wellington, horn June 8, 
[814; Charles L., born June 10, 1S16; Henry 
H., born March 13, 1820: Milton W., born 
August 30, 1823; Cornelius W. , born January 
5, 1S26. 



In early manhood J. Wellington Hobbs, 
second son of William, taught school for some 
time in Massachusetts. He then came to 
Norway and built a house, continuing to en- 
gage in teaching in this and adjoining towns. 
He died on Februar\- 16, 1871. In politics 
he was first a Whig and later a Democrat. 
Mrs. Fanny O. Greenleaf Hobbs, his wife, 
lived to be eighty-four years old. They had 
three children, namely: Wellington, born 
December 25, 1844; George W., born Novem- 
ber 30, 1845: and Catherine S., born Mav 28, 
1847. 

After acquiring his education George W. 
Hobbs, who was the second son of his parents, 
was employed for two years in the general 
store of Frost & Whitcomb, of Norway; one 
year in New Market, N.H.; one year in 
Ridgeway, Pa. ; one year in Manhattan, Kan- 
sas, and Mandeville in Northern Missouri; 
two years with M. H. Greenleaf, a manufact- 
urer, Brighton, Mass. In 1876 he started a 
variety store where the present one stands. 
The original store was burned in 1894, and he 
has since erected a fine new bLiilding, forty by 
sixty feet, the entire front of which is plate 
glass. The first story is one large store occu- 
pied entirely by himself, and stocked with a 
large line of crockery, tinware, wall paper, 
and fancy goods in great variety. The second 
story, in which he lives, is thoroughly fitted 
up in modern style with electric lights, steam 
heat, and other conveniences. Mr. Hobbs 
owns a number of building lots, on which he 
has erected several houses, of which he still 
has two. He also owns a fine farm of three 
hundred acres on Pike Hill, which he carried 
on himself for several years, but now rents it. 

Mr. Hobbs and Miss Emma E. Wardwell, 
daughter of Eben F. and Sarah (Berce) Ward- 
well, were united in marriage on May 16, 
1876. They are the parents of three children, 
namely: Mary Emma, born September 10, 
1879, who died September 6, 1890; Fanny 
G., born December 2^, 1881 ; and Oscar W., 
born April 27, 1S90. 

In political affiliation Mr. Hobbs is a Dem- 
ocrat. Fraternally, he is a member of Oxford 
Lodge, No. 18, A. F. & A. M. ; Union Chap- 
ter, Royal Arch Masons; and Oxford Council, 
No. 14, Royal and Select Masters. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



477 



(J|T"SR.\1-:L 1-. l':.M.MO.\.S. the L'ading mcr- 
mI chant of West Fari.s, Me., was born in 
Jj_ Biddeford, York County, this State, on 
May 8, 1838, son of Jacob and Sarali 
(Shepherd) Emmons. 

Jacob Emmons, his fatiier, was born in 
Kennebunkport, Me., and was bred to the life 
of a farmer. Leaving his native i>lace, he set- 
tled first in Hiddeford, and stayed there for 
some time, carrying on general farming. In 
[860 he removed to Greenwood, Oxford 
County, where he bought land, and engaged 
in its cultivation during the remaining period 
of his activity. He lived to be eighty-seven 
years of age. His wife, Sarah Shepherd, died 
in her sixty-eighth year. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Emmons were members of the Congregational 
church, and he was in his political affiliation 
first a Whig and then a Republican. They 
were the parents of ten children, eight of 
whom are still living, namely: Joseph !•".; 
Phcebe; Israel I-"., the subject of this sketch; 
Christanie: Betsy; David: Winfield ; and 
Millard. The departed sisters were named 
Sarah and Laura. 

Israel I'". I'jninons received his early etluca- 
tion in the town of Biddeford, and grew to 
manhood there. After arriving at mature age 
he took to a seafaring life, shipping as a com- 
mon sailor before the mast. He was soon 
made mate of a vessel, and followed the sea 
for eight years. Then he went to Lawrence 
Massachusetts, and learned the trade of loom 
harness-maker, at which he worked for the 
period of three years. After that he engaged 
in trade — 1867 to 1868. Removing to 
Greenwood City, he continued in business 
there until 1S86, when he took up his abode 
in West Paris, where he has remained ever 
since. He does quite a good mercantile 
business here, carrying a large line of general 
goods and sundries. 

He was married in December, 186S, to 
l'"rancina (Bishop) Hayes, of Leeds, Me., the 
daughter of Joseph and Jemima (Norris) 
I^ishop. Mr. and Mrs. P'mmons have one 
child, a daughter, I^ertha A. They are lib- 
eral in their religious views, and Mr. limmons 
is in his political jjrinciples a Republican. 
He is a member of Granite Lodge, No. 182, 
A. F. & A. .M., at West Paris. He also be- 



longs to West I'aris Lodge, No. 15, Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd l'"ellows. His wife is a 
member of the Rebekah Degree Lodge and of 
the Order of the Golden Cross. Mr. I'^nmons 
carries the best and largest stock of goods in 
the village, and is the leading merchant of 
West Paris, where he is well known and :is 
well liked. He has always been a hard-work- 
ing man, and his good fortune is the result of 
his own endeavors. 



rm. 



I'.ORGE A. IlOWE.S, a progressive 
\J*) I general farmer of New Sharon, 
^"-^^ franklin County, Me., was born in 
the adjoining town of Industry, August 28, 
1858, son of Lot and Loretta J. (George) 
Howes. His grandfather, Alvin Howes, was 
a native and lifelong resident of Industry. 
He had a family of six chililren; namelv, 
George, John, Lot, Betsey, Mary, and Lydia. 
Lot Howes, the third son of Ah'in, was 
born at the ancestral homestead in Industry, 
and there grew to maturity. Learning the 
carpenter's trade when a young man, he fol- 
lowed it for some years in Massachusetts. 
Returning at length to his native State, in 
1859 he settled in New Sharon where he 
bought the farm which is now owned by his 
son, George A., and he later added a portion 
of the Simon Greenleaf farm to his property. 
Industrious and progressive, he was constantly 
improving and beautifying his homestead, in 
which he took a great deal of pride: and he re- 
sided here until his death. In ]i(ditics he 
was a Republican, and, being a man in whose 
ability and integrity the general public had 
confidence, he was called upon to serve as a 
member of the ]5oard of Selectmen for three 
terms, and as School Agent'and Road Surveyor 
for several years. In his religious faith he 
was a Methodist. Lot Howes died at his 
home in New Sharon, June 16, 1884, aged 
sixty-five years. His wife, Loretta J. George, 
whom he married in Industry, was the mother 
of five children, namely: (ieorge A., the sub- 
ject of this sketch, and the only son: l-'idelia 
C. ; Sarah L. ; Albra A.; and I.ydia M. Of 
these the three elder were born in Indu>try, 
and the others were born in New Sharcjn. 

George A. Howes was educated in the com- 



47'^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



mon schools of New Sharon, and passed his 
time when out of school in helping his father 
in the lighter labors of the farm until strong 
enough to do a man's work. Upon reaching 
his majorit}- he became a paid assistant, work- 
ing upon the farm summers, and during the 
winter season being employed at the lumber 
camps in the woods. About a year previous 
to his father's death he bought the home farm, 
where he has lived nearly his entire life: and 
since taking possession he has added more 
land by purchasing the remainder of the Simon 
Greenleaf estate, so that he owns at the pres- 
ent time one hundred and fifty acres of desir- 
able land. He keeps an average of fifty sheep, 
eight head of cattle, and two horses; and 
aside from general farming, he devotes special 
attention to the raising of fruit, having an 
orchard of one thousand grafted trees. 

On February 20, i8Sg, Mr. Howes was 
united in marriage with Mary York, daughter 
of .Samuel York, of Kast New .Shanm. Mrs. 
Howes is the mother of two children, as fol- 
lows: Jennie L., who was born December 16, 
1889, and is attending school; and Augusta 
].., who was born September 6, 1892. 

.Since his earliest recollection Mr. Howes 
has been engaged in useful labor, and the 
steady advance in prosperity which has ac- 
companied his efforts speaks well for his abil- 
ity and industry. In politics he sui)[)orts the 
Republican party, and he is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 




IZKKIEL MERRILL, one of the most 
extensive general farmers, fruit growers, 
and stock raisers of Hebron, and one 
of the largest ta.x-jjayers of this town, was 
born Decembei- 14, 1832, on the pleasant hill 
farm where he now resides, being the son of 
Joseph and Sarah (Freeman) Merrill. 

One of the first settlers on Greenwood Hill 
was Ezekiel Merrill, first, a native of Massa- 
chusetts, who was the great-grandfather ot 
Ezekiel Merrill, the subject of this sketch, 
and he died at the home of his son in Hebron. 
F^zekiel Merrill, second, came here a poor boy, 
having travelled on foot from his native State, 
and upon his arrival in Hebron he secured em- 
idovment from Deacon Barrows of the Hebron 



Academy. Being naturally energetic and pos- 
sessing an upright character, he remained in 
the Deacon's service some years : and, after his 
marriage with one of his employer's daughters, 
he erected a log house upon a tract of wild 
land, which he cleared and imj^roved into the 
farm now occupied by his grandson. He was 
an energetic pioneer, whose strong constitu- 
tion made him capable of much physical en- 
durance and hard work; and at his death, 
which took place when he was eighty-nine 
years old, he owned three hundred acres of 
valuable land. He was one of the most able 
farmers and a leading resident of the town in 
his da_\'. He supported the Whig party in 
politics, and he was a member of the Congrega- 
tional church. He married Mary Barrows, 
who lived to reach a good old age, and their 
eight children were named as follows: Isaac, 
Mary, lizekiel, Zilphia, Mitchell, Joseph, 
-Samuel, and I'essenden. 

Joseph Merrill, Mr. Merrill's father, was 
born in Hebron, in 1798. Inheriting fifty 
acres of his father's property, he later added 
to his farm, becoming an enterprising agri- 
culturist: and his active period was one 
of progress and industry. He died at the 
homestead December 27, 1875, ^^ '^h'-' '>b^ of 
seventy-seven years and two months. In the 
latter part of his life he acted with the Re- 
publican party in politics, and he was a mem- 
ber of the Congregational church at Minot. 
His wife, Sarah I'reeman, who was born in 
Minot, Me., in 1799, became the mother of 
eight children, four sons and four daughters,, 
as follows: Mary, Caroline, and Isaac, who 
died young; Zilpha A., who was twice mar- 
ried, died aged fifty-nine years and si.\teen 
days: Sarah, F^zekiel, Joseph, and Henry, who 
lived to maturity. Of these Ezekiel, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, is the only one now living. 
Mr. Merrill's mother lived to be seventy-four 
years, one month, and four days old, dying 
April 21, 1873. 

Ezekiel Merrill attended the common 
schools of his native town in iiis boyhood, and 
at an early age began to assist in carrying on 
the farm. He has always resided at the an- 
cestral homestead, to whose ownership he 
eventually succeeded, having taken charge of 
the property when a young man, caring for his 



f^ w^. 



^) 



^ 





^^*w 



EZEKIEL MERRILL. 



BIOGRArinCAL REVIEW 



48. 



(grandfather and his parents dnriiij; Ihcir de- 
clining years. He owns three hundred acres 
of well located land, the tillage portion of 
which is devoted to general tarniing, anil he 
has a large apple orchard. l'"or many years he 
has been engaged in stock raising, making 
this branch of agriculture a specialty; and 
he was formerly an extensive breeder of Here- 
ford cattle, for which he received iiremiums at 
the Oxford County l-'airs. Me has of late, 
however, given his attention to Jersey stock, 
keeping from twenty-five to thirt)-five head of 
full-blooded and grade animals, the product of 
which supplies a dairy upon his premises; and 
he also raises excellent horses. His progres- 
sive tendencies are productive of such good 
results as to cause him to be considered by his 
fellow-townsmen one of' the most able and suc- 
cessful agriculturists in this locality, and his 
rating upon the assessor's list seems to cor- 
roborate the truth of this assertion. 

On May 24, 1S79, Mr. Merrill was united 
in marriage with Mrs. Jennie Bonney Merrill, 
widow of his brother, the late Joseph Merrill. 
-She was born in Sumner, Me., March 11, 
1843, daughter of Horatio and h" ranees (Rich- 
ardson) Bonney. Her father, who was a na- 
tive of Sumner, removed from that town to 
West Minot, and later to Hebron, where he 
died at the age of seventy-four years. Her 
mother died at sixty-eight. By her first hus- 
band Mrs. Merrill had four children, namely; 
Alice, who was born March 27, 1S67; Henry, 
who was born April ig, 1870, and is now en- 
gaged in a large grain store in Manchester, 
N.H.; Annie, who died aged twenty years; 
and Mabel, who was born April i, 1875, all 
of whom graduated from the Hebron Acad- 
emy. Mrs. Merrill has no children by her 
present union. 

In public affairs Mr. Merrill has rendered 
his share of service to the community, having 
served with ability as a member of the Board 
of Selectmen for two years, as well as in other 
offices; and in politics he is a Republican. 
His residence is finely situated upon elevated 
ground, and commands a delightful view of 
the surrounding country, which abounds in 
picturesque scenery. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill 
are Congregationalists in their religious be- 
lief. 



■sffORHAN STACV, of Ke/ar 1-alls Vil- 
lage, a retired schoolmaster and ex- 
Sheriff of Oxford County, was horn in 
I'orter, J;uuiary 4, 1830, son of George 
antl Lyclia (Durgin) .Stacy. The first ances- 
tor of the family to settle in this county was 
John Stac)-, Mr. Stacy's grandfather, who was 
a native of Kittery, Me. He came to Porter 
in the year i Soo, and, acquiring a tract of 
land situated four miles north of Kezar h'alls 
Village, there carrietl on general farming until 
his death, which happened in 1837. His 
wife, having attained the advanced age of 
ninety-four, died October 16, iSCt^. Their 
children were; Oliver, .Salome, Joidan, Han- 
nah, and George. 

George Stacy, who was bom in I'orter, was 
reared to fa-rm life. The greater jnirt of his 
active period was passed in tilling the soil. 
Succeeding to the ownership of the farm, he 
resided there until witliin two years of his 
death. His last da\s were spent in Ke/ar 
Falls Village, where he died in 1876. His 
wife, Lydia, a native of h'reedom, N.H., gave 
birth ti) two chiklren, namel)' ; Jordan, tlie 
sidiject of this sketch; and John, liorn in 
1S32, who died ill 18X7. Her death occurred 
in 1885. 

An apt student, Jordan Stacy acquired a 
good education in the district scIkxjI and at a 
private academy. He resided at home, and 
carried on the farm for twenty-one years. In 
1870 he relinciuished agricultural jiursuits, 
and took up his residence in Kivar I'alls \'il- 
lage. His early training enabled him to enter 
the teaching ])rofession, which he afterward 
followed very successfully in this town and in 
Massachusetts and New Hampshire until i8()j, 
when he retired. He owns several farms in 
this locality. 

On 1^'ebruary 28, 1850, Mr Stacy was united 
in marriage with Lytlia 1''. Tibbets She was 
born in Porter, March 15, 1832, daughter of 
Henry and Anna (Leavitt) Tibbets, now de- 
ceased, who were prosperous farming people of 
this town. Mr. and Mrs. Stacy have had six 
children, as follows; Mary !•'., who died in 
infancy; John, born in 1854, who died at the 
age of nineteen; Annie M., born July 17, 
1859, who married R. F. Wormwood, and died 
Mav 29, 1893, leaving two children, Bertha 



482 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



M. aii.l I'MoromH' 1^., now with their i;raiul- 
father: Charles Sumner, born January ", 
1862. wiio (lied in iSf>^: Lizzie Emma, born 
lune 10, 1865, who married George Swett, a 
])romiiu-nt farmer of Parsonsfield, Me., and has 
two children — Curtis Moses and Sadie M., 
born resjjectively in 1883 and 1886; and 
Sidney Grant, who was born July 26, 1868, 
who fitted for college at the Rridgton Acad- 
emy, graduated from Howdoin College and 
Johns Hopkins Uni\-ersity, and is now in Ger- 
many com|)leting his education. In politics 
Mr. Stacy is a Republican, and has rendered 
able service in some of the most important 
town and county offices. He has been a mem- 
ber of the Board of Selectmen, Town Treas- 
urer, and Collector, was High .Sheriff for four 
vears, and a Deputy Sheriff for eight years. 
He is connected with Kezar I-"alls Lodge, No. 
40, Independent Order of OcUl I'cllows. 



r- 



■;C)RGK W. RICH.VRDS, one of the 
leading residents of (3xford, was born 
in this town. May 17, 1838, son of 
Benjamin and Joanna 1'. (Jenkins) Richards. 
Mr. Richards's grandfather, Tristram Rich- 
ards, who served as a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary War, was an early settler in Middle- 
ton, X.H., where for some years he followed 
milling and coopering in addition to farming. 
In 1827 he came to Oxford, and, settling upon 
a farm, resideil here until his death, which 
occurred when he was eighty-four years old. 
He married Abigail York, a native of Middle- 
ton, who lived to the advanced age of ninety- 
one years. .She had nine chiklren by him, as 
follows: David, born March 26, 1786, who 
died in 1836; l-ihoda, born December 20, 
1787; Stephen, born June 25, 1791: John, 
born January iS, 1794; Benjamin, born Oc- 
tober 2}, I7<)<'), who died March 23, 1863; 
Tristram, born June 2, 1798: Joseph, horn in 
the year 1800; .Samuel, born June 2, 1805, 
who died October 10, 1880: and Isaac, born 
November 22, i 808. 

Benjamin Richards, who was a native of 
MidiUeton, N.H., in 181 8, removed to 0.\- 
ford, ;uid here passed the rest of his life. A 
stirring farmer and a leatling spirit in public 
affairs, he served as a member of the Board of 



.Selectmen for a number of years, and in 1848 
was elected a Representative to the legislat- 
ure. He cultivated the farm now owned by 
his son, and died on it in 1863. His wife, 
Joanna, whom he married in Middleton, June 
I, 1818, was a native of that place. She be- 
came the mother of nine children, eight of 
whom grew to maturity. Five of the number 
are now li\ing, namely: Jonathan I'., born 
September 26, 18 19, who is now residing in 
Paris, Me.; Christiana, born May 28, 1826, 
who is now the widow of James M. Wilson, 
and resides in Oxford; Mandana, born March 
17, 1 83 1, who is the widow of George B. 
Dwinell, late of Oxford; George W., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Stephen F.. born .Sep- 
tember 22, 1841, who lives in Oregon. The 
others were: I^^ancis C, born July 31, 1821, 
who died October 10, 1895; Sarah J., born 
November 8, 1823, who died October 27, 
1862; Benjamin V.. born May 27, 1835, who 
died November 19, i860; and Alfred W., 
born June 6, 1843, who died August 31, 1849. 
The mother lived to the age of ninety years. 

George W. Richards acquired his education 
in the schools of his native town and at the 
South Paris .^Lcademy. At the age of seven- 
teen he began life for himself as a trackman 
upon the Grand Trunk Railroad. Later he 
advanced through the grades of brakeman and 
fireman to the position of locomotive engineer, 
and was in the company's employment for si.x 
years. Receiving then from the Panama Rail- 
way Company a good offer for his services, he 
accepted it. He worked on the Isthmus for 
about twelve years, running the regular trains 
as engineer for six years, and having charge of 
the locomotive department in Panama for the 
rest of the time. In 1867 he visited Oxford, 
upon which occasion he bouglit the old home- 
stead. He finally returned from Panama in 
1875, permanently took up his residence here, 
and has since been engaged in general farm- 
ing. The homestead property contains one 
hundred acres of good land, and has a set of 
buildings which were erected by Mr. Richards. 
He also owns other real estate here, amount- 
ing in all to one hundreil and seventy-five 
acres. In jiolitics he is a Democrat. He 
served the town for several years as a member 
of the Board of Selectmen and in other offices, 



RI OG R A P H r C A I . R EV I F.W 



|S,^. 



anil lie is affiliated with Norway (irani;c. No. 
45. Both he and Mrs. Richarils attend the 
Congregational church, of which- the latter is 
a member. 

On November 7, 1867, i\Ir. Richards 
wedded Ellen E. Brett, who was born in Paris, 
May 27, 1842, daughter of Luther and Clarissa 
(Daniels) Brett. Luther 15rett was a prosper- 
ous farmer and life-long resident of Paris. He 
lived to the age of eighty-two. His wife was 
cut off in her thirty-third year. ^Iv. and Mrs. 
Richards have had three children, as follows: 
Clarence A., who was born in Oxford, July 
25, 1876; Nettie M., born here June 30, 
1878; and Walter, who died at the age of 
three years and eight months. Clarence and 
Nettie reside at home. Mr. Richards has 
worked his way to his present easy position 
in life, anil has every reason to look upon his 
success with satisfaction. 



JBENEZER E. CHAPMAN, a well-to-do 
farmer of Gilead, is a tyjiical Maine 
man. He was born in Bethel. 0.\- 
ford County, January 19, 1850, son of Albion 
P. and Sophronia (Eames) Chapman, both na- 
tives of the county. His grandfather, George 
W. Chapman, who was also born in l^ethel, 
came among the first settlers to Gilead, and, 
purchasing a tract of land, he subsequently 
converted it into a good farm. Albion P. 
Chapman was born and reared in Gilead, ac- 
quiring his education in the common schools. 
When about twent\'-one years of age he went 
to Newry, this county, and, after engaging for 
some time in farm work there, purchased a 
farm in ]5etheL which he has since made his 
home. Mr. Chapman is now seventy-eight 
years old, and is practically retired from ac- 
tive work. In jiolitics he is a Republican, in 
religious belief a Methodist. His w^fe, who 
was a native of Bethel ami a member of the 
Congregational church, died at the age of 
forty-two. 

Ebenezer E. Chapman was reared to farm 
life, receiving his early education in the com- 
mon schools. At the age of nineteen he went 
to work as a farm hanil in the growing season 
for monthly wages. With the purpose of edu- 
cating himself still further, he attended Gould 



Academy at Bethel for three winter terms, 
jjaying for his board and tuition by sawing 
wood for the institution. When his studies 
were finished, equipped with a strong constitu- 
tion and a good education, he set about making 
a home for himself. In 1S79, with the money 
saved from his earnings, he purchased the 
farm on which he now resides. The estate 
covers three hundred and si.xty acres, part 
lying along the Androscoggin River. Here 
he has a home that any one might be proud to 
possess. A progressive and energetic farmer, 
he ranks among the leading men of this sec- 
tion. Mr. Chapman is a member of the 
Grange at Bethel. 

Mr. Chapman was married Januar\- 18, 
1879, to Ida, daughter of Leander .Swan, of 
South Paris. She died Januarv if>, 1889, 
having been the mother of three children, of 
whom one passed away in infancy. The others 
are: Melville K. and Perry A., both at home 
with their father. On September 29, 1891, 
Mr. Chapman formed a second marriage with 
Susie v.. Stowe, daughter of Melvin and 
P" ranees C. Stowe, of Newry. Born of this 
union he has one child, P'rancis Stow Chai)- 
man. Mr. Chapman is a loyal Republican, 
and takes an active interest in politics. He 
has been Tax Collector of the town for four 
years. He and his wife,are members of the 
Methodist l^piscopal church. In religious 
work he is as zealous as in othei- pLU'suits. 
At present he is the efficient snpeiiutendiMit 
of the Sunday-school. 



RANK L. WILDER, the i)ropiiel(U- of 
a large and well-stocked general store at 
P'airbanks Mills, in the town of l-'arni- 
ington, in P'ranklin County, Me., was born in 
Temple, this county, April 15, 1867, son of 
Eli and Hester (Pratt) Wilder. His paternal 
grandparents, P:iias and Rebecca ((L'owdry) 
Wilder, came to Maine from Lancaster, Mass., 
and grandfather Wilder cleared and improved 
the well-known Wilder Hill farm in Temple. 
Eli Wilder, son of Elias, succeeded to the 
ownership of his father's farm, and carried it 
on for a time, then renting the property he re- 
moved to Kennebunkport, where for about five 
years he was engaged in ship-building. The 



484 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



rcmaindiT <il liis life was passed in Temple, 
lie clieil at the age of sixty-three years. In 
politics he supported the Republican party, 
and in his religious views he favored the Con- 
gregational form of worship. His first wife, 
whose maiden name was Mary Worth, died in 
\oung womanhood, leaving one daughter, Julia 
,'\. , and his second wife, Hester Pratt, who 
was a daughter of John Pratt, became the 
mother of nine children; namely, Mary K., 
Wesley K., Kugenia A., Katie I-\, h'rank L., 
Hester G., LHysses .S. G., Willis S., and 
Stella -S. 

l'"rank L. Wilder, the second son, who is 
the special subject of this sketch, was educated 
in the public schools, and at the age of eigh- 
teen began life for himself. After working as 
a farm assistant for three years, he bought the 
Ballard property in Temple, where he tilled the 
soil for two years; and, selling this farm in 
1S92, he inirchased of George W. Ranger the 
large two-story building at Fairbanks Mills, 
which had formerly been used for mercantile 
business, and at that time was occupied as the 
post-ofifice. Putting in a large stock of gro- 
ceries, floui', feed, dry goods, ready-made 
clothing, boots, shoes, and in fact everything 
usually kept in a first-class general store, he 
has, by his correct business methods and hon- 
orable dealing, become firmly established in 
trade. As a young and enter|irising business 
man, who possesses the sjiirit of progress, he 
is very popular in the community, where Iiis 
ability is known and a[)preciated ; and he has 
been elected an Assessor by the Republican 
part}', of which he is an earnest supporter. 

On October 9, 1895, Mr. Wilder was united 
in marriage with Alice K. Reed, daughter of 
Levi and Melissa (Lllsworth) Reed, the 
former of whom is a jirosperous farmer of 
.Salem, Mc. Mr. Wilder attends the Baptist 
church. He is a member of Mystic Tie 
Lodge, No. 154, A. F. & A. M.; and Frank- 
lin Lodge, No. 54, Independent Order of Odd 
l-'ellows. 



RANK T. I'IKF, a prosperous farmer, 
stock raiser, and dairyman, of Norway 
township, Oxford County, was born 
here March 22, 1838. H is grantlfather, John 



Pike, who was an early settler of Norway, 
came here from New Hampshire when a young 
man, and spent the remainder of his life en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. 

l.uther F. Pike, the father of Frank T., 
born in 1804, was reared in this town, living 
with his parents until twenty-one years of age. 
Going then to Watertown, Mass., he worked 
out for ten or eleven years, a part of the time 
being employed in the ice business. At the 
end of that period he returned to Norway and 
bought a farm, which he managed successfully 
for several years. He then sold it and pur- 
chased another ii^ the same vicinity. On this 
he was engaged in mixed husbandry initil 
1872, when he retired from active pursuits. 
He has since taken up his residence in the 
village. He married Adeline A. Millett, a 
native of Norway, who dieil here in 1887. 
They had four children, as follows: Frank T., 
the subject of this sketch; S. Barnard, wlv) 
died in California, at the age of forty-five 
years; Addie Augusta, who is the wife of 
Wallace W. Andrews, of Otisfield township, 
Cumberland County; and Albert L. F., who 
married Ellen R. Andrews. The last named 
died in 1889. 

Frank T. Pike lived on the home farm dur- 
ing his early life, attending the common 
schools and assisting his parents. After his 
twenty-first year he worked on the home farm 
in the summer, and engaged in teaming during 
the winter. He continued employed in this 
way until his marriage, when he bought his 
present farm, which was formerly owned by 
his father-in-law, Jonathan Whitehouse. It 
contains one hundred and nine acres, a large 
part of which is well improved and in a good 
state of culti\'ation. He carries on general 
farming, raises some stock, and devotes a por- 
tion of time to dairying, selling the cream. 
Mr. Pike is identified with the Democratic 
party, but has never sought ])ublic office. He 
is a member of the Oxford County Agricult- 
ural Society, of which he has been a Trustee; 
and of Norway Lodge, No. 16, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, of Norway. Relig- 
iously, lx)th he and his wife attend the Uni- 
versal ist church. 

On November 22, 1866, Mr. Pike married 
Miss Sarah M. Whitehouse, daughter of Jona- 



mOGRAPHICAL RKVIEW 



than atiil Harriet (Ileirin,!;) Whitchousf. She 
was born in this town, July 5, 184J, on the 
farm where she now lives. Her father is liv- 
in^^ retired from active life in the villai;e of 
Norway, but her mother has passed away. 
Mrs. I'ike has Ijorne her husband three chil- 
dren, nanieh': S. Hion, who assists his father 
on the farm; Kate !\I., wife of l'hili]i K. 
liradbury, of Norway village; and Clarence 
B., who is in business with Mark 1'. .Smith, at 
Bridgton, this State. 




|11.\R1.I':S VOUXG, Jate resident of 
.South W'aterford village, Me., was for 

'••s some years of his active life one of 

the leading merchants of this part 
of Oxford County. He was born in South 
Waterford, Octojjer 14, 1833, the son of 
Moses and Sarah (Flummer) Young. 

His parents were both natives of Waterlord, 
the father a farmer. They had five children, 
Charles, who died May 18, 18S8, being the 
eldest of the family. Maria, the next oldest, 
is now living in Greenwood, Mass., with her 
fourth husband, John Hook. Her first hus- 
band was Ichabod Hayes, her second, Henry 
Olcott, the third, Frank Colby. Henry, the 
third child, is a farmer of W'aterford. He 
married Miss Ella Abbott, of Harrison, Me. 
Marion A. is the wife of Stephen Caswell, a 
fish dealer of Greenwood, Mass. Abbie l^"., 
the youngest, is the wife of Henry Savage, a 
prominent citizen of Greenwood, Mass., who 
is in the real estate business. All were well 
educated in childhood and youth, attending 
the common schools near their hemic and the 
high school at Norway, Me. 

Charles Young grew to manhood in Water- 
ford, remaining with his parents until he at- 
tained his majority. He was then employed 
in a book-store in Boston for a short time, and 
was subsequently in the meat business for 
three years. Returning to his home, he en- 
iraeed in the carriacre trade for a while, and 
eventually opened a general store in Water- 
ford. His father's health being impaired, he 
managed the farm for him, and at the same 
time conducted a prosperous trade in cattle. 
Mr. Charles Young was a man of remarkable 
energy and large resources, and at one time 



managed tliree stores, one in North Norway, 
one in South Waterford, and one in Harri- 
son. After years of steady application to 
business his health began to fail, and he 
sought change of scene and climate, living in 
different [larts of Massachusetts and in I'orl- 
land. Me. ; and he was for four s'cai's engage<l 
as Pullman car conductor. He finally re- 
turned to his home in .Sdiilh Waterford, where 
he died as above mentinnecl, a little moi'e 
than eight years ago. 

A stanch Democrat, he was a zealous 
worker for his party, and won the respect and 
confidence of iiis fellow-partisans, who elected 
him to a niunber of offices of trust. He was 
Postmaster at South Waterford for several 
years, also was Town Treasurer, and ludd 
many other important offices; and he was 
always readv tn aid any public enterprise for 
the common good. In religions belief he was 
a Universalist. His ambitious energy, which 
recognized no obstacle, won admiration and 
respect, while his social qualities drew to him 
many friends; and his death was a source nf 
universal regret in the man}' [ilaces where he 
was known. 

Mr. Young was married February 4. 1855, 
to Miss Harriet J. Kilgore, who was born in 
Harrison, Me., March 13, 1834, the daughter 
of Liberty and Jane (lulwards) Kilgore. 
Mrs. Young is now living at her home in 
South Waterford. Her father was a native of 
I*"ryeburg, Me., and her mother was born in 
Otisfieki, this State. Mr. Kilgore divided 
his time between teaching school and culti- 
vating a farm. He died in Waterford on 
April 27, 1S81. Mrs. Kilgore died March 
19, 1885. They were the parents of three 
children — Harriet J., Mrs. Young; George 
I^. , a regular physician, now living in retire- 
ment in Greenwood, Mass., who was twice 
married, his first wife being Eliza Welch, his 
second, Vira Barker, of Athens, Me. ; and 
Mary E., who died young. Mr. and Mrs. 
Young had seven children, namely; Charles 
A. ; Lizzie E., born September 20, i860, who 
died young; George L. ; I,innie Velmar; 
Sadie W. ; and Hattie I^. and Harry L., who 
both died in infancy. 

Charles A. Young, born November g, 
1S56, became one of the leading men of South 



486 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



Water! (M'd, being a succcsstul merchant and 
I'ustmaster iiere for some time. He died 
AMareh 13, 1S92, survived by his wife, a native 
(it W'aterfortl, formerly Augusta E. Plummer, 
who iiDW manages the store and post-ofifice, 
and three ehilch'en: Dora M., }{mma J., and 
Hhuuhe. George L. Young, who was born 
May 30, 1864, carries on a large chair manu- 
facturing business in South Waterford. He 
married Lillian G. Yeaton, and has two chil- 
dren — Gortlon C. and Grace \'. Linnie Vel- 
niar, who is the wife of Horace C. Smith, 
lives with her mother. She has two children 
— Charles Albert and Hattie J. Sadie \V. is 
the wife of Charles A. Scribner, a merchant 
of Bridgton, Me., and has one child, Margery. 
The children who attained maturity were edu- 
cated in Hebron Academy, Portland, Me., and 
in Wakefield, Mass. Mrs. Young and family 
are members of the L'niversalist church. 




KORGE F. HRIGGS, superintendent 
31 of the Russell Brothers" Mills in 
Salem, Me., was born in this Frank- 
lin County town, July 18, 1846, son of Dudley 
IL and Sarah (Thompson) Briggs. The fam- 
ily is of English origin, and Mr. Briggs"s 
great-grandfather, its founder in America, was 
a sea captain who settled in Massachusetts, 
and was the father of two sons. One of these 
sons — Ebeneziir, Mr. Briggs's grandfather — 
who was born in Massachusetts, settled in 
I'"armington, Me., when he was about twenty- 
two years old. He resided there some twelve 
years, and then came to Salem, where he was 
engaged in agricultural pursuits until his 
death, which took place in 1873, at the age of 
seventy-five years. He reared a family of 
eight children, of whom the only survivor is 
Mary Ann, widow of l^enjamin Huse, late of 
l'"armington. I'lbenezer Briggs was a Demo- 
crat in ]wlitics. 

Dudley B. Briggs, son of Ebenezer, was a 
native and a lifelong resident of Salem. He 
imhistriously tilled the soil of a good farm, 
and he was prominent in public affairs. In 
politics he acted with the Democratic party. 
He served with ability as Treasurer and Col- 
lector loi- se\'ci'al terms, and held other town 
offices. He died at the age of forty-seven 



years in June, 1S66. lie anti his wife, Sarah 
Thom])son, who was a native of Leeds, Me., 
were the parents of eight children. 

George F. Briggs, the subject of this 
sketch, is the only one of the family now liv- 
ing. In his early years he acquired his eiki- 
cation in the common and high schools of 
Salem and Strong. After completing his 
studies he was employed in a store for a year, 
and he then went to California, where he 
worked for a lumber company, and had charge 
of a lumber railroad for two years. Returning 
to Salem he was engaged in farming here until 
1893. For the past three years he has acted 
as su|)erintendent for the Russell Brothers" 
mills, and he is also engaged in buying sup- 
plies and speculating in wool and cattle. 

In 1876 Mr. Briggs was united in marriage 
with Affie T. Richards, his first wife. She 
was born in Salem, daughter of F"red and Mar)- 
Richards, and she died June 11, 1892, agetl 
thirty years, five months, and nine days, leav- 
ing two daughters, namely: Addie M., aged 
ten: and Lelia E., aged seven years. In Oc- 
tober, 1893, he wedded his present wife, a na- 
tive of Salem, who was before marriage Esther 
Lovejoy. By this union there are no chil- 
dren. 

Politically, Mr. Briggs is a Democrat. He 
has ably served as a member of the Board of 
Selectmen for three years, two years of which 
he was Chairman of that bod\-, and he was 
Ta.\ Collector for two terms. He is a member 
of Davis Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Strong; 
and of Saddleback Lodge, Independent ( )rder 
of Odd Fellows, of Phillips. 




EZEKIAH B. KEITH, of Hartford, 
Me., is a self-made man, his valuable 
farm and handsome home being 
monuments to years of persevering- 
industry. He was born in Livern-iore, Me., 
June 26, 1837, a son of Martin and Polly 
(Bryant) Keith. His grandfather, Isaiah 
Keith, who was from I^ridgewater, Mass., was 
one of the hard-working pioneers of Livermore, 
Me. He li\-ed to be over fourscore years of 
age. 

Martin Keith, son of Isaiah, was a native 
and lifelong resident of Livermore. An ener- 



BIOCRAI'IIICAI, RKVIKW 



4S7 



getic and progressive farmer, he was one of 
the leaders in the locality, and owned some 
four hundred acres of land. lie was a liberal- 
minded man, in religious belief a L'niversal- 
ist. He died at the age of eighty-two. Mr. 
Martin Keith was twice married. His first 
wife, I'olly Bryant, who was a native of 
Turner, Me., died at the age of twenty-seven, 
leaving one child, Hezekiah B., of Hartford, 
Me, above named. His second wife, Mary 
A. lulgecomb, of Livermore, bore him two 
children — Lizzie, who died at tlie age of four- 
teen ; and Marcus M., who is living on the 
homestead in Livermore. 

Hezekiah B. Keith, eldest smi of Martin 
Keith, was reared and educated in Livermore. 
He started for himself when he was twenty- 
three years old, hiring out as a farm hand for 
fourteen dollars a month. Carefully husband- 
ing his earnings, in course of time he had 
enough to make a purchase of land; he ac- 
cordingly bought a farm in Andover, Me., 
where he made his home for twenty-three 
years. He then disposed of that property, 
and resided in Livermore for a while, remov- 
ing to Hartford in 1894 and purchasing his 
present homestead. On this estate he has 
made many improvements, and it is now one 
of the best farms in the locality, equipped with 
substantial and well-kept buildings, the resi- 
dence being one of the handsomest in this sec- 
tion. 

Mr. Keith was married in 1S61 to Miss 
Elvina Bryant, a native of Livermnre, daugh- 
ter of Thomas Bryant, and has two children, 
both born in Andover, Me. The elder, Ida, 
is the wife of Edmund Gibbs, a farmer of 
Livermore, and has one chikl, John. The 
younger, Marcus E., is his father's assistant 
in the management of the farm. Mr. Keith 
votes the Democratic ticket. In religious 
matters he and his wife are liberal, believing 
in the fundamental principles of Christianity 
without the prejudices of sect. 



of Union, and there spent his (.'arh- life. h'or 
a few years he was engaged in the luml)er 
business in vXtlanta, da. In 1 ,S6o he came to 
I\o.\bur\-. where he bought a f.irm and resided 
until his death in i\Iay, 1869, at the age ot 
thirty-nine years. He enlisted in the army 
-September 10, iS6j, and was discharged Jul\' 
15, 1863. His wife, Elsie, was born in this 
town, April 15, 1S40, being ,1 d.nighter of .\a- 
thaniel and Sarah (Judkins) Taylor. Her 
grandfather, .Simeon Taylor, was a nati\e ol 
Concord, N.H., coming to this county in 
iSio. His son Nathaniel was born in Bel- 
fast, but when (|uile young came with his 
]iarents tn this town, where he has since re- 
sided. He is still active, though he has at- 
tained the advanced age of eight_\-five years. 
He is a K<'publican in jiolitics. His wife, 
Sarah, who was born in tiie town of Byron, is 
also living, being now eighty-one years old. 

Albert W. Robbins resided with his grand- 
father until attaining his majority. His edu- 
cation was acquired in the common and high 
schools of Hixfiekl. When he was a young 
man he bought a good farm on .Swift River, 
which he still owns and has since continu- 
ously occupied. The place is well improved, 
Mr. Robbins being one of the best of farmers. 
A stanch Keimblican politically, he has offi- 
ciated as Town Clerk since attaining his ma- 
jority, and is also serving as Chairman of the 
Board of Selectmen and Sujiervisor of Schools. 
In 1884 Mr. Robbins w;is united in marriage 
with Miss ICffie M. Worthley, of the town of 
IMexico. Tht'y h;i\e thiee children Ada K.. 
Albert L., and Marcia S., all of whom are 
young, being still members of the happy home 
circle. 



LBERT \V. ROBBINS, a well-known 
farmer of Ro.xbury, where he was 
born December 21, 1861, is a .son 
of Charles H. and Elsie M. (Taylor) 
Robbins. Charles H. Robbins was a native 




AMES II. PORTER, the owner of a 
fine farm picturescpiely situated on the 
east bank of Norway Lake, in the town 
of Norway, is a native of Oxforil 
County, Me., his birth having occurred in 
Paris township, August 16, 1867. His pater- 
nal great-grandfather, a pioneer of Cumberland 
County, lived for many years in Yarmouth, 
Me., where John Porter, the ne.\t in line of 
descent, was born. John Porter was engaged 
in agricultural [)ursuits in his native town 



48S 



BIOGRAPHKAI, Rl.VIKW 



until 1816. when he ix-moved to Oxford 
County. Buying a tract of wild land in Paris, 
not far from the village, he labored persever- 
ingly to clear a farm, and in course of time 
succeeded in transforming a considerable sec- 
lion of timber land into well-cultivated fields. 
J laving previously learned the carpenter's 
trade, he worked at it to some extent in Paris, 
where he built the meeting-house and the 
town hall. His wife, a lady of Yarmouth, 
whose maitlen name was Eunice Hicks, bore 
him .six. children, as follows: Sylvanus, who 
is a farmer in Paris township; Kzekiel, who 
died in Colorado: John B.. the father of James 
H.; Harriet, the wife of Solomon I. Millett, 
of Norway village; Josejih, who lives at Osh- 
kosh. Wis. ; and I'ranklin, who owns and oc- 
cu[)ies the old homestead in Paris. The father 
died in 1856, aged sixty-three years, and the 
mother in 1S86, at the venerable age of ninety- 
six years. 

John H. Porter was born August 12, 1821, 
on the home farm, and there grew to man's 
estate. In his youth he attended the district 
school and assisted on the farm to the extent 
of his ability. After his marriage he was 
employed as foreman on the Grand Trunk 
Railway, being .stationed for fi\-e or six years 
at West Milan, N.H. He superintended the 
building of the road in that locality, having 
thirty-five men under him. On finishing that 
woik he returned to the homestead in Paris, 
where he was occujMed in general farming on 
half of the farm until the spring of 1S96. In 
that year he came with his son, James H., to 
Norway, where he has since made his home. 
In politics he is a loyal Democrat. He is 
a member of the Masonic order, belonging to 
Paris Lodge, No. 94, of South Paris. On 
November g, 1S53, he married Maria B. 
Home, a native of Saco. Me., born August 
12, 1837. Four children were born to them, 
as follows: Harriet, who married J. I*". King, 
of Paris township, and died June 24, 1887; 
^\nnie, who is the wife of Clarence H. Flood, 
a farmer in liast Oxford; Eunice, who married 
Oscar Barrows, a farmer in the town of Paris; 
and James H., the subject of this sketch. The 
mother is a meml^er of the Baptist church at 
Paris Hill. 

lames 11. Poiter was reared and educated in 



the place of his nativity, living with his jiar- 
ents until twenty years of age. Going then to 
Boston, he worked as a fireman on the Boston 
& Maine Railroad for three and one-half 
years, and was afterward an employee of the 
New York Automatic Weighing Machine 
Compan)' for six months. Subsequently re- 
suming his first occupation, Mr. Porter became 
a fireman on the Fitchburg Railroad, on which 
he was ere long apjjointed engineer. This re- 
sponsible position he filled until April 31, 
1896, when he came with his father to Nor- 
way. Here he bought the property known as 
the old Bennett farm, which contains one hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land, and is charmingly 
located. He is now engaged in general farm- 
ing and fruit growing, and he raises stock on 
a limited scale. It is his intention to make 
dairying his principal industry in the future. 

Mr. Porter was married January 1, 1896, to 
Mrs. Marion A. D. Tenney, of Boston. Mrs. 
Porter was born October 6, 1868, in Atlanta, 
Ga., daughter of the Rev. George H. Randall. 
Mr. Porter is actively identified with the Re- 
publican party. He is a prominent Mason, 
belonging to Granite Lodge, No. 182, of West 
Paris; and he is a member of Bramhall Lodge. 
No. 3, Knights of Pythias, of Portland, Me. 



OHN K. TOOTH AK1-:R, a pnuninent 
farmer and an extensive lumberman of 
Rangeley, Franklin Count)', was born 
in this town, June 8, 1839, son of 
Abner and Phebe (Wilbur) Toothaker. Mr. 
Toothaker is of English descent. His grantl- 
father, John Toothaker, who was born in 
Bowdoinham, Me., settled in New Portland 
when a young man; but after remaining there 
for a short time he removed to Rangeley, 
where he owned a good farm, which he culti- 
vated successfully. He was for many years a 
church member, and in politics he acted with 
the Whig party. He died in 1841, aged over 
sixty years, and of his large family of chiklrcn 
none are now living. 

Abner Toothaker, Mr. Toothaker"s father, 
was born in 181 5 in Bowdoinham, and accom- 
panied his parents to Rangeley. He began 
life as a fariTier, and later engaged in lumber- 
iuLT. Ownimr extensive tracts of woodland, for 



BI()(;K.\IM11( Al, KFA'IKW 



4S9 



many years ho carried on the largest lumber 
business in the county. He was prominent in 
iniblic affairs, and served with ability as 
County Commissioner two terms, and as a 
Representative in the legislature one term. 
I'olitically. he sup]:)orted the Republican party, 
and he was a member of the Baptist church. 
He died in March, 1880, aged si.\ty-five years. 
He and his wife, Fhebe Wilbur, who was a na- 
tive of Phillips, were the parents of five chil- 
dren, three of whom are li\'ing, namely: John 
R., the subject of this sketch: Julia, wife of 
Nathan Hinckley, of Phillips; and Clara I.., 
wife of X. P. N(:)ble, of Phillips. 

John R. Toothaker accpiired his education 
in the common schools of Rangeley and 
Phillips and at the Lewiston Seminary. Since 
young manhood he has been engaged in farm- 
ing and lumbering, having carried on the last- 
named business with energy and success, and 
he is to-day the owner of large tracts of tim- 
ber land. His logging operations amount to 
several million feet annually. He inherited 
the homestead farm, and three years since he 
purchased his present residence in Rangeley 
village. His village jjroperty contains twenty 
acres, and is all under cultivation. The 
homestead farm contains eight hunch'ed ;icres. 
He raises some fine Holstein and Durham 
cattle, keeping eighty head of cattle, fifteen 
horses, and about two hundreil sheep. His 
tarm is one of the most productive pieces of 
agricultural property in this locality, one 
year's harvest including fifteen hundred 
bushels of grain and two hundred tons of hay. 
His residence and other buildings are new 
and substantial. 

On November 2g, i860, Mr. Toothaker was 
united in marriage with Esther M. Hoar. Of 
the seven children born to this union, five are 
living, namely: Ermon L., who resides in 
Rangeley: Eincoln A., who resides at the 
homestead; Archie R.. ' who lives in this 
town; Minnie, wife of George R. I'illsbury, 
of Rangeley: and Rolla V.. who is at home 
with his parents. 

In politics Mr. Toothaker is a Republican. 
For twenty years he has been a member of the 
Board of Selectmen, twelve yeais of which he 
acteil as Chairman. He was Caunty Commis- 
sioner si.x years, and while serving as High- 



way Commissioner he built the road leading 
from Rangeley to Dead River .Station. He is 
connected with Saddleback Lodge, Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows, of Phillips, and is 
Deputy Commander of the Golden Cross, No. 
408, of Rangeley. The family attend thi- 
Baptist church, of which Mrs. Toothaker is a 
member. 




living. 
Coffin. 



OLON A. COFFIN, one of the 
town fathers of Gilead, O.xford 
County, was born November 3, 
1836, on the farm where he is now 

son of E. VV. and Sarah J. (Green) 
His grandfather, Peter Coffin, entered 
the Revolutionary army when only fourteen 
years of age, and was at first employed as 
errand boy for (leneral Washington. Peter 
ser\ed in the army for se\-en years, and was 
eventually promotetl to the rank of Corporal. 

K. W. Coffin was born in Conway, N. H., 
and was there reared and educated. He was a 
preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and in early manhood located in Gilead. 
going there first to preach. Having ex- 
pounded the gospel in many [ilaces, he was 
well known throughout the State. He event- 
i ually [jurchased the farm now occujjied by his 
son, there spent his last days, and died in his 
eighty-third year. Mr. Coffin was an es- 
teemed member of the Republican party, and 
served in nearly all the offices within the gift 
of the town. His wife, a native of Otisfield, 
Me., was a daughter of Benjamin Green, who 
served under Washington in the Continental 
army foi' si.x years, receiving three serious 
wounds. A member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, and a sympathetic and intelli- 
gent helpmeet to her husband, she survived 
him eight years, though her life was nearly 
the same length as his, having been about 
eighty-two years. Their children were : Ben- 
jamin S. , Sarah Jane. Rose, Francis M., a 
child who died in infancy, Carlotia, Eli/.a- 
beth, and Solon A. Benjamin S. , Sarah Jane. 
Carlotia, and I-^lizabeth are deceased. FA'iza- 
beth's death occurred when she was twelve 
years old. Carlotia was the wife of Thomas 
Green, of this county. Rose is the wife of 
D. L. Austin, a farmer of Gilead, now retired. 



49° 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Francis M., after actively following agricult- 
ure for a number of years, is now living in re- 
tirement in Gilead. 

Solon A. Coffin was educated in the com- 
mon schools of Gilead and at Gould's Acad- 
emy in Bethel, this count}'. He has lived on 
this farm since his birth, with the exception 
of four years spent in Old Orchard, Me., and 
Xorthboro, Mass., during which time he let the 
farm, aiding his father during the latter"s life- 
time, and inheriting the place when the elder 
man passed away. Besides this farm, which 
covers one hundred and seventy-five acres, 
he also owns another farm in Bethel. He 
carried on mi.xed husbantlry for a number of 
years, and was likewise engaged in the lumber 
business on a small scale. He is now living 
in retirement. Mr. Coffin is a member of the 
Grange at West Bethel. Mr. Coffin was mar- 
ried November 24, 1863, to Celicia C. P''are- 
well, of West Bethel, who died May 6, 1895. 
She bore him four children, namely: Ella J., 
now the wife of D. R. Hastings, Postmaster of 
Gilead; Herbert E. , a business man of Bos- 
ton; Cora, who died at the age of twelve; and 
Fred IM. , the State Inspector of butter and 
milk at Boston. The father favors the Re- 
publican side in politics. He served the town 
as Selectman for fifteen years, and he filled 
every other office in turn, except that of Town 
Clerk. He is prominent in Mount Abram 
Lodge, No. 36, Independent Order of Odd 
l'"ellows, of l^ethel. He has been a member 
of the Methodist church since he was twenty- 
one years of age, has been steward of the so- 
ciety for many years, and now has charge of 
the church funds. 



-OHN MOLAND CUMMINGS, of Nor- 
way, the proprietor of the largest liv- 
ery business in Maine, was born here, 
October 16, 1840, son of Stephen and 
Fanny (Whitney) Cummings, and grandson of 
Dr. Stephen and Fanny (Bradley) Cummings. 
William Cummings, the father of Dr. Stephen 
Cummings, was a native of Massachusetts. 
He followed the profession of physician, and 
was an early settler of Portland, where he ac- 
quired a very successful practice. He lived 
to be seventy years of age, and so did his 



wife, Harriett. Stephen Cummings, Sr., was 
born in Portland. Early in life he entered 
the medical profession, and practised in Port- 
land and in Waterford, this county. He was 
about sixty-nine years of age when he died. 
In politics he was first a Whig and later a 
Republican. His wife, F"anny (Bradley) 
Cummings, also lived to a good age. Five 
children were born to them; namely, Harriet, 
Stephen, Fanny, John, and Sumner. 

Stephen Cummings, the father of John Mo- 
land, was also born in Portland; and he re- 
ceived his education in the schools of that 
city. On attaining his majority his father 
bought him one hundred and fifty acres of land 
in the north part of Norway, and took up his 
residence upon it. After spending a number 
of years in clearing and cultivating the estate, 
he sold it, and bought a farm in the town of 
Bethel, where he lived for the following 
quarter-century. Selling out again at the end 
of that time, he purchased a home in Norway 
village, and resided here until his death by 
apoplexy in 1872, aged fifty-five years. Fanny 
(Whitney) Cummings, his wife, who was a 
daughter of William C. Whitney, lived sixty- 
nine years. They were the parents of seven 
children — William C. W., Sumner, Frances 
E., Stephen H., Charles B. , John M., and 
Harriett. 

John ?vIoland Cummings, the youngest son 
of his parents" children, was educated in the 
schools of Bethel and Norway. He remained 
at home until twenty-two years of age. The 
following three years he drove a hack between 
South Paris and Norway. Then he opened a 
small livery stable on what is known as the 
Carpenter place, Norway. This proved a 
successful venture; and a year later he re- 
moved to Rumford, and opened a sales stable. 
A few years later he went to South Paris, and 
bought the J. Bicknell stand. Shortly after, 
yielding to the increased demands of his busi- 
ness, he rented the Andrews House stables, 
and put in more horses and carriages. Still 
later he opened the Bridgham stable. In 
1880 he purchased the Beals House stable, to 
which he has since made an addition of one 
hundred and seventy feet, making the present 
length of the stable and carriage-room two 
hundred and ninety feet. The second floor is 



niOCRAl'lllCAL KKVIKW 



4') I 



finished for boardinj;', with twenty-five rooms. 
He keeps forty-five horses in this stable, and 
fifteen in each of the two South Paris stables, 
one of which is opposite the Grand Trunk 
Railroad station, and the other connected 
with the Andrews House, making, with those 
in the Elm House stable, Norway, about one 
hundred horses all together. He also has a 
large variety of pleasure wagons and carriages, 
including two large barges known as the "Ox- 
ford Bear" and the "Telephone," ena!)ling 
him at short notice to fill almost every sort of 
order in good style. He has also a black- 
smith shop for his own use, and owns a fine 
river farm, which yields annually between 
sixty-five and seventy tons of hay. 

The admirable management of all the 
stables reflects great credit upon their owner. 
One of the things, and perhaps the chief thing, 
that have helped to make the business so suc- 
cessful is Mr. Cummings's sound judgment 
regarding horses and his rule of disposing of 
a horse as soon as it is found to be unsafe or 
not an agreeable roadster. His patrons have 
learned by experience that, when they order a 
turnout from his stables, they are assured of a 
safe ride. He has many warm friends among 
the travelling public, as well as in the vil- 
lages of Norway and South Paris. Mr. Cum- 
mings married Mrs. Elvia Calwell, a daughter 
of Mr. Murch, of Baldwin, Me. Like his 
father, he is a Democrat in politics. 



-|p)TlR.\M OLDHAM, 2n, a blacksmith 
j-^J in business with his son at Rumford 
j]s I I'^alls, was born December 24, 1828, 

^""^ in Sumner, Oxford County, son of 
Daniel and Priscilla (Keen) Oldham, natives 
respectively of Pembroke and Hanson, Mass. 
John Oldham, the father of Daniel, came from 
his Massachusetts home to Sumner, and settled 
in the southern part of the town, next to the 
Buckfield line, on an unimproved farm. Here 
he dwelt for the remainder of his life in a log 
cabin erected by his own hands, making a 
good living by his farm. When between fifty- 
five and sixty years of age he was accidentally 
killed in Buckfield by a cart-wheel running 
over him. His eldest son, Daniel, spent his 
life in the towns of Sumner and Peru. Daniel 



went to Peru in 183 1, locating near Worthly 
Pond, on one of the best farms in the vicinity- 
He died here at the age of eighty-six years, 
and his wife's death occurred in her eighty- 
fifth year. They were the parents of eight 
children, of whom Anna, Daniel, Miranda, 
and Jonathan have passed away. Those living 
are: Axel, Peleg, Hiram, and Columbus. In 
religious faith the parents were Universalists. 

Hiram Oldham, 2d, received his educa- 
tiiin in the district schools of Peru, of which 
place he became a resident in his early child- 
hood. Since starting out in life for himself 
he has followed the various occu]iati<)ns of 
farmer, blacksmith, and carpenter. He lived 
in Peru sixty-six years, and still owns in that 
town an excellent farm of two hundred and 
sixty acres, to which he expects to return at 
some future day. He came to Rumford h'alls 
in 1893, and since that time has carried on a 
good general blacksmithing and horseshoeing 
business in partnership with his son. 

When twenty years old Mr. Oldham married 
Miss Eleanor Irish, who was born in Buck- 
field, Me., daughter of F'reeman Irish. She 
died .September 11, 1893. Of their children 
four have passed away; namely, Freeman I., 
Addie C. , Lillian, and Mary E., wife of P'ree- 
lon Starbird. The living are: Edwin R. : 
Hiram R. ; P^rancis A.; Cora, wife of p'. H. 
Hutchins; Charles L. ; Annie, the wife of 
Sidney G. Wheelwright, and Benjamin 1". 
Mr. Oldham casts his vote with the Repub- 
lican party. He adheres to the Universal ist 
faith, in which he was reared. 



fs^AMKS E. THOMPSON, a retired mer- 
chant and an esteemed resident of 
Phillips, was born in Avon, Me., 
April 3, 1820, a st)n of James and 
Mehitabcl (Burnham) Thompson, natives re- 
spectively of Bristol and Damariscotta, Me. 
A tradition has it that the founder of the 
family settled in New Market, N.ff., after 
coming to this country from England with 
three brothers. Ebenezer Thompson the 
father of James, served in the Revolutionary 
War. He was born in New Hampshire, May 
15, 1741, and was married July 9, 1767, to 
Miss Elizabeth .Sally, whose birth occurred 



492 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



in the same State on September 13, 1743. 
Ebenezer wa.s one of the first settlers of Avon, 
i\Ie., where he purchased a large tract of land, 
which has since been di\-ided into two of the 
largest farms in that town. His active period 
was spent in farming; and he died June 11, 
1.S22, aged eighty-one years. His wife's 
death followed on May 18, 183 i, after she had 
attained the age of eighty-five. Their chil- 
dren were: Isaac, born June 10, 1768; Mary, 
born March 10, 1770; James, born July 5, 
1772: Elizabeth, born April 15, 1775; Su- 
sanna, born October 5, 1777: Ebenezer, Jr., 
born May 11, 1780; Samuel, born October 5, 
1782; John, born March 10, 1786; and Will- 
iam, born August 17, 1790. 

James Thompson, the third child and second 
son of his parents, lived in Bristol until four- 
teen years old. Then, in 1786, he moved to 
Avon, Me., where the remainder of his active 
life was spent. l^oth he and his wife passed 
their last days in the home of their son, James 
Iv, in Phillips. He held for a time the ofifice 
of Selectman in Avon. His wife, Mehitabel, 
bore him nine children, namely: Daniel, of 
whom no special information is given ; Mary, 
who married Oliver Soper: Lavina, the wife 
of J. Purley; Enos H., who was a physician; 
Mahala, unmarried ; Clarissa, who married 
Eben Day; Elizabeth K., who died unmar- 
ried at the age of twenty-two; Silas D. ; and 
James E. , the subject of this sketch. Eight 
of them were school teachers. The only sur- 
vivor now is James E. In political affiliation 
the father was a Democrat, and in religion he 
was a Methodist. He died in .September, 
1863, aged ninety-one years. 

James E. Thompson received his education 
in the elementary schools of Avon and the 
high schools of Strong and Bridgton, after 
which he was engaged teaching school in win- 
ter and farming in summer. He also worked 
on the survey of the Cochituate water works. 
Mr. Thompson taught school a number of 
terms, ranging from 1838 to 1850, in Bridg- 
ton, Strong, Avon, and Phillips. In 1849 
he came to Phillips, and entered the general 
merchandise store of Gould & Gammon, Co- 
lumbus Smith & Seward Dill, as a clerk, and 
was employed in that capacity for about three 
years. He was then engaged in a general 



mercantile business with Darius Howard, 
under the firm name of Howard & Thompson, 
for three years more. At the end of that 
time Mr. Howard sold out to X. B. Beal, and 
the style of the firm was changed to Thomj)- 
son & Beal. This connection continued up to 
1859, when the firm was dissolved. After 
several years, during which, on account of ill 
health, Mr. Thompson was obliged to avoid 
any confining business, he purchased the A. 1). 
Goodvvin farm, which he carried on for four 
years. He was then appointed to the ofifice 
of Deputy Sheriff, in which he served si.x 
years, and afterward elected to that of County 
Commissioner, serving one term of three 
years. After selling his farm, in 1S96 he 
purchased a house in the village, and has 
since resided here. He was one of the or- 
ganizers of the Union National Bank, which 
received its charter in 1875, being a Director 
and its Cashier during the first eighteen years. 
When the Phillips Savings Bank was organ- 
ized, he was one of the leaders and the first 
signer for its charter. He declined to accept 
the position of Presitlent, which was tendered 
to him, but was on the Board of Trustees 
a number of years. On June 6, 1852, ;\Ir. 
Thompson married Miss Elizabeth S. Cush- 
man, a daughter of James Cushman, of Phil- 
lips. She bore him three children — Elorrie, 
Minnie "M., and Georgiana C. He was bereft 
of this wife December 7, 1887. Their chil- 
dren are also deceased. Mr. Thompson has 
since married Hilda .Sprague, the widow of 
John Goodwin, of Phillips. When twenty 
years old Mr. Thompson was elected Captain 
of a company of light infantry raised at large, 
and held the command for three years. In 
1850, when the town of Phillips raised an 
artillery company, he was elected as Captain, 
and served for an equal period of time. Be- 
fore the formation of the Republican party 
he was a Democrat. He has since been a 
Republican adherent. He has served as Se- 
lectman both in .^von and Phillips, being 
Chairman of the Board several years. Both 
he and Mrs. Thompson are attendants and 
liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. In 18S5 he presented the church 
with a valuable bell, weighing one thousand 
pounds. 



BIOGRAPHICAL RFA'IEW 



493 




(s)|;i NSON HKNXETT, ot Frycbur-, who 
is widely and favorably known as a re- 
liable carpenter and a iMosperous 
farmer, was born in Lovell, Me., 
June 12, 1847, son of Nathaniel \V. and Sarah 
W. (Charles) Bennett. His father, who was 
a native of East Fryeburg, where he -rew to 
manhood, having learned the cooper's trade, 
followed it for a number of years in Lovell 
alter his marriage. From Lovell, Nathaniel 
went to Virginia, where he was employed for 
some lime. After his return Xorth he again 
settled in North F"ryeburg. Some )-ears later 
he did some work at the carpenter's trade in 
Boston, but again returned to Fryeburg. In 
1S73 he moved to the Simeon Charles farm in 
Fryeburg, where he resiiled until his death, 
which occurred April 6, 1891. His wife, 
Sarah, who was a native of Fryeburg, was tlie 
mother of two children, namely: Anson, the 
subject of this sketch; and Myra, who resides 
at the homestead. The mother died in Janu- 
ary, 1890. 

Anson Bennett obtained his education in 
the common schools and at the Fryeburg 
Academy. When a young man he learned tlie 
carpenter's trade, and subsequently worked at 
if for a long period in Fryeburg and Lovell, 
Boston, Newton, Waltham, and Salem, Mass., 
Portland, Me., and North Conway, N. H. 
After the death of his father he settled at the 
homestead in Fryeburg, w'here he has since 
been engaged in farming and working at his 
trade, as the opportunity offers. He owns in 
all two hundred and fifteen acres of land, 
si.xty-five of which comprise the home farm. 
He has already improved the property to a 
considerable extent, and obtains good crops 
from it every year. 

On January 28, 1873, Mr. Bennett \ve(]de<l 
Jennie E. English, who was born in Halifa.x, 
N.S., daughter of William English, a carpen- 
ter by trade. Her mother died when Mrs. 
Bennett was very young. Mr. and Mrs. Ben- 
nett have two chilch^en, namely: \'an Irvine, 
who was born Jul\- 24, iSSo: and Erlon 
Laniont, who was born March 24, 1894. Mr. 
Bennett's political principles are Republican, 
and he has supported the party since reaching 
his majority. Although his natural abilit}' 
makes him eligible to public office, he is not 



at all desirous of notoriety in this direction, 
prefering to em])loy his whole time in attend- 
ing to his i)rivate afLiirs. He is highly 
spoken of by his townsmen, whose esteem :in<l 
good w'ill he entirely commands. 



rgTARMON D. HARNDEX, a luonii- 
|-^-| nent farmer of Fryeburg, Me., was 

II 9 I born in this town, September 4, 

^"■^ 1856, son of Calvin and Rosaniia 
(Dennett) Harnden. His grandfather, I'A- 
bridge Harnden, was an early resident here. 
Calvin Harnden was born in I-'ryeburg, De- 
cember 16, 1820. He was for a time em- 
ployed in a t;innery in Bridgton, but always 
resided in his native town, and he cleared the 
farm which his son, Harmon D., owns. He 
was a man oi considerable prominence in his 
day, and one who had the respect and esteem 
of the general community. He continued to 
follow general farming until his death, which 
took place on August 16, 1880. His wife, 
Rosanna Dennett Harnden, who was born in 
Bridgton, .September 4, 1826, became the 
mother of three childi'en, as follows: Mary V., 
born September 8, 1853, is now the wife of 
W'illiam Douglass, of East Fryeburg; Harmon 
D., the subject of this sketch, whose nativity 
is given above; and Sarah J., who was born 
November 22, 1859, antl is now the wife of 
C. H. Warren, a jirosperous farmer of Den- 
mark, Me. Mrs. Calvin Harnden died .Sep- 
tember 20, 1884. 

Harmon D. Harnden began his education in 
the common schools, and subsequently studied 
for two terms at the Bridgton Academy. He 
resided at the homestead after lea\'ing school, 
assisting his father in carrying on the farm. 
Having succeeded to its ]5ossession, he has 
made various improvements thereon. He 
owns about two hundred acres of well-located 
land, the tillage portion of which is extremely 
fertile, and he devotes his attention prin- 
ci]3ally to the cultivation of sweet corn, which 
he su])plies to the canning factories. In 1891 
he, in company with his brother-in-law, C. 11. 
Warren, erected a factory in Denmark for the 
purpose of engaging in the corn-packing busi- 
ness, a short time afterward leasing it to the 
Bridgton Canning Company. On November 



404 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



13, iS.So, Mr. Harnclcn was united in marriage 
with Lizzie A. Abbott, who was born in Frye- 
burg, May i, 1X59, daughter of Dean and 
Ai)hia (Frye) Abbott, both of whom are na- 
tives of this town, and are now living in East 
I-'ryeburg. Mr. and Mrs. Harnden have two 
children — Evelyn Lee, born June 19, 1882; 
and Calvin Archer, born April 13, 1884. 

In ]5olitics Mr. Harnden supports the Dem- 
ocratic party, and, while not desirous of tak- 
ing a prominent jiart in public affairs, he has 
served capably in some of the town offices. 
Since reaching manhood he has labored dili- 
gently in striving to advance himself on the 
road to success, and his efforts have been 
awarded. His well directed industry and 
broad comprehension of local needs are a 
benefit to the community. 




'rank PACKARD is one of the active 
and progressive farmers of Hebron, 
Me., owner of over two hundred acres 
of good land. He was born in l^uckfield, this 
State, March 14, 1859, a son of Jeremiah P. 
and Rebecca (I'uller) Packard, and is of the 
third generation of Packards in the town of 
Buckfield — his grandfather, Moses Packard, 
having settled there at an early date. Moses 
I'ackard was a farmer. He died in Melrose, 
Mass., at an advanced age. Jeremiah P. 
Packard, who was born in Buckfield, was also 
an industrious farmer. He owned one hun- 
dred and seventy-five acres of land, a great 
part of which was under cultivation. Mr. 
Packard voted the Democratic ticket. On re- 
ligious subjects he held liberal views. He 
died at the age of sixty-four. His wife, who 
was born in the town of Hebron, is now living 
on the homestead with her son, the subject of 
this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Packard lost two 
children, John H. and Adrianna, and have 
three living, Lucillous, Fred, and Frank. 

Frank Packard was educated in the schools 
of Hebron. Since early boyhood he has been 
interested in agricultural pursuits, and as a 
general farmer he has achieved marked suc- 
cess. He has a well-cultivated farm, good 
buildings, and some live stock, and ranks 
among the prominent and well-to-do citizens 
of the town. 



Mr. Packard was married November i i, 
1888, to Miss L. l*lmma Lowell, a native' of 
Buckfield, and has one son, Ernest L., who 
was born in Hebron, July 27, 1890. Actively 
interested in town matters, he favors the Dem- 
ocratic side in politics, but has the good will 
of members of both parties, and is at present 
serving on the Board of Selectmen. He be- 
longs to one social organization, p]ast Hebron 
Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Packard 
is liberal in religious matters, while his wife 
is a member of the F"ree Will Baptist church. 




DELBERT DELANO, a leading man 
of Canton, O.xford County, who fought 
in the Civil War, was born January 
31, 1850, in Dixtield, son of Caleb 
and Sarah (Bennett) Delano. Mr. Delano's 
grandfather, Caleb Delano (first), who was a 
native of Massachusetts, came to Dixfield 
among the early settlers, and there passed the 
rest of his life prosperously engaged in farm- 
ing. Caleb Delano, a native of Sidney, Me., 
became a successful agriculturist of Dixfield. 
He was one of the representative men of that 
town in his day, and served as a member of 
the Board of Selectmen for sixteen years. 
Responding to the urgent call for troops to 
suppress the Rebellion, he joined Company 
D, Twelfth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, 
with which he served until he was killed in 
the battle of Winchester, September ig, 1864. 
In politics he supported the Republican party, 
and in his religious views he was a Universal- 
ist. His wife, Sarah, who was a native of 
Canton, became the mother of two children, 
namely: Mary, now the wife of Leroy Hall, 
of Dixfield; and Adelbert, the subject of this 
sketch. She lived to be seventy-eight years 
old. 

Adelbert Delano received a good education 
in the public schools. In December, 1864, 
he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and 
was honorably discharged in July, 1865. 
Since that time he has given his attention to 
general farming. He has been a tax-payer on 
real estate since he was seventeen years old; 
and at the present time he owns a splendid 
farm of three hundred acres, which he bought 
in 1S87. Other land of his elsewhere brings 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



495 



the total amount to five Inindrcd acres, lie 
makes a specialty of raising hay, oats, and 
sweet corn, producing large and superior 
crops; and he keeps some fine graded Jersey 
stock for dairy purposes. The farm property 
occupies a desirable location in the Andros- 
coggin valley, and his buildings are sub- 
stantial and kept in good repair. Me is also 
interested in the Bridge Company, of which 
he is Treasurer. 

Mr. Delano has been three times married. 
His present wife, in maidenhood Hattie 
Harmon, is a daughter of Isaac and Susan 
Harmon, of New Gloucester, Me. By his 
previous matrimonial unions he has four chil- 
dren, namely; Ellis, Adelbert, Jr., Melvina, 
and Grace. In politics Mr. Delano is a Re- 
publican. He has been a member of the 
Board of Selectmen for seven years, serving 
as Chairman of the body for five years. All 
measures relative to public imijrovements 
receive his earnest attention. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic Order and of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and a comrade 
of John A. Hodge Post, Grand Army of the 
Reijublic, of this town. 




AJOR SAMUEL CLIFFORD 
Bl'^LCHER, at present engaged in 
the practice of the legal profes- 
sion in Farmington, Me., was 
born here, March 20, 1839. 

Major Belcher is the seventh in line of de- 
scent from Gregory Belcher, who was an early 
settler of Braintree, now Quincy, Mass., and 
who came to Boston in i^>34, taking the free- 
man's oath in 1640. 

Major Belcher entered Bowdoin College at 
the unusuallv early age of fourteen years, and 
graduated with the class of 1S57. After leav- 
ing college he served for three years as the 
preceptor of Fo.xcroft Academy, but resigned 
from this position in i860, and entered the 
office of the Hon. Nehemiah Abbott at Bel- 
fast, in order to study law. He was admitted 
to the Franklin County bar in the year 1861, 
and immediately entered upon the practice of 
his profession; but, being stirred by the pos- 
sible danger of a disrupted Lhiion, he entered 
the Federal army, receiving a Captain's com- 



mission in Company G, Sixteenth Regiment 
of Maine Volunteers, on the 4th of June, 
1862. 

This regiment, which was one of the most 
gallant sent out from Maine, was ordered to 
the front at once, and did valiant service at 
the battles of Fredericksburg, in which Cap- 
tain Belcher was slightly wounded, Chancel - 
lorsville, and Gettysburg. In the latter 
famous engagement Captain Belcher's regi- 
ment held the perilous position of cover to the 
retreating forces of the First Corps. Two 
regiments had already been driven from this 
position, but the brave Sixteenth held its 
place heroically until all but forty of its men 
had been either killed or taken prisoner. It 
was in this engagement that Captain Belcher, 
who commanded the left wing of the regiment, 
orderetl the flag to be cut in pieces anil dis- 
tributed among the men, in order to ]irevent 
its capture by the enemy. Unfortunately the 
valiant officer in command was taken prisoner, 
together with his regiment. While he was 
being marched to Libby Prison, however, he 
effected his escape, and by clever and daring 
strategy regained the Union lines. He was 
now assigned to the position of Aide-de-camj) 
to General Ileintzelman of the Department of 
Washington. He returned to field service in 
the following autumn, and was a participant 
in the battles of Mine Run, the Wilderness, 
and Spottsylvania, during which, on the 8th 
of May, 1864, he was severely wounded, a 
bullet piercing his skull and resting in the 
brain. P'or seventeen days he lay ill before it 
was extracted, and was not sufficiently recov- 
ered to enter the army again until the bloody 
struggle was ended. Governor Cony commis- 
sioned him Major in recognition of his ser- 
vices, June I, 1864. 

Major Belcher then returned and resumed 
the practice of his profession in Farmington, 
where he has been actively engaged in the 
same ever since. 

Major Belcher is an Overseer of Bowdoin 
College, and is a member of the Maine Histor- 
ical Society and of the American Bar Asso- 
ciation. He belongs to several orders and 
fraternities, among them Maine Lodge, A. F. 
& A. M., of which he is Past Master; P'rank- 
lin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of which he 



49 fi 



bio(;rafhical review 



is Past High Priest; Jcphthah Council, of 
which he is Past Master; and Pilgrim Com- 
mandcry, Knights Templars. He is also a 
member of the Maine Commandery of the 
Loyal Legion. His handsome residence at 7 
Court Street is one of the most hospitable 
homes in Farmington. Few men in the com- 
munity have acquired such a reputation in his 
profession as he has, and none a larger meas- 
ure of esteem, regard, and respect. 




"ON. JONATHAN HARTLETT, of 
Stoneham, Me., one of the most 

(<^ I prominent men of this part of the 

State, was born in Newry, a neigh- 
boring town in the same county of Oxford, 
January 27, 1838, the s(ni of Jonathan and 
Triphena (Horr) J5artlett. 

His grandfather, P^nocli Hartlett, who was 
one of the early settlers of this county, was 
born in Massachusetts. i'urchasing a tract of 
wild land in what is now the township of 
Bethel, he devoted his time and strength to 
clearing it of timber growth and making it fit 
for agricultural purposes. The nearest mill 
and market was at Fryeburg, thirty-six miles 
away; and the path which he followed when he 
walked thither from his farm can still be seen. 
After living a number of years in Bethel he 
moved to Newry, where he was engaged in 
genera! farming the rest of his life — a long 
term, for he lived to be very old. By his first 
wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Siegle, 
he had nine children, who all grew to ma- 
turity, namely: .\nnie, who married Asa 
I'oster: Reuben, who married Lydia P>ost ; 
Betsey, who married Reuben Estes; Dorothy, 
who married Dustin Pastes; Irene, who mar- 
ried Silas Powers; Lucy, who married John 
Powers: Thankful, who married Charles 
Stearns: Burry, who married James Colby; 
and Olive, who married Nathan I-'rost. His 
children by his second wife, Annie Hall, 
were: Patty, who married David Sessions; 
Maomi, who married William Tripp; P>lisha, 
who married Sarah Barker; Apphia, who mar- 
ried Joe Chase; Jonathan, who married Annie 
Barker; Polly, who became Mrs. Russell; 
Lydia, who married Joseph Knapp: and 
Enoch, who married Sarah Hinks. Mrs. 



Annie Hall Bartlett was a very intelligent 
lady; and, although she attained the great age 
of one hundred and two, she retained her fac- 
ulties almost to the last. She spent the 
latter part of her life with her grandson, the 
special subject of this sketch. 

Jonathan ISartlett, son of P^noch and Annie 
(Hall) Bartlett, was born in Newry, Me., and 
lived there until forty years of age, engaged 
the greater part of the time in general farm- 
ing. He then removed to Stoneham, at that 
time a small hamlet, and settled in the east- 
ern part of the town, near an old log house. 
He built a house on the spot where the present 
house now stands, cleared off the lawd, and soon 
became one of the leaders, not only in the 
farming community, but in local political 
circles. He and John J. Perry were delegates 
to the first Republican convention in Oxford 
County, which was held in Norway village; 
and he filled many local offices of trust. He 
died September 10, 1866. His first wife, who 
was Miss Annie Barker, of Newry, died July 
2, 1833. .She was the mother of the following- 
children, all born at Newry, Me.: P'liza, wife 
of D. D. Merrill, a mechanic of P^ast Stone- 
ham, born at Gorham, Me.: Polly (deceased), 
who was the wife of P^ ]i. Russell, a carpenter 
of .Stoneham; Nancy, widow of .Sewell Butters, 
of East Stoneham, born at Lovell, Me.; 
P)lisha (deceased), who was twice married, 
his first wife being Miss Susan lOvans, of 
.Stoneham, Me., and his second, who is now 
living in Byron, Me., Mrs. P^annie (McKeen) 
Durgan, also a native of Stoneham, Me. ; 
Enoch, a farmer of Naples, Me., who has been 
thrice married, his first wife being Maiy 
Ayers, of .Stoneliam, Me., his second Mrs. 
Sarah Gray, of Pennsylvania, and his third 
Mrs. Sophia Leavitt, of Naples, Me. ; and 
Orrin W., who married Miss Phosia P^vans, 
born at Stoneham, and lives in I'ortsmouth, 
N. H. The second wife of Jonathan Bartlett, 
Sr., Triphena Horr. was born in Waterford, 
this county. She had two children — Jona- 
than, our subject; and Irene (deceased), born 
at Newry, Me., who was the wife of Marshall 
Giles, of Waterford, born at Sweden, Me. 

Jonathan Bartlett in his earlier years ac- 
quired a common-school education. When he 
attained his majority he j)urchascd the old 



BIOC R A F 1 1 1 C A I . R FA' I K\\ 



lo; 



Hartlftt hoinesteail, his [jicslmiI ])hu'c ot resi- 
lience, and engaged actively in farming and 
lumbering, devoting the growing season to 
agricultural work, the winter to felling and 
shipping timber. As years went on he en- 
larged the scope of his business operations, 
]nirchasing farms and timber land in different 
parts of the county: and in 1S70 he formed a 
partnership with Hiram I', lilliott tor the 
manufacture of spools, establishing a plant 
at Lynchville, this county. The firm of 
Elliott & Bartlett now manufactures a great 
part of the spools used by the noted Rhode 
Island thread firm of J. ."l- V. Coats. Mr. 
]?artlett alsn owns a saw-mill in East .Stone- 
ham, where he manufactures all kinds of 
shingles and short lumber, and a mill near his 
home farm for sawing long timber, manufact- 
uring altogether spools, sliingles, shook, and 
long timber. He is extensively engaged in 
agricultural operations, and his farm, which is 
about two miles north of East Stoneham vil- 
lage, is one of the finest in the section : and he 
is also interested in mercantile pursuits. He 
cared for his parents until they closed their 
eyes on the scenes of earth, and with all his 
]irosperity has been content tn live in the 
home of his boyhood. 

January 5, 1S67, Mr. Hartlett was married 
to Fannie, daughter of Captain John 15all, a 
mariner of Portland, Me., where his daughter 
was horn and he died. Four children have 
brightened the home of Mr. and .Mrs. Hartlett: 
namely, Herman L., Charles L., Fred II., 
and J. Melvin. Herman L. Bartlett, born 
October 17, 1867, is a jiractising physician in 
Norway, this county. He married Miss Edith 
.Stearns, of Eovell, Me. Charles L., born 
November 13, 186S, is engaged in the sale of 
general merchandise at East Stoneham vil- 
lage, in partnership with his father, under the 
firm name of Jonathan Hartlett & Son. He 
married Miss Lizzie Stearns, of Lovell, Me., 
and lives in F^ast Stoneham. Fred H. Hart- 
lett. born September 25, 1870, is in the lum- 
ber business. He lives on the home farm 
with his parents, and is at present Supervisor 
of the town of Stoneham. J. Melvin, born 
January 29, 1872, lives with his parents. He 
is engaged in farming and lumbering. 

Mr. Bartlett is a strong Republican, and 



never misses a town or county mix-ting. lie 
has been a member of the town Hoard of Se- 
lectmen since the year of his majority and 
Chairman of the Board for the past fifteen 
years: and he was Constable for several years, 
and held other offices. In 1885 he was the 
Rejiresentative nf this district in the .State 
legislature. He is well advanced in Masonry, 
bidonging to Mount Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, 
of Waterford. and the chapter and council at 
Norway; and he is a charter member of O.xfin'il 
Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, of North Waterford; and Hiawallia 
Lodge, No. 49, Knights of I'ythias, of East 
Stoneham vill;ige. of which he was the first 
Chancellor. Mr. and Mrs. liailleU are mem- 
bers of the Congregational church at East 
.Stoneham. 




AML'EL II. lSl-;i';i:)V, a retired 
farmer residing in Phillips, Me., 
was born here, October 18, 1825, a 
son of Nathan and Eleanor (Bean) 
.Several generations of his jiaternal 
ancestry, who were of English origin, lived in 
New Hampshire. His grandfather, Nathan 
Beedy, Sr., was born in Sandwich, X.H. He 
was a farmer, lived to a good old age, and was 
the father of several children, :ill of whom 
have now passed away. 

Nathan Beedy, son of Nathan, Sr., anil 
father of Samuel 11., was ;i native of Sand- 
wich, N.IL He settled in Phillips, Me., and 
engaged in farming during the active years of 
hi.s life. He died April 11, 1851. There 
were fourteen children boiii to him and his 
wife, Eleanor, the four now living lieing: 
Isaac and Josiah, residing in Phillips: Jere- 
miah, of Weld, Me.; and Samuel IE, the 
special subject of this sketch. Allen Beedy 
died June 8, 1826, aged twenty-five; Nancy 
,F., who married Liberty Newman, died June 
I, 1848, aged thirty-two; Peter Beedy died 
June 27, 1850, aged forty-six; Mary, wife of 
Jonathan Atwood, died May 11, 1882, aged 
seventy-seven; Joseph died February 29, 
1892, aged eighty-six; Mary J., wife of Ben- 
jamin Lufkin, died January 6, 1894, aged 
eighty-six; and Nathan Beedy, Jr., died 
March 14, 1895. aged eighty-one years and 



498 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



two months. Betsey married James Gordon; 
Sarah married James Bacome; Dolly K. mar- 
ried James Turner. 

Samuel H. Beedy obtained his education in 
the common schools of Phillips, after which 
he engaged in farming, and followed this oc- 
cupation with profit up to 1876, since which 
time he has done but little business, except 
trading in live stock and wool. In politics 
he is a Democrat, and he has served his town 
as Tax Collector three years and as superin- 
tendent of schools nine years. He is a mem- 
ber of the Free Will Baptist church. 

On February 25, 1858, Mr. Beedy was 
united in marriage with Hepzibah Haines, a 
daughter of Frederick and Hepzibah (Hunt) 
Haines, of Avon, Me. They have four chil- 
dren living; namely, Isora I., Celina E., 
Harry F., and Arthur S. Isora I. Beedy, 
born April 25, 1859, was married on August 
29, 1878, to George A. Trumbull, of Law- 
rence, Mass. Celina E. , born August 28, 
1862, was married June 27, 1889, to the Rev. 
T. N. Kewley, of Strong, Me. Arthur S., 
born December 2, 1870, was married on New 
Year's Day, 1892, to Cora Pratt, of Phillips. 
Their only child died when nine months old. 
Harry F". Beedy, born March 28, 1862, is en- 
gaged in the practice of law in Phillips. He 
received his preliminary education at the 
Lawrence (Mass.) High School and Wilton 
Academy, after which he studied law under 
Major Belcher in Farmington, and after being 
admitted to the bar went into business with 
the Major. Four years later he came to 
Phillips, where he has acquired a good prac- 
tice. He was married November 4, 1891, to 
Miss Maud Bangs. They have been bereft of 
their only child, Mildred, who died February 
I5i 1896, aged two years, two months, and 
nine days. 



« ••» > 



rOIIN T. FURBFR, a well-known resi- 
dent of New Sharon, Me., was born in 
Athens, this State, on the 17th of Jan- 
uary, 1833, the son of John and Sarah 
(Tufts) IniVber. 

John P'urber was born July 16, 1805, in 
Lee, N.H., and migrated to Athens at the age 
of twenty-four years. He bought a farm of 



one hundred and twenty-five acres from John 
Tufts, his father-in-law, who had settled on 
this estate about the year iSoo, had cleared it 
and erected comfortable buildings, the farm 
then containing two hundred acres. 

Mr. Tufts died on the day that his grand- 
son, John T. P'urber, was twenty-one years of 

John Furber was a farmer during all his ac- 
tive life, never engaging in any other occupa- 
tion. In 1836 he sold his Athens estate, and 
moved to Corinth, Me., where he bought one 
hundred acres of land. He moved all of his 
portable effects himself, carting them with a 
team of horses to his destination. He re- 
mained with his family in the town of Corinth 
for two years; but finding that the severe 
frosts there were injuring all his crops, and 
that he was rapidly losing money, he sold his 
farm there, and moved back to Athens, borrow- 
ing a horse to help transport his household 
goods, as he then owned only one horse. 

John T. F"urber remembers distinctly with 
a great deal of pleasure the journey back, al- 
though he was only five years of age at the 
time. He was placed on a little chair on a 
wash-tub in one of the wagons, and was al- 
lowed to drive the horse himself the entire 
distance of thirty-one miles from Corinth to 
Athens, a feat which he accomplished without 
assistance. On their way to Athens they 
stopped in the town of Garland, where they 
saw the tails cut off of three horses, a sight 
that was harrowing to the little boy who, now 
at the age of sixty-three, remembers it with 
painful interest. 

The father on his return to Athens pur- 
chased a new farm there, and settled down for 
thirteen years of quiet industry. He then ex- 
changed his farm in Athens for one in Nor- 
ridgewock, and removed to that place with' an 
ox team. They started before sunrise one 
morning, and arrived at Norridgewock after 
dark on the same evening, making the trip of 
twenty-one miles in just one day. His Nor- 
ridgewock farm consisted of about one hundred 
acres. He moved into it in the year 1850, 
and died there in 1882, at the age of seventy- 
seven years. In politics he was at first a 
Whig and later a Republican, and he held lib- 
eral views in religion. His wife lived to be 



BIOORAl'HICAL REVIEW 



499 



ei£;hty years old, and died on licr sun's larm 
in New Sharon, coming to tiiis place to live 
with him in the year 1884. 

John and Sarah (Tufts) l'"urber had five 
children, of whom two are now living — Mary 
E. and John T. The other children were: 
Annie, who died in infancy; Sarah; and Sam- 
uel A. .Mary E. I'urber married B. E. Hil- 
ton in i860, and from this union five children 
were born: Ernest, who is unmarried, antl 
lives at his father's home in Starks; ICddie 
A., who married Sarah Daggett, of Industry, 
and who lives in Anson: Charles W., who is 
unmarried, and lives on a farm next to his 
parents' homestead; Herbert J., who married 
Florence Tarr, of New Sharon, and is living 
at home; and Allen F., who is single, and re- 
sides in Boston. Herbert J. Hilton and his 
brother Charles are extensive dealers in pure- 
blooded sheep, Oxford Downs and Shropshires 
being their particular hobbies; and fine speci- 
mens of these breeds belonging to them are 
invariably [:)rize winners at all the fairs at 
which they are exhibited. They are also the 
owners of a large and handsome herd of cattle. 

John T. Eurber in his boyhood attended the 
public schools in Athens and in Norridgewock, 
and also the Athens Academy. In the year 
185 1 he left Norridgewock, and went to Can- 
ton, Mass., to engage in farming. While 
there he also found employment in a wood- 
turning factory, going back to his home at 
Norridgewock in 1856. He stayed there for 
only a brief period of time, going West to 
Columbia, Cal., in the same year, to engage 
in gold mining. Erom Columbia he went to 
Alleghany, and remained there for three years. 
Then he went into the Sierra valley, where 
he took up one hundred and sixty acres of 
government land, and became a ranchman, 
going into the cattle business. There he con- 
tinued for eight years and a half, being very 
successful. At the end of that time he re- 
turned to the East; and in the town of New 
Sharon, near his old home, he bought his pres- 
ent farm with part of the money that he had 
made in California. The farm then comprised 
about one hundred and fifty-six acres, but now 
Mr. Eurber owns two hundred and forty-nine 
acres. Here he has remained ever since his 
return from the West. 



Mr. I^'urlur was married on the 31st of 
Ma)-, 1870, to Miss Ketm-ah 11. Moore, the 
daughter of Cephas Moore, of .Starks. They 
have had four children; namely, Mary E. , 
George H., Helen M., and John C. Mary 
E., born December 4, 1871, married on the 
3d of March, 1891, Charles -S. Parker, of 
West Earmington, .Me., and had one child, 
Mae I^., born on the 1 5tli of l'"ebruary, 1892. 
She is now dead. . George II., born May 14, 
1873, is unmarried, and lives in I'armington, 
where he is engaged in agriculture with 
Henry Titcomb. Helen M. h'urber was born 
on the 3d of January, 1875. Having pursued 
her studies in the common schocds of New 
Sharon and also in the iiigh school, at the age 
of sixteen years she entered the -State Normal 
and Training School, from which she will 
graduate with the class of 1897. .She has 
already had some experience in her chosen 
future profession, having taught for five ses- 
sions in the district schools of her native 
town. John C. Eurber was born on the i6th 
of September, 1880. He remains at home on 
the farm during the summer montlis, an<l at- 
tends school in the winter time. 

Mr. Eurber has a fine orchard of beautiful 
grafted fruit-trees, is the owner of a herd of 
twenty fine cattle and four horses, and like 
his nephews is interested in sheep, of which 
he has a flock of fifty or more handsome ani- 
mals, with heavy, coarse wool. Some of his 
stock he gets from the Hilton farm in the 
town of Starks. Mr. I'urber is, of course, 
well known and honored in his town, and has 
held public office several times, having been a 
Selectman for the years 187S-80 and 1881 - 82- 
83. He has voted the Republican ticket ever 
since i860. His religious views are liberal, 
as his father's were. 




LVA SHURTEEEE, President of the 
.South Paris Savings Bank, was born 
October 24, 181 7, on the Dunham 
place, four miles east of South 
Paris, Me., son of Alva and Anna (.Shaw) 
Shurtleff. His father w'as a son of Simeon 
and Submit (Kingman) Shurtleff, and Simeon 
was a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Leach) 
Shurtleff. Jonathan was a son of Thomas, 



B I OG R .\ Pin C A L R R V I i:W 



will) Wcis a .son of William, second, whose 
father, William, first, is sujjposed to have 
been the earliest ancestor of the family to re- 
side in this country. The name in former 
da)'s was Shettle, from which it was changed 
to Shirtly, and later to Shurtleff. It is known 
of the first William that he was apprenticed to 
Thomas Clark, for the pur]iose of learning the 
car|)enter"s trade, on Septemher 2, 1634; that 
he married Hlizabeth Lett ice, of Plymouth, 
Mass.; and that subsequently he settled in 
Marshfield, Mass. 

Simeon .Shurtleff, who was a native of 
Middleboro, Mass., born June 23, 175S, fol- 
lowed the occupation of farmer, and was one 
of the early settlers of Norway, Me. He mar- 
ried in 1 78 1 Submit Kingman, of Hridge- 
w.iter, Mass., by whom he became the father 
of elt;ven children, the third being Alva 
.Shurtleff, Sr. The birth of Alva, Sr. , oc- 
curred in Norway on May 30, 1786. He 
also cultivatetl the land in order to make a 
living. Being blessed with good health, he 
attained maturity in due time, and entered 
into matrimony with Anna Shaw. Of this 
marriage there were boin twelve children; 
namely, Simeon, Caroline, Alva, Ambrose, 
Abigail, Alva, l-^lvira, .Submit, .Vretas, 
Nancy, Sylvan, and W'illiam. Hoth [lai'cnts 
lived to a good old age. 

Alva Shurtleff, the sixth child and the 
s[)ecial subject of this sketch, having served 
an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, 
started in business for himself in Paris, being 
then about twenty years old. Some time later 
he opened a grocery store, and successfully con- 
ducted both ventures for a time. In 1842 he 
received the ajipointment of Deputy Jailer, an 
office that lie filled efficiently for eight years. 
After that he bought a house in .South Paris, 
took up his residence in it, and then opened a 
general store in company with R. S. Stevens. 
The partnership with Mr. Stevens lasted until 
1856, when he sold his interest in the store, 
and organized the firm, A. & -S. Shurtleff & Co., 
foi' the inirpose of manufacturing boots and 
shoes in Portland, Me. This company had 
built up a large business, and were putting 
out shoes at the rate of five thousand pairs a 
week, when it was burned out. With F. E. 
I-"axton, one of his partners, Mr. Shurtleff 



transferred the work to Boston; but in a short 
time afterward he sold out his interest, and 
returned to .South Paris. He here engaged in 
the grocery business again, occupying his 
former store, but he finally sold the stock to 
the grangers; and in 1895 he dispo.sed of the 
store, after which he retired. He was a 
stockholder in the chair factory and in the 
shoe factory of the town. He also invested 
in land, buying it by the acre and selling it 
by the lot, according to a plan for extending 
the village. In 1873 he obtained from the 
State legislature the charter of the South 
Paris Savings l^ank, of which he has since 
been the President. He has been a Director 
in the Norway National Bank for a number of 
years, during the latter part of which he has 
been its Vice-President. 

On October 24. 1841, he was marrieil to 
Miss Ann Jackson, daughter of Jacob and 
Nancy (Bessey) Jackson. Mr. Jackson's 
grandfather, Lemuel, who was born in Massa- 
chusetts in 1762, built a house on Paris Hill, 
and there owned land until 1816. He mar- 
ried Susanna, daughter of Benjamin and 
Charity (Craigie) Hammond, of New Glouces- 
ter, Me. Their son, Jacob, born in' 1792, was 
a blacksmith, and carried on an extensive 
business at ironing wooden ploughs. He was 
a member of the company that owned the 
township of Lincoln, Penobscot Count)', and 
was the wealthiest man in the town. His 
children were: Arabella R., Ann, Andrew, 
Mary S., Martha, Charles W., and Jacob V. 

Mr. Shurtleff and his wife have hati three 
children, namely: Abbie Francis, born Octo- 
ber 26, 1842; Charles A., born October 15, 
1845; ■^"'' William Kingman, born September 
20, 184S. Abbie married Charles D. Brown, 
of Boston, and had one child, Charles Alvn, 
who married Kliza (Baldwin) Rogers, of 
Gloucester, Mass., and is now the father of 
two children — Howard C. and Charles D., 
second. Charles A. .Shurtleff died August 
26, 1 888. William Kingman Shurtleff, who 
resides in Brookline, Mass., antl owns a large 
paper factory in Milton, N. H., married Hattie 
Sawyer, and is the father of two children — 
Gertrude B. and Alva David. Mr. Alva 
Shurtleff has often shown a most commendable 
public spirit by aiding enterprises designed 




MR. AND MRS. SUMNER EVANS. 



BIOC; K A 1 ' H 1 (A L R F,V 1 VAX 



for the advancement of the tnwn. In politics 
he has supported the Republican tickets, and 
he was Town Trustee for fourteen years. lie 
was one of the [inimoters and hniklers of the 
Masonic Building in South Paris. His relig- 
ious belief is that of the Congregational de- 
nomination, of whose society in .South I'aris 
he is an earnest member. 




'UMNliR K\'ANS, a well-known and 
influential citizen of Stoneham, 0.\- 
ford County, Me., holding the office 
of Town Clerk, also that of Post- 
master of East Stoneham, was born at Shel- 
burne, N.H., June 2, 1820, a son of Amos 
and Mercy (Peabody) Evans. 

Amos Evans, who was a native of Shel- 
burne, N.H., grew to manhood on the pater- 
nal farm in that town, but after his first mar- 
riage removed to Gorham, N.H., where, pur- 
chasing a farm, he engaged in husbandry until 
1S32. Selling out in that year, he removed 
to Stoneham, Me., where he bought another 
estate, and followed farming for several years. 
While residing- there his first wife died; and 
soon after his second marriage, disposing of 
the Stoneham property, he went to Lovell, 
where he purchased the farm on which he 
spent the remainder of his days. Mr. Amos 
I'^vans was first united in marriage with Miss 
Mercy Peabody, a native of Shelburne, N.H., 
and of that union five children were born; 
namely, Sumner, Frederick, Arvilla, Mercy, 
and one who died in infancy. Frederick, who 
is an agriculturist of North Lovell, wedded 
Miss Mehitable Paul. Arvilla, who now re- 
sides in Portland, Me., is the wife of B. Jack- 
man, of Gorham, N. H. Mercy, who died in 
1895, was the wife of Perley Lowe, who is now 
a resident of Randolph, N.H. Mr. Amos 
Evans married for his second wife Miss Caro- 
line Gray, of Lovell, by whom he had two 
children. 

Sumner Evans received his early intellect- 
ual training in the public schools. .\t the 
age of twenty-one he embarked upon lile for 
himself, being employed in working at the 
cooper's trade. He continued in that occupa- 
tion at various places for several years; and 
after the decease of his first wife he removed 



to P(n-tlanil Me., where lie worked at liis track' 
for about three years. After spending a year 
at Boston, Mass., in the same industry, he 
returned to Stoneham, Me., and, settling on ,1 
farm in the eastern part of the town, has en- 
gaged in farming to the ])resent time. He 
owns a good piece of property, about one hun- 
dred and twenty acres in extent, which since 
his purchase he has greatly imi)rove(l. He 
has hee\) all his life a hard-working man, but 
he has now retired practically from the active 
personal duties of the farm, and hires most ot 
the work done. 

Mr. Evans has been married tour times. 
By his first wife, Martha .Sawyer, daughter of 
Samuel and Relief Sawyer, of Stoneham, he 
had two sons — Samuel and Ingalls. Samuel 
livans, wliJi is a mechanic b)- trade, and is 
married, makes his home at Howard City, 
Mich.: Ingalls, who is a travelling salesman, 
wedded Miss Mattie Abbott, of Upton, N.H., 
and they now live at .South Paris, Oxford 
County, Me. By his second wife, Mary Paul, 
a daughter of Joseph Paul, of Stoneham, Me., 
Mr. Evans had three children, namely: 
luigene, who now resides in Virginia; Charles 
S., also in X'irginia: and Perley, deceased. 
Mr. F2vans's third wife, formerly Miss Julia 
Long, a school-teacher of East Stoneham, 
was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Long, 
of Conway, N.H. Mrs. I'.vaus died after ;i 
brief term of m:u-rictl life, leaving one child, 
James S., by name, who died at the age ol 
fifteen years. Mr. l':vans next wedded Miss 
.Susan Kilgorc, a native of (iorhani. Me. 

Mr. Evans is among the prominent citizens 
of .Stoneham, and participates very freely in 
town affairs, having held a public trust every 
year since the attainment of his majority. He 
has ofificiated on the Board of Selectmen of 
Stoneham, and has been Town Treasurer. He 
now fills the office of Town Clerk, and serves 
in the capacity of Postmaster of East Stone- 
ham. In the "term of 1862 Mr. F:vans had the 
honor of representing his district in the legis- 
lative halls of the Maine State Capitol. Mr. 
FLvans fraternizes with the Knights of Pythias, 
being a member of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 4c;, 
at East Stoneham. He formerly affiliated 
also with the Inde])endent Onk-r of Odd Fel- 
lows. Politicallv, he is a vigorous supporter 



504 



U 1 ( X; R A 1' H 1 C A L REV I J'A\' 



of the principles ativocateil by the Republican 
jiarty. Religiously, Ire is a liberal. 



(T' 



l.RRII': A. PROCTOR, an enterpris- 



ins; merchant and one of the leading' 
business men of Rang;eley, Me., was 
b(irn in Canton, this State, June i, 1859, son 
of the Re\\ Roscoe A. and Betsey R. (Smith) 
I'roctor. Mr. Proctor's ancestors on his 
father's side were of English origin, and his 
mother's family was of Scotch descent. His 
great-grandfather Proctor, who was the founder 
of this branch of the family in America, is 
said to have emigrated from England, and set- 
tled in Nashua or Merrimac, N. H. 

His son, Uriah A. Proctor, was born in 
Merrimac, July 18, 1791. He served as a 
soldier in the War of 1812, ami in early man- 
hood settled at Jay Bend on the Androscoggin 
River. He was one of the pioneers and pros- 
perous farmers of Canton, Oxford County, and 
took an active part in the agricultural develop- 
ment of the town. He was a member of the 
Baptist church. In January, 1813, he married 
Abigail Eenno, the ceremony being performed 
by Seth Carpenter in Jay. Miss Fenno was 
born in Bethel, Me., August iS, 1791. The 
children of Uriah A. and Abigail (Fenno) 
Proctor were: Mary F. ; Rebecca B. ; Eme- 
line B. : Oliver F. ; Charles A.; Uriah A.; 
Abigail, first, who died in infancy; Abigail, 
second: Anna L. ; Uriah, second; and Roscoe 
A. Uriah A. Proctor wedded for his second 
wife Mrs. Betsey (Knowles) Smith, widow of 
Jesse Smitli, of Mars Hill, Me. 

Roscoe A. Proctor, Mr. Proctor's father, 
evidently the youngest son of Uriah A. 
Proctor, was born in Hartford, O.xford County, 
Me., November 10, 1833. He became a 
clergyman of the Free Will Baptist denomina- 
tion: and his first pastoral charge was in Can- 
ton, where he resided for some years. Subse- 
quently called to Rangeley, he there preached 
for eleven years : and he spent the last years 
of his life in Weld, Me. He was an earnest 
religious worker, a man who ])ossessed many 
estimable qualities, which endeared him to 
his many friends and acquaintances; and he 
took a deep interest in educational affairs. 
He died December 2, 1891. His wife, Betsey 



R. Smith, whom he wedded July 20, 1852, 
was the daughter of Jesse -Smith, Jr., and 
Betsey A. Knowles Smith. Her grandfather 
was Deacon Jesse Smith, Sr., who was born in 
1764, and died at Mars Hill, Me., November 
18, 1843. His wife, .Sarah, was born in 
1767, and died October 25, 1858. Their 
son, Jesse Smith, Jr., father of Mrs. R. A. 
Proctor, was born in the year 1800, and died 
October 20, 1843. His widow, Betsey A. 
Knowles Smith, married for her second hus- 
band, Uriah A. Proctor, as before mentioned. 
Mrs. R. A. Proctor, it will be noted, was her 
daughter by her first union. The Rev. Ros- 
coe A. and Betsey R. Proctor were the parents 
of two children, namely: Carroll E., M.D., a 
successful physician of Weld: and Gerrie A., 
the subject of this sketch. Their mother 
died in Weld, June 7, 1896. 

Gerrie A. Proctor acquired his education at 
the Hebron Academy. He entered mercantile 
life at Rangeley as a clerk for Burke & 
Rogers, with wdiom he remained for some 
time; and he then engaged in business for 
himself. He carries a full line of dry goods, 
groceries, and other articles for family use, and 
is now conducting a large and profitable trade. 

In July, 1883, Mr. Proctor was united in 
marriage with Ethel A. Hewey. In politics 
he acts with the Republican party, and is a 
leading spirit in local public affairs. He has 
been Town Treasurer eight years. Town Clerk 
five years, and has served upon the School 
Board for ten years. As an honorable, 
upright, and e.xceedingly able business man, 
Mr. Proctor is fast laying the foundation of a 
substantial prosperity; and his energy and per- 
severance are certainly deserving of success. 
He occupies a position of social prominence 
here, and attends the Free Will ]5aptist 
church. 



^"fp)\ !•: LEG T H O M P S O N W A D S- 
n^ WORTH, a well-to-do farmer of 
_J_l£) Hiram, was born where he now re- 
sides, July 20, 1845, son of Peleg C. 
and Mary (Richardson) Wadsworth. Mr. 
Wadsworth's grandfather was Charles Lee 
Wadsworth, who settled in Hiram at an early 
date in the town's history. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



From the "History of Portland" wc learn 
that Charles Lee Wadsworth was the eldest 
son of General Peleg and I':iizabeth (Bartlett) 
Wadsworth, the latter a native of Plymouth, 
Mass. Peleg Wadsworth was born in Uux- 
bury, Mass., in 1748, was graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1769, served in the Revolu- 
tionary War, in the latter part of the time as 
Brigadier-general, removed in 1784 to Port- 
land, where he built the first brick house, was 
a member of Congress for several terms, re- 
signing his seat in 1806, and in 1807 removed 
to Hiram, where the government had granted 
him a tract of land. Two of his sons, Henry 
and Alexander S., distinguished themselves 
in the naval service of the United States. 
His daughter Zilpah became the wife of 
Stephen I^ongfellow, and was the mother of 
the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 

Mr. Wadsworth's father, Peleg C., son of 
Charles Lee Wadsworth, was born in Hiram; 
and he cleared and improved the farm in South 
Hiram which his son now occupies. He was 
one of the able and successful farmers of his 
day, his industrious habits enabling him to 
realize and maintain a comfortable prosperity; 
and he resided upon this farm until his death, 
which took place January i, 1885. His first 
wife, Bethia Spring, a native of Brownfield, 
died October 20, 1836, having been the 
mother of six children. Of these, three are 
now living, namely: George, who resides in 
Aroo.stook County; Lucia, who married 
Lebbeus Bailey, and lives in New ]5edford, 
Mass. ; and Elizabeth, wife of Ldwin Slater, 
of Granby, Mass. The others were: Sarah, 
Mary Ann, and Frank. Peleg C. Wadsworth 
and his second wife, Mary Richardson, a na- 
tive of Baldwin, Me., were the parents of nine 
children, as follows: Bethia S., wife of 
Charles H. Gould, of North Bridgton, Me.; 
Artemas R., who now resides in Grand Junc- 
tion, Col. ; Ellen L., wife of Lorenzo Moore, 
of Cambridge, Mass. ; Joanna, who is no 
longer living; Peleg T., the subject of this 
sketch; Ruth R. and Rizpah B. , who live 
with their brother at the homestead ; and 
Frank L. and Louisa, who are no longer liv- 
ing. Mrs. Mary R. Wadsworth died Novem- 
ber 8, 1894, having survived her husband 
nearly ten years. 



Peleg Thompson Wadsworth, the fifth in 
this second group of children, was educated 
in the common schools of Hiram. At an 
early age he began to assist his father in at- 
tending to the farm duties, and he has always 
resided at the ancestral homestead. In early 
manhood he displayed much ability as an agri- 
culturist, and since inheriting the projierty he 
has made various improvements upon the land 
and the buildings. He owns two hundred and 
fifty-five acres of well-located land, which is 
capable of producing large and superior crops; 
and, aside from engaging in general farming, 
he runs a dairy, and raises some excellent 
stock. 

Mr. Wadsworth has been twice married. 
By his first wife, Evelyn Nason, of Free- 
dom, N.H.., who died March 4, 1880, he 
had one child, who did not live to grow uii. 
His second wife, Ina E. Edgecomb, with 
whom he was united on January 8, 1884, was 
a daughter of Joseph M. Edgecomb, a farmer 
of South Hiram. She died March 12, 1885, 
leaving one daughter, Ina E., who was born 
January 11, 1S85. 

Politically, Mr. Wadsworth is a Republi- 
can; and he ably served as a member of the 
Board of Selectmen for two years. He is con- 
nected with Ossipee Valley Lodge, No. 54, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Cor- 
nish, and attends the Union Church. 




HAKLP;S 11. M( Ki;\'/.n:, senior 
member of the firm, Charles H. Mc- 
Kenzie & Co., of Rumford Falls, 
was born in Ledge, N. 1?., June 18, 
1859, son of John and Berilla (Hinds) Mc- 
Kenzie. John McKenzie was for many years 
a ship-builder upon the St. Croix River at 
Calais, Me., and resided in St. Stephen, N.B. 
He was quite successful in his calling, which 
he followed industriously: and he died at the 
age of fifty-two years. His wife, Berilla, who 
is a native of Maine, became the mother of 
five children, of whom Charles H., the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was the youngest. She is 
now seventy-eight years old. 

Charles H. McKenzie is indebted to the 
common schools of his native place for his ed- 
ucation. Having remained at home until he 



;oG 



i;|()c;rai'hic.\i. ki.vikw 



was cii;htcen years old, he ihen went to Cali- 
tDrnia, where after farming for three years he 
took enijilovinent in a mereantile house as a 
clerk. He had been five years upon the Pacific 
Co:ist when he returned to St. Stephen. He 
was next emph)yed for two years as suj^erin- 
tendent of construction for McKenzie & Mann, 
who had the contract for buildiny the Canadian 
I'acitic i-iailroad through the State of Maine. 
A simikir eniphi\ment took him back to Cali- 
fornia for a short time. After that he came 
to Rumford Falls, where he became the pio- 
neer merchant. He erected here the first 
bniUling for mercantile purposes. Upon its 
completion, in June, I1S92. I'le, in partnershij.i 
with Robert B. Straton, put in a full line of 
ready-made clothing, boots, shoes, etc. The 
firm has also a grocery store at Peterson's 
Kips. 

On November 21, 1^94, Mr. McKenzie 
wedded Mary ]?angs, of Phillips, Me. They 
have one daughter, Janet A. As an able and 
enerjretic business man Mr. McKenzie is 
regarded with the highest esteem by his towns- 
men, who give him much credit for the rapid 
progress he has made in developing his enter- 
prises. He is quite a social favorite here, and 
is connected with Blazing Star Lodge, A. F. 
& A. M.: and with Penacook Lodge. Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of this town. 




AKRV A. I'L'RBISH, an enterpris- 
ing general merchant of Rangeley, 
^^e.. and Chairman of the Board of 
.Selectmen, was born in Auburn, 
Me., INLirch 15, 1867. son of Albert B. and 
Carrie H. (Young) P'urbish. His maternal 
grandfather, John CofiRn Young, born in 
Dover, N. II., April 14, 1806, was in the shoe 
business some time, and later was a farmer. 
He married L\'dia l?aker Harris, who was 
born in Chester, N.H., July 14, 1807. Mr. 
I-"urbish's grandfather on his father's side, 
Webber I'urbish — an inventor, builder, and 
hotel kee]3er — was born in Lebanon, N.H., 
April 10, 1795. He married Betsey Eliza- 
lieth Furbish, who was born in Lebanon, 
N.H., March 2.^, 1800. 

Their son, Albert ]?rown Furiiish, was born 
in Hallowell, Me., December 27, 1856. He 



settled in Lewiston, Me., and was a promi- 
nent contractor and builder. He was a mem- 
ber of the city government for several years. 
In politics he supported the Republican party. 
He enlisted as Corporal, April 9, 1861, in 
Company H, First Regiment, Maine Infantry. 
He died in Houlton. Me., January 16, 1889. 
He married October 13, 1857, Caroline Hen- 
rietta Young, who was born in Dover, N.H. 
She was the miither of four children, of whom 
three are now living, Grace E., having died 
at Houlton, June 2, 1887. The survivors 
are: Clara A., wife of George N. Getchell, of 
Caribou, Aroostook, County, Me.: Lillie K., 
who is residing at home; and Harry A., the 
subject of this sketch. The family attend the 
Congregational church. 

Harry A. Furbish was educated in the' i)ub- 
lic schools of Lewiston. After completing 
his studies he came to Rangeley, where he 
became clerk in the store of G. W. Young, 
and remained with him about two years, lie 
then engaged in the same capacity with 
Messrs. Burke and Rogers, with whom he re- 
mained five }ears; then entered into partner- 
ship with John A. Burke, the firm name being 
Burke & Furbish; and when Mr. Burke died 
he entereil into partnership with Mr. P3dwin 
A. Rogers, under the firm name of Rogers & 
Furbish. A year and a half later \V. L. 
Butler became a partner in the concern; and, 
after carrying on business under the name of 
Rogers, Furbish & Butler for a year. Mr. 
Walter ]•' . Oakes was admitted to partnership, 
and Mr. Rogers retired. The firm, which is 
now known as Furbish, Butler & Oakes, carry 
on the largest general store in Rangeley, oc- 
cupying a building seventy-five by forty feet, 
with a rear extension twenty by thirty-five feet. 
They deal extensively in dry goods, crockery, 
jewelry, ready-made Isoots and shoes, clothing, 
groceries, meats, provisions, drugs, etc.. and 
their trade extends over a wide territory. Mr. 
I'urbish is an admirer of good horses. He 
and Mr. Butler always have several — some 
quite fast — and he also raises some colts of 
fine stock. 

On December 25, 1887, Mr. F"urbish was 
united in marriage to Lizzie M. Porter, daugh- 
ter of Rufus B. Porter, of Rangeley. As a 
supporter of the Republican party he is ac- 



HIOC-.RAl'lllCAI. RFA'IKW 



^07 



tively interested in torwaitling tlie success of 
the party organizations in tliis section, and 
lias been a meniljer of tlie Town Committee. 
He was Postmaster from 1888 to 1892, lias 
been Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for 
one term, and has served as Collector for two 
years. He is well advanced in Masonry (being 
a member of the Hlue Lodge, of Phillips, Me., 
in which he has filled all of the important 
chairs), and connected with the Council, Chap- 
ter and Commandery in Farmington, and with 
the Mystic Shrine in Lewiston. He is also a 
member of Mount SadtUeback Lodge, No. 9 J, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is 
regarded as the leading business man of 
Rangeley, and the success he has achieved is 
the result of his own ability and perseverance. 
Mr. and Mrs. Furbish attend the Union 
Church. 



Y^TKNRV T. KLMBALL, senior mem- 
l-^-I her of the firm of Kimball & Bowley, 
|l9 I proprietors of the Mountain View 

^~"^ House in Rangeley, Me., was born 
in Rangeley, November 12, 1831, son of Ne- 
hemiah and Esther (Welts) Kimball. The 
family is of English origin, and Mr. Kimball's 
grandfather was an early settler of Mercer, Me. 
Nehemiah Kimball was born in Mercer, and 
was reared upon a farm in that town. He was 
one of the first settlers in Rangeley, where he 
became a farmer and a prominent citizen ; and, 
asiiie from tilling the soil, he was a noted 
himter of deer and moose, with which the 
forests were well filled in those days. He died 
in Rangeley, June 29, 1856, aged si.xty-three 
years. He served as a .Selectman and Town 
Clerk for a number of years; and in politics 
he was to his last days a Republican, having 
been one of the first in this locality to join 
that party at its formation. His wife, Esther 
Welts, who was a native of Mercer, became 
the mother of eight children, of whom the 
only survivor is Henry T., the subject of this 
sketch. 

Henry T. Kimball acquired his education 
in the schools of this town, and for a number 
of years after completing his studies he was 
engaged in farming. He started in the hotel 
business at Greenvale. When he opened the 



Greenvale House, after thoroughlv building it 
over. Mr. Kimball started the first dailv stage 
line froiu Phillips to Greenvale. Rangeley 
had mail service onl\- three times a week at 
that early period. .Mr. Kindiall remained at 
Greenvale several years, and then built the 
Mountain View House at the outlet of 
Rangeley Lake, a famous place for big trout 
fishing. He later associated with himself a 
partner, L. E. Bowley, in carrying on the 
Mountain V^iew House; and, since taking the 
management of this popular resort, the firm 
have added thirty rooms, thus giving a capac- 
ity for one hundred guests. 

On September 15, 1855, -^l'- Kimball 
wedded Sarah T. Hoar, of Rangelev. Of the 
si.x children born of this union, the only sur- 
vivor is Harry U., who resides at home. The 
others were: Charles F., who was born April 
27, 1856, and died November r, 1S64; Alice 
M., who was born November 19, 1857, and 
died in infancy; Cora E., who was born 
March 4, 1859, and died October 25, 1864: 
Florence E., who was born January 14, 1864, 
married ¥. C. liarker, February 22, 18S8, and 
died May 12, 1S92, leaving one daughter, 
Florence E., who is now living with her 
grandparents; and Willie H., born March 6, 
1866, who died June 10, 1867. 

Mr. Kimball has served with ability as a 
Selectman and Town Clerk for some years, 
and in politics he acts with the Republican 
party. He was Postmaster of Rangeley for a 
number of years. He is a member of Blue 
Mountain Lodge, No. 67, A. F. & A. M., of 
Phillips, and is very popular, both with his 
fellow-townsmen and the travelling public. 
The family occupy a handsome residence, 
which was erected in 1885, and attend the 
Free Will Baptist church. 



§OSHUA SAUNDERS, one of the well- 
known and esteemed citizens of Water- 
ford, Me., now practicall}- retired after 
years of activity in farming and lum- 
bering, was born in Waterford, November 12, 
1824. His parents were Amos and Sylvia 
(.Stone) Saunders, the former of Waterford, 
the latter of Groton, Mass. His grandfather, 
Joshua Saunders, for whom he was named. 



;o8 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



was one of the pioneer settlers in the north- 
ern part of Waterford, coming from Rowley, 
Mass. He died in this town in 1797. 

Amos Saunders, son of the elder Joshua and 
father of tlv; younger, was born in Waterford 
in 1793, and spent his life on the homestead 
in Waterford, engaged in farming and lumber- 
ing. He died November 20, 1S75, and his 
wife died February iS, 1879. This couple 
were the parents of five children — Joshua, the 
date of whose birth is noted above: Catherine, 
born April 9, 1827, now the wife of James 
Chadbourne, of East Waterford: Elizabeth 
S. , born January 23, 1830, who resides in 
Chelmsford, Mass. : Theo S.. born March 24, 
1S34. who died in iSSo. and whose widow, 
Mrs. I'21izabeth I'lummer Saunders, is now 
living in Milford, N.ll.: Maria, born in Jan- 
uarv, 1837, now the wife of William W. 
Kilbourne, of Chelmsford, Mass. 

Joshua Saunders, who was the eklest-born, 
received a common-school education, and was 
trained to habits of useful industry on the 
home farm. After attaining his majority he 
continued to live with his parents, taking upon 
himself more and more of the farm duties; 
and when his father died he succeeded him as 
manager of the estate. Industrious and enter- 
prising, Mr. .Saunders was extensively en- 
gaged in lumbering in addition to his agri- 
cultural labors, and for some time conducted a 
saw-mill in the town of Albany, Me. He 
now owns a saw-mill in the town of Water- 
ford. In December, 1S88, he removed to the 
farm im which he is now living: and as his 
burden of years grew heavy he gradually 
lessened his labors, seeking in the afternoon 
of life the enjoyment of leisure which was 
denied him in the heat of noontide. 

On November 26, 1863, he was united in 
marriage with Mary A. Kilbourne, of Water- 
ford, who was born September 29, 1S34, the 
daughter of Thomas and Eydia (Warren) Kil- 
bourne. Thomas Kilbourne was born in 
Newbury, Mass., and was taken to Boscawen, 
now Webster, N.H., when four years of age. 
He located in Waterford at the age of twenty- 
eight, and spent the rest of his life here, en- 
gaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He and 
his wife, Lydia, who was a native of Water- 
ford, were the parents of eleven children — 



Samuel W., who died in infancy; a second 
Samuel W. , who was married to Sarah S. 
Grover, of Bethel, Me., and both have de- 
parted this life; Thomas I*, and Charles P., 
deceased; Perley W., who married .Miss 
Phcebe Gould, and resides in Harrison village. 
Me.; Mary A., Mrs. Saunders; William W., 
in Chelmsford Mass., who married Miss Maria 
Saunders; Sarah, wife of William L. Grover, 
of Harrison, ^le. ; Daniel W.. a Union 
soldier, who was injured in battle, and died in 
Washington, D.C. ; Amos Gage, who lived 
but four years: and Emma, now in Harrison, 
Me. 

Mr. and Mrs. .Saunders have six sons, all 
grown to manhood. William Webster, the 
eldest, born September 3, i S64, lives with his 
parents. He married Miss Jane Simpson. 
Charles P. Saunders, born November 24, 
1866. is also with his parents. I'red P., born 
March 30, 1869, who married Miss Hattie A. 
Woodbury, lives on the old homestead in 
Waterford. Henry W., born February 26, 
1871, who is with his brother Fred on the 
homestead, married Miss Alice Woodbury. 
FVank Avery, born July 5, 1873, and Arthur 
L. , born August 23, 1875, have not yet left 
the parental home. Mr. Saunders votes the 
Republican ticket. He and his wife are ac- 
tix'elv interested members of the Congrega- 
tional church of North Waterford. 




D. E L L I N G W^ O O D. — Among 
Bethel's most enterprising and pro- 
gressive business men is Mr. A. I). 
Ellingvvood, editor and publisher of 
the Bethei .Wtcv. Coming to the place less 
than two years ago, with small capital and in 
the face of much discouragement and opposi- 
tion, Mr. Ellingvvood has by indefatigable 
energy and push, by constant labor and tactful 
finesse, established a business that is appre- 
ciated in the place, and felt to be needful to 
its growth, a business that is not only profit- 
able now, but that is destined to assume much 
larger proportions in time to come. 

Mr. Ellingwood was born March 24, 1863, 
in Milan, N. H., and resided in that place 
until 1890. He received his education at 
Bridgton Academy and the Maine Wesleyan 



R I OG R A 1' H I C ■ A L l< K V I F.W 



5'^') 



Seminary at Kent's Hill. In May, ,i<S87, he 
was married to Miss Lena B. Cole, of Port- 
land. They have two little daughters. In 
July, i8go, he removed to Berlin, N.H., and 
a year later went to Groveton, N.H., where he 
opened a job printing office antl instituted the 
Groveton Enterprise, a local weekly paper. A 
good business was established, but, preferring 
a different locality, Mr. Ellingvvood sold the 
plant to J. D. Bridge, editor of the Dctiiocmt. 
Lancaster, N.H., and came to Bethel in 
April, 1895. Renting the large room in the 
Cole Block formerly used as a gymnasium, he 
opened a job printing office, and the first week 
in the following June commenced the publica- 
tion of the Bethel .Vcti'.v, the second paper 
published in Bethel, the first having been the 
Bethel Courier, edited by Dr. N. T. True back 
in the fifties. Every one predicted failure for 
the new enterprise, considering the county 
already overstocked with local papers; but a 
flattering amount of success has rewarded the 
effort expentled, and to-day the Bethel .\Vti'.v 
stands on a level with its contemporaries, with 
a rapidly increasing subscription list. It is a 
bright, clean little paper, well printed, full of 
original matter, with local news, items from 
neighboring towns. State news, an interesting 
children's column, and many articles of inter- 
est. Increasing business demanded increased 
facilities, and now two large rooms in the 
Cole Block are occupied, and a good trade es- 
tablished in stationery, pens, etc. 

In September of the present year (1S96), a 
half-interest in the entire business was sold to 
Mr. E. C. Bowler, and business is now trans- 
acted under the firm name of the News Pub- 
lishing Company. 



IDWARD PAYSOX TURNER, M.D., 

a prominent physician and practitioner, 
located at 30 State Street, New York 
City, was born in New \"ineyard, Eranklin 
County, Me., on November 16, 1854. His 
])arents were David, Jr., and Lydia B. Turner. 
His great-grandfather. Captain David Turner, 
came from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and was 
one of the first settlers in the township. He, 
like most of the early settlers, selected and 
cleared a mountain farm, the idea being that 



the high lanils were the best for wheat, corn, 
and potatoes, giving a longer season by escap- 
ing the early frosts of the valleys. He lived 
and died on the farm he had made, respected, 
and with that measure of success usual to the 
farmers of the time. 

His son David, the Doctor's grandfather, 
was born here, and as a young man became in- 
terested in religion, and finally became a 
clergvman. He established the Congrega- 
tional church at New Vineyard, and officiated 
as its pastor for thirty years. The Rew David 
Turner died in 1858. 

David, Jr., the father, also a native of the 
town and a farmer, always lived here. He 
married Lydia B. Bray, of Anson, and they 
had two children — Edward Payson, the sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Mary Jane, who died 
in infancy. The father died in 1861, when 
his son was in his seventh year. The mother 
remained at the homestead, rearing and edu- 
cating her son as best she could. She lived 
until August 50, 1894. -She therefore had 
the satisfaction of seeing her son reach the 
age of manhood, and become a successful and 
prosperous doctor of medicine. She also was 
enabled to enjoy for a number of years the 
fruits of her labors, as the old house was com- 
pletely remodelled and furnish2d, making one 
of the pleasantest country homes in Maine. 
Mrs. Turner also spent considerable time in 
the city with her son. 

Edward P. Turner, after acquiring such ed- 
ucation as the schools of New Vineyard 
afforded, entered Westbrook Seminary, and 
graduated from there in 1878. For a lime 
thereafter he was a teacher in the Maine State 
Reform School. He then began the study of 
medicine, under the direction of Dr. C. W. 
Bray, and later entered the office of Drs. 
Tewkesbury and Bray, Portland, Me., remain- 
ing with them one year, subsequently going to 
the Long Island College Hospital in New 
York, where he was graduated in 1882, and 
was President of his class. Dr. Turner at 
once located in New York City, where he has 
been successful in building up a large and lu- 
crative practice, remaining in the same local- 
ity where he at first started. 

The Doctor, however, has ne\'er abandoned 
his native town. He completely renovated, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



rebuilt, and newly furnished the old dwelling 
house, which is now a three-story Queen Anne 
cottage, and one of the pretty country homes 
of Maine. He has also a large farm well 
stockeil and eciuipjied for general farming; but 
the special feature is the apple orchard of over 
three thousand trees, covering about eighty 
acres. He believes that apj^le-growing in 
Maine will prove more profitable than orange- 
growing in Florida, and advises the young 
men to stay at home, and go into the business, 
giving it proper care and attention, making it 
a specialty. He also has financial interests 
in some of the paper industries of Maine, and 
is a property owner in New York City. Since 
he first exercised the elective franchise lie has 
affiliated with the Democratic jJarty, with the 
exception of a vote cast for McKinley. Offi- 
cially, he is now a School Inspector for the 
I'irst District in New York City, being ap- 
pointed by the mayor. Fraternally, he is a 
member of the American Legion of Honor, of 
I'reble Council, Portland, Me. 

The Doctor says that, whatever success he 
has had, has been due to the encouragement of 
his mother and hard work all the time. The 
Doctor is a bachelor. Relieving in the proper 
care of the body, both during life and after- 
ward, he has arranged a family burying-place, 
that is probably not excelled in beauty and 
fitness of design in the State. The ideas of 
the entire work originated with the Doctor, 
and it is a credit to his artistic tastes. 




UGUSTUS F. TIIURLOW, who has 
resideil upon his present farm in Paris, 
Oxford County, since 1877, was 
born in Raymond, Me., October 6, 
1S42, son of Hiram and Ann C. (Davis) 
Thurlow. 

Hiram Thurlow was a native and lifelong 
resident of Raymond, and one of the stirring 
and industrious farmers of that town. He 
lived to reach the age of seventy-four years. 
His wife, Ann, who was a native of Casco, 
Me., became the mother of six children, two 
of whom are living, namely: Emeline D., 
who is now I\Irs. P"rank, and lives in Yar- 
mouthville, Mc. ; and Augustus F. , the sub- 
ject of this sketch. The others were: So- 



phronia J., Frceland, Cyrus, and Charles H. 
Mrs. Hiram Thurlow died at the age of forty- 
seven years. 

Augustus F. Thurlow was educated in the 
schools of Raymond, and was reared to the life 
of a farmer. When old enough he began to 
work as a farm laborer, receiving twelve 
dollars per month, and continued thus em- 
ployed for twelve years. He enlisted for ser- 
vice in the Civil War, but saw no active duty. 
He bought his first real estate in \'ineland, 
N.J., where he was engaged five years as 
farmer, carpenter, and mill-man. From \'ine- 
land, N.J., he moved to West Nebraska, where 
he resided for a short time. Returning P2ast 
as far as the oil region of Pennsylvania, he 
was for some time employed there in doing 
carpenter work, and also as an operative in a 
saw-mill. Again moving eastward, he stoppeti 
at Berlin Falls, N. H., where he resided five 
years. Coming to Paris in 1S77, he bought 
the farm which he has since carried on with so 
much ability and success. 

In 1872 Mr. Thurlow wedded Mary C. 
Stevens, who was born in Mi not. Me., in 
1853, and she has borne him five children — 
Hiram E. , Arthur C, Gertrude M., Josiah 
A., and Irving G. In politics Mr. Thurlow 
acts with the Republican party, and he is 
highly respected in this town as a useful antl 
progressive citizen. 




REDKRICK NATHANIEL FRYE, 
of Fryeburg, Me., better known among 
his neighbors and a large number of 
friends and acquaintances in this county as 
Nat Frye, the owner of the I'rye homestead, 
was born in this town, February 23, ICS24. 
Mr. Frye's parents were I'^rederick and Mary 
Ann (Chandler) Frye. 

The first ancestor of the family to settle in 
Maine was his great-grandfather. General Jo- 
seph Frye, a native of Andover, Essex County, 
Mass., and a Revolutionary soldier, in whose 
honor the town of I'ryeburg was named. Mr. 
Frye's grandfather, Lieutenant Nathaniel 
Frye, son of General Frye, accompanied his 
parents to this township, and during the rest 
of his active period devoted himself to tilling 
the soil of the estate founded by his father. 



BIOGRAPHICAT. REVIEW 



;ii 



He (lied in this town (in tiic 17th ot April, 
1S33. His wife, Dorothy Swan, a native of 
Fryeburg, died April 27, 1840. 

Their son Frederick, Mr. I'rye's father, 
' was born in Fryeburg, June 6, 1796. After 
marrying, he continued to reside at the home- 
stead engaged in farming. He possessed an 
energy and ability which gave promise of 
future success in business; but he was not 
permitted to display these sterling character- 
istics to any extent, as his life was cut short 
in the very prime of his young manhood, his 
death occurring November 2j, 1823. His 
wife, who was before marriage Mary Ann 
Chandler, was a native of Fryeburg. Three 
children were the fruit of their union, as fol- 
lows: Martha, who was born December 6, 
1 8 19, and died February 18, 1862; Caleb, 
who was born October 29, 1821, became a 
prominent farmer and lumber dealer of this 
town, and died December 7, 1882; and Fred- 
erick N., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. 
Mary A. Frye died May 9, 1880, aged eighty- 
one years, five months, and twenty-three days. 
Frederick Nathaniel Frye, who was named 
for his father and grandfather, attended the 
common schools for a while in his childhood, 
but as he was obliged to begin work upon the 
farm at an early age, on account of his father's 
untimely death, his opportunities for obtain- 
ing an education were necessarily limited. 
In company with his brother Caleb he carried 
on the farm for many years, managing the 
property in the interest of his mother until 
the estate wms divided, and since the settle- 
ment of affairs he has been extensively en- 
gagetl in farming and lumbering. He now 
owns three hundred and sixty-nine acres of 
land, with dwelling-house and other build- 
ings, has a sugar orchard of fourteen acres, and 
also possesses large tracts of timber land lo- 
cated in Fryeburg and Stow, Me., and in 
Conway, N.H. He raises large crops of 
staple products, and has devoted his time ex- 
clusively to his local business interests, his 
only absence from home being the occasion of 
his visit to Washington, D. C, to consult with 
' his uncle in regard to settling the estate. 

On July 3, 1879, Mr. Frye was united in 
matrimony with Martha Day, who was born in 
Fryeburg, April 9. 1848, a daughter of Enos 



and Johanna (Abbott) Day, both natives of 
this town. Mr. Day was identified with the 
early agricultural development of Fryeburg. 
He died in August, 1878, and Mrs. Day, who 
is now eighty-three years old, is residing with 
her daughter. 

Politically, a Republican, Mr. I'"rye, thougli 
frequently solicited to accept the nomination 
for public office, has always declined. He is 
highly respected as thoroughly honorable ami 
upright, his ability, both as a farmer and a 
business man, being well known throughout 
the county. He is a member of Pythagorean 
Lodge, No. II, A. F. & A. M., of Fryeburg. 



/^3)k(:)RGE N. COHURN, chairman of 
\ 5T the. Board of Selectmen of Weld, 
^-"^ Me., is a native of this town, where 
he is prosperously engaged in f.irming. He 
was born December 28, 1836, son of Jacob and 
Hannah (Lawrence) Colnirn. The family is 
of P2nglish origin, and its founder in America 
is said to have emigrated from the County of 
Kent, England, accompanied by six brothers. 

George Coburn, great-grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, served as a soldier in 
the Revolutionary War, and was a farmer in 
New Hampshire throughout the active period 
of his life. His son, Jacob Coburn, Sr. , 
the next in this line, was born in Temple, 
N.H. He settled in Weld, where he tilled 
the soil of a good farm for many years, and 
died in tliis town in 1847, aged sixty-six 
years. He served as Tax Collector for some 
years, and w^as a member of the Congrega- 
tional church. He was the father of six chil- 
dren, two of whom are living, namely: Mary, 
wife of L Richardson, of Mars Hill, Aroo- 
stook County, Me; and Harriet, wife of Jo- 
seph Lawrence, of West Boylston, Mass. 

Jacob Coburn, Mr. Coburn's father, was 
born in Weld, and in young manhood he en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. He main- 
tained a comfortable prosperity, but did not 
live to grow- old, his death occurring at the 
age of forty-nine years, October 17, 1857. \n 
politics he was originally a W'hig, but joined 
the Republican party at its formation; and he 
was a Congregational ist in his religious views. 
His wife, Hannah Lawrence, whose ancestors 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



were Rovdlntionary patriots, untl resided in 
t'oncord, Mass., became the mother of six 
children, five of whom are living, and are as 
follows: Charles F. , a resident of Temple; 
liUen, wife of II. S. Coburn, of Maiden, 
Mass.; Mary M., who married J. T. Wilkins, 
and lives in Wilton, Me.; Emma J., wife of 
C. B. Rollins, of Farmington; and George 
N., the subject of this sketch. 

George N. Coburn was educated in his na- 
tive town, and after leaving school he turned 
his attention to farming. He was thus em- 
ployed about four years, and at the end of that 
time he went to California, where he worked 
in the mines for some length of time. He 
was fairlv successful in the diggings, and 
upon his return home he settled upon the farm 
where he now resides, and has since devoted 
his attention to general farming. He has 
under cultivation about thirty acres producing 
excellent crops, and he keeps some standard- 
bretl cattle. 

Mr. Coburn has been twice married. On 
June 24, 1865, he wedded for his first w-ife 
Olive R. Wheeler, of Royalton, \'ermont, 
and by this union he has two sons, namely: 
Hiram A., who resides in Weld; and Henry 
W., who is a graduate of Bowdoin College, 
and is now teaching in this State. Mr. Co- 
burn and his second wife, formerly Amelia 
A. Masterman, of Weld, have no children. 

In politics Mr. Coburn is a Republican. 
He has served as a member of the Board of 
Selectmen for eighteen terms, is Chairman of 
that body, and was Count}' Commissioner for 
si.\ years. He was made a l-'ree Mason in 
1S65, and was the first Secretary of Mystic 
Lodge, No. 154, A. F. & A. M. , of which he 
is still a member. He is an energetic and 
progressive farmer, as well as an estimable 
citizen, and his long and honorable connection 
with local public affairs is forcible testimony 
as to the confidence in which he is held by his 
fellow-townsmen. The family attend the Con- 
gregational church. 




ALTER B. BLAKE, an influential 
and much respected citizen of Den- 
mark, O.vford County, Me., who is 
both a \eteran of the Civil War and the son of 



a veteran, was born in the neighboring town 
of Brownfield, this county, May 14, 1844. 
His parents were John T. and Rhoda (Harn- 
den) Blake. 

The father was a native of Gorham, Me., 
but settled in Brownfield after his marriage, 
and he later moved to Sebago, Me., where he 
resided until 1852. He then came to Den- 
mark, and carried on general farming in con- 
nection with the butchering business for the 
rest of his life, excepting when he was in the 
army, as he served in the Twenty-third Maine 
Volunteer in the Civil War. His death oc- 
curred in i8go. His wife, Rhoda Harnden, a 
native of Denmark, became the mother of six 
children, as follows: Horace P., who also 
served in the Civil W'ar in the First Maine 
Cavalry, resides in Jackson, N. H., and is en- 
gaged in farming and teaming; Walter B. , of 
Denmark, aforenamed; Louisa, who is the 
wife of Austin Wentworth, and lives at Den- 
mark Corner; Hannah, who became the wife 
ot John C. Hodge, both now deceased; Olive 
Jane, who married Augustin Ingalls, the 
present Postmaster at Denmark Corner, and is 
no longer living; and Mary Ellen, who died 
from an accident when only eight years of 
age. Mrs. Rhoda H. Blake died April 2, 
1892. 

Walter B. , the second son, and the leading 
subject of the present sketch, acquired a com- 
mon-school education, and resided at the pa- 
rental home until he was eighteen years old. 
On August 7, 1862, he enlisted as a private 
in Company I, PLighth Regiment, Maine \'ol- 
unteers, for service in the Civil War, under 
Colonel John D. Rust and Captain William 
M. McArthur, and with his regiment took 
part in the sieges of Jacksonville antl Charles- 
ton, the battles of Drury's Bluff, Fair Oaks, 
and Petersburg, also participating in the 
operations which forced the surrender of Gen- 
eral Lee at Appomatto.x. In the battle of 
Drury's Bluff his ribs were broken by a frag- 
ment of a tree, splintered off by a shell, 
which, bursting near his head, caused deaf- 
ness. For these disabilities he now receives 
a pension from the government. After his 
discharge at Richmond, Va., June 25, 1865, he 
returned home, and remained with his parents 
until he was married. The first six months of 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



S'.^ 



his wedded life were passed at Deiiinaik Cor- 
ner. I'"rom that place he reinovetl to his pres- 
ent farm, where he has since carried on gen- 
eral farming, with results that speak well for 
his industry and ability. He now owns one 
hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, 
which by good management is made to pro- 
duce large crops of hay. oats, corn, and pota- 
toes, the whole ]3roperty having been greatly 
improved since coming into his possession. 

On May :^i, 1.S76. Mr. Blake wedded Mrs. 
Sarah K. Harnden, a widow, whose former 
husband, Elbriilge Harnden, died November 
i.S, 1874. She was born April 13, 1848, 
ilaughter of William and Mary Ann (Potter) 
Lord, the former of whom was a farmer of 
Lovell, but is now living with another daugh- 
ter, whose husband is station agent at Perley's 
Mills, his wife having died December 19, 
1 89 1. By her first union Mrs. Blake had two 
children, as follows: Annie Evelyn, wife of 
Charles H. Purinton, of Tamworth, N.H. ; 
and Elmira Estelle, who married Charles H. 
Quincy, and resides in Bakersfield, Kern 
County, Cal. Mrs. Blake has by her second 
marriage two children — Ellis 1*". and Leonard 
T. , both of whom are residing at home with 
their parents. In politics Mr. Blake acts with 
the Republican part)', and he has served as 
Highway Surveyor and School Agent for sev- 
eral years. He is a comrade of Grover l-'ost. 
No. 126, Grand Army of the Republic, of 
P'ryeburg, Me. 



LDEN Z. GATES, the leading drug- 
gist of Rumford I'alls, O.xford County, 
Me., was born in Washington, this 
State, on July 23, 1851. His par- 
ents were Robert and Abigail Gates, natives 
of Alaine. 

Alden Z. Gates attended school during 
his early years. While yet a boy he made 
three sea voyages, on one of them going to 
England. Pie advanced rapidly in his studies, 
and at the age of seventeen went to Blooming- 
ton, Minn., to engage in teaching. At the 
expiration of three terms in the district 
school he returned to Washington County, 
Maine, following the same profession in the 
surrounding towns for three vears. At the 




same time he studied medicine with Doctors 
Baker and Davis. Phe practice of medicine, 
however, not being suited to his tastes, he 
gave up the study, and entered the drug busi- 
ness, becoming a clerk in a drug store in 
Rochester, N.\'., where he remained three 
years, going thence to Lawrence, Mass. 
After a year's clerkshi)) in the latter city he 
travelled for three years in Maine, Massachu- 
setts, and Connecticut, effecting sales of med- 
icines. He then spent six years in the drug 
business in California, and for five years there- 
after he was in the employ of the LTnited 
States Marine Service at Portland. He next 
went to Freeport, Me., where he ojiened a 
drug store, which was burned a year later. In 
the spring of 1892 Mr. Gates came to Rum- 
ford P"alls, bought land, and erected thereon 
a good frame building facing the falls, it 
being located on the corner of Congress and 
Bridge Streets. Three years later that i)lace 
was vacateil for one of the largest and finest 
brick buildings in the village. This edifice, 
erected by Mr. Gates at a cost of twenty-two 
thousand dollars, contains four stories and a 
basement. The upper floors are rented for 
offices and lodge rooms. 

On New Year's Day, 1868, Mr. Gates mar- 
ried Julia A. Wentworth, of Gouldsboro, 
Me. By this union he had five children, three 
of whom survive, namely: Nellie PL, the wife 
of William F. Abbott, of Boston; Hattie H. 
and A. Bernice, also of Boston. Mr. Gates 
was again married to Ada A. Wilson, and be- 
came the father of another daughter, Ada, now 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gates attend the 
Methodist ]Cpisco].ial churcii. Mr. Gates has 
shown a remarkable adajjtation to the busi- 
ness, which yields him excellent returns. His 
success is entirely due to his individual efforts. 
In politics he is liberal, voting for the man 
rather than the jiarty. As a Mason, he be- 
longs to Lookout Lodge, No. ni, A. P". tS: 
A. M., of Cutler. 



/STTx^RGE H. WALKER, one of the 
\ '3 I progressive farmers of P'ryeburg, Ox- 
ford County, was born upon the farm 
he now cultivates, October 26, 1858, son of 
Henry and Caroline (P'rye) Walker. Mr. 



.SI4 



RIOC.RAPHICAL REVIEW 



Walker's great-grandparent.s on the father's 
side were Timothy and Eunice (Brewster) 
Walker, of Duxbury, Alass. His grandpar- 
ents, James and Anna (Harnden) Walker, of 
Wilmington, Mass., settled in Fryeburg at an 
early date of the town's history. 

Henry Walker was born in Fryeburg. July 
30, 1 8 16. He was reared a farmer, and after 
his marriage settled at the family homestead, 
which he brought to its present excellent con- 
dition, and where he still resides. He con- 
ducted general farming with success until his 
retirement from active labor. A stirring 
man, he has always displayed a warm inter- 
est in the development of the town. In his 
younger days he supported the Whig party, 
casting his first Presidential vote for William 
Henry Harrison. On November 5, 1846, he 
married Caroline Frye, who was born in Frye- 
burg, October 10, 181 8. She is the mother 
of eight children, as follows: Caroline Fran- 
ces, who is the wife of Henry M. Eames, a 
coal dealer of Woburn, Mass., and has one 
daughter, Stella Walker; Charles H., who 
married Sarah Jennie Hubbard, and is in the 
coal business in .Stoneham, Mass. ; Adelia S., 
the wife of T. L. FLastman; Mary J., who be- 
came the wife of A. L. Willey, now in Cali- 
fornia, and tiled in 1880, leaving one son, 
Ralph W. ; Edna, who died in 1879: George 
H., the subject of this sketch; Frederick 
Arthur, who married Faith Oberg, and is in 
the lumber business in Boston; and Helen 
Brewster, who is the wife of Alfred Carter, 
also a coal dealer of Woburn, and has one son, 
Arthur Alfred. Both parents are members 
of the Congregational church. 

George H. Walker did not acquire a col- 
lege education, but jireferred agricultural pur- 
suits to any other occupation in life. He has 
accordingly devoted his energies to tilling the 
soil of the homestead farm. In company with 
his father he owns three hundred acres of 
land, and since the retirement of the former 
he has managed the property with excellent re- 
sults. On August I, 1SS7, Mr. Walker 
wedded Nellie A. Bennett, who was born in 
Denmark, this county, Januarv 21, 1868, 
daughter of Moses and Martha (Kenney) Ben- 
nett. Moses Bennett was a native of Sanford, 
.Me., born in September, i82r; and his wife, 



of Pittston, Me., born in October, 1825. 
They were married in Lowell, .Mass., and they 
settled in Denmark in 1849. .Mr. Bennett 
died in June, 1889. His wife is still living 
in Denmark. .Mr. and Mrs. Walker have two 
children, namely: Lewis Albert, who was 
born November 12, 1888; and Jessie Helen, 
who was born January 14, 1891. .Mrs. Walker 
is a member of the Congregational church of 
P'ryeburg. Mr. Walker is connected with 
Pythagorean Lodge, No. 11, A. F. & A. M., 
Pequaket Lodge, No 34, Knights of Pythias 
of P'ryeburg. 




BRAM ROS.S, one of the leading 
farmers of Rangeley, P'ranklin County, 
Me., and an e.x-member of the State 
legislature, was born in this town, 
January 31, 1838, son of Abram and Abigail 
(Sedgley) Ross. Mr. Ross's paternal grand- 
father, Eben Ross, was for many years a resi- 
dent of Phillips, Me., where he diligently and 
successfully tilled the soil of a good farm. 
He reared a large family of children. 

Abram Ross, son of PIben, resided for some 
time in Bowdoinham, whence he removed to 
Rangeley, where he engaged in farming for 
the rest of his life. His wife, who was before 
marriage Abigail Sedgley, became the mother 
of eight children, four of whom are living, 
namely: Samuel A., who resides in Rangeley; 
Daniel, a resident of Madrid, Me.; Leonard, 
who lives in this town; and Abram, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. The father died May 7, 
1840, at the age of forty-two years. 

Abram Ross, son of Abram, was educated 
in the schools of his native town, and at an 
early age began to assist in carrying on the 
home farm. He remained there until he was 
twenty-four years of age, when he bought a 
farm located in the western jiart of this town, 
and lived there until 1875. He then moved 
to his present farm of two hundred and 
twenty-five acres, which is one of the most de- 
sirable pieces of agricultural property in 
Rangeley. He devotes his attention to gen- 
eral farming, in which he has made excellent 
progress; and he raises some fine Holstein, 
Durham, and Hereford stock for his own use. 

-Mr. Ros.s and Hannah Welch, of Rangele\', 



BIOGRAPHICAL R E\a RW 



5^5 



were married mi I'ehruarv 14, 1864, and are 
tlie parents of six children, as follows: 
lilanche, who is residing in Brockton, Mass. ; 
Julia, wife of Willis Hoar, of Phillips; Abrani 
\V. ; Evelyn. who lives in Brockton; Gertrude 
and Warren, who, with Abram W. , are at 
home with their father and mother. 

In politics Mr. Ross is a Democrat, lie 
served wdlh ability as a member of the Board 
of Selectmen for upward of fourteen years, 
a part of whicii time he was Chairman of that 
body; and as Representative from this district 
to the legislature during the session of 1886 
and 1 88", he served upon some of the impor- 
tant comniittecs. He is highly spoken of by 
his fellow-townsmen as an honorable, liberal- 
minded, and progressive citizen, who has 
made his way in life through his own personal 
energy, and as a self-made man he fully de- 
serves the success he has acquired The fam- 
ily have no preference in regard to churches. 




\h 



>ATHAN S. BAKER, a highly re- 
spected citizen, and one of the oldest 
farmers of Newry township, was 
born in Mexico, Oxford County, 
January 7, 1835, son of Otis and 
Melinda (Silver) Baker. Otis Baker was a 
native of Litchfield, Me., where he lived until 
twenty-two years of age. Coming to Mexico, 
he purchased land, and resided here a few 
years, then removed to Rumford, where he 
lived to a good age. The last years of his 
life were spent with his son, and he died when 
eighty-three years old. In politics he was a 
Republican. His wife. Melinda Silver Baker, 
was born in Rumford, and died in her native 
town at about eighty-one years of age. Both 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

Nathan S. Baker, after attending the com- 
mon schools, took up a course of study in the 
iiigh schools at Dicksfield and South Paris, 
this county. Soon after reaching his majority 
he purchased a farm in Rumford, and carried 
it on until 1866, at which time he bought 
the farm that he now owns. The latter con- 
tains about two hundred and fifty acres of well 
improved land, and Mr. Baker carries on gen- 
eral farming siicccssfull}'. .Mr. Baker is also 



a man of literary ability, anil has contributed 
articles to the local press, the Oxford County 
Diniocrat, and other county papers, on politi- 
cal and general topics, besides an occasional 
poetn. 

In 1858 Mr. Baker was married to Miss 
Mary Anna Bryant, of Milton Plantation, Ox- 
lord County. Nine children liave been born to 
ihem, two of whom died in infancy, and one 
in early youth. Tiie others are: Atldie, wife 
of Charles O. Moore, of Bethel, Me.; Charles 
A., a carpenter, residing in Methuen, Mass. ; 
James H., who is now at work in Methuen, 
Mass.; Otis E. and Mamie N., still residing 
at home; and Sadie H., who married John S. 
Allen, and died at twenty-nine years of age. 

In political afifiliation Mr. Baker is a Re- 
publican. . He has taken quite an active part 
in local politics. i^'or some years he has been 
a member of the School Committee, and he 
has served as Selectman several terms, also as 
Town Clerk and Treasurer. He is now ser\- 
ing his fourth term as Tax Collector. 




VLVANUS P0RT1:R, a well- 
known citizen of Paris, Oxford 
County, Me., engaged in farming, 
was born here, March 31, 18 17, 
eldest son of John and Eunice (Hicks) Pnrter. 
His father was born October 7, 1793, his 
mother September 2~, 1790, both parents 
being natives of \'armouth, Cumberland 
County, Me. 

This branch of the Porter family is de- 
scended from Richard Porter, who emigrateil 
to this country in 1635, and settled in Wey- 
mouth, Mass. The paternal grandparents of 
Sylvanus Porter were Nehemiah Porter, born 
in Scituate, December 14, 1758, and Joanna 
Barber Porter, born in Gray, Me. They had 
thirteen children, eight sons and five daugh- 
ters; namely: Sylvanus, Susanna, Luc)-, 
Lydia, Stephen, John, Charles, Benjamin, 
Joanna, Marv, Leonard, William Barber, and 
Rufus. 

John Porter, third son as iiere recorded, 
whose early years were spent in \'armouth, 
learned the trade of a shoemaker. About the 
year 1812 he settled on the farm in Paris, 
where his son Franklin now resides. He 



116 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



cainc a poor man, witli his axe on his shoulder, 
hut read)' and vvillini; to undertake any honest 
hibor that offered. Buying his land on credit, 
he sturdily set to wori< at the task of clearing 
it up, and in a comparatively short time had 
jjaid for the land with the timber which he 
got off. A well-to-do farmer, and a Demo- 
crat in politics, he was prominent in town 
affairs. He had served as a soldier in the 
War t)f 1812. The Baptist Church on Paris 
Hill was erected by him, and he and his wife 
were among its most active members. His 
marriage with Miss Eunice Hicks took place 
January 22, 1.S16. He died October 12, 
1855, and she on April i i, 1886, aged ninety- 
five years. P'ive sons and a daughter were 
born to them, namely: Sylvanus, March 31, 
1817; Ezekiel L., October 3, 1819, who died 
January 14, 1869; John B., August 12, 1821; 
Harriett, August 20, 1823; Josejih H., 
March 4, 1826: Franklin, October 18, 1829. 
John B. Porter lives in Norway, Me., and is 
engaged in farming; Harriett is the wife of 
Solomon I. Millett, also a farmer of Norway; 
Joseph H. is engaged in real estate business 
in Wisconsin; P'ranklin is a [prosperous farmer 
of Paris. 

Sylvanus Porter, the eldest of the five sons, 
was educated in the schools of Paris, and grew 
to manhood here, living at home until twenty- 
two years of age. For his first wages he re- 
ceived ten dollars a month. He followed 
working out for about three years, and pur- 
chased his first land, about sixty acres, where 
he now lives, in 1840. P'or a number of years 
he followed the business of a ]uimp-maker, 
but he has principally engaged in farming. 
On this farm stood one of the early stores of 
Paris, built by Jarius Shaw, Esq., who carried 
on business here for several years, and who 
did the first clearing on the land. In 1842, 
the year of his marriage, Mr. Porter set out 
in his dooryard four elm trees. To-day three 
of them remain, and, by actual measurement 
one foot from the ground, one is nine feet, 
eight inches in circumference. 

Mr. Porter was joined in marriage on No- 
vember 10, 1842, with Miss Plsther C. 
Millett, who was born in Norway, Me., Au- 
gust II, i.SiS, daughter of Israel and Esther 
(Coy) Millett. Her father was an early set- 



tler of Norway, and a successful tanner. He 
died there May 18, 1826; and his wife died in 
October, 1858. Of their seven children, 
three grew up, but Mrs. Porter is now the 
only survivor. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have had 
four children, and, with the exception of 
John, born April 27, 1843, who was killed in 
the woods, P'ebruary 27, 1866, all are living, 
namely: Eliza J., born November 28, 1844, 
who is the wife of George Ward, of Bowdoin, 
Me. ; P'atima M., born Januar\- 27, 1853, who 
married W. H. Lovejoy, and resides in New 
Hampshire; and Ezekiel L., born November 
13' '857t who owns the homestead farm, anti 
carries on general husbandry. He was mar- 
ried April 8, 1882, to Mrs. Mary A. Brooks, 
who died November 5, 1883, leaving one 
daughter, Lena May Porter. On November 
22, 1892, he married Miss Emma J. Cobli. 
A son, Harold Lestei'. was born to them De- 
cember 31, 1895. In religion F3zekiel L. 
Porter is liberal; in politics he is indepen- 
dent. 

Sylvanus Porter is politically a Democrat, 
and in religion he and his wife are of the 
L^niversalist faith. They are members of the 
Patrons of Husbandry, No. 44, of South Paris. 



-fgTENRY W. OILMAN, the genial 

l-^-l Postmaster of West I'"armington, and 

II 9 I a well-known dealer in fancy and 

draught horses, was born in Anson, 

Me., January 18, 1842, son of John and Lydia 

(Benson) Oilman. 

His paternal grandfather was .Sanniel (iil- 
man, who was born in the State of New 
Hampshire, and who early in life settled down 
in Mount Vernon, Me., where for some time 
he did business. He then bought a farm in 
the town of V^ienna, where he devoted a few 
years to agriculture, but he finally sold iiis 
farm, and bought a place in Anson, where he 
passed the remainder of his life, dying, there 
at the ripe old age of ninety years. His wife, 
Deborah Cobb, died at eighty-two years of 
age. They left twelve children — Stephen, 
-Sally, John, Samuel, David, Emily, Ben- 
jamin, Vernon, Lorinda, Lovina, Celia, and 
Mary; Samuel Oilman was a successful man 
in ever\'thing that he undertook, and he held 



RIOGRAPHICAI, REVIEW 



several offices in the (liffereiit towns that he j 
lived in, being a Selectman in almost every 1 
one. He was a Whig in politics, and a 
Methodist in religious faith. 

John Oilman, second son ot Saumcl, re- 
ceived a good district-school education in his 
native town; and afterward, except during the 
time that he was engaged in working out as a 
farm laborer, stayed with his father on the old 
farm until he became of age. He then bought 
a farm in Anson, already partly cleared, and, 
finishing up this part of the work, he built a 
house and some other buildings upon it, and 
there spent the rest of his life. He married 
Lydia, the daughter of Bartlett Benson, of the 
town of Benson, and they became the parents 
of eight children — William B. , John K., 
Irvin D. , Addison, Cleary, Albion, Henry 
W., and Eugene.' William B. and Henry W. 
are the only two of these now living. John 
Oilman died at the age of eighty-two years, 
one of the most prominent and highly re- 
spected citizens of his adopted town. He was 
at first a Whig in politics, but later became a 
Democrat. A self-made man, and one who had 
struggled hard for the success that he finally 
attained, he set his sons an example that was 
worthy of the closest imitation, and the suc- 
cess that they themselves have had proves 
that they took it to heart. His wife died in 
her eightieth year, after a long and useful life. 
Wifliam B.' Oilman, the elder of the two 
surviving sons, was born on the 13th of Janu- 
ary, ICS30. He received a district-school edu- 
cation, and when he was fifteen years old he 
went into the woods, and was employed for a 
while in the lumbering business. Buying a 
farm of one hundred and fifty acres of land in 
this town in 1856, he carried it on for about 
seven years, then sold out. and ran the Elm 
House at West Farmington for three years. 
In 1868 he sold that and bought the Knowlton 
farm, where he has lived ever since. He has 
bought some outside lots, and he now owns a 
good farm of about three hundred and seventy- 
five acres. He improved the buildings upon 
it, and built new ones, including some stock 
barns, where he keeps some fine cattle. He 
has been one of the largest sheep dealers in 
the State, having sometimes over two hundred 
head on hand, and has also been an extensive 



horse dealer. lie is accountc<l one ol the 
model farmers of the vicinity, and has de- 
cidedly earned the enviable reputation that he 
is the ]M')Ssessor of. 

He was married on the 4th of .September. 
1856, to Mary, the daughter of .Stephen Wes- 
ton, of Madison, Me., and is the father of four 
children — Ella May, who died at the age of 
nine years; Lydia R., born on the 6th of No- 
vember, 1858, wdio married, first, JM-ed .Soule, 
(now deceased), and is now the wife of Josejjh 
Ham, and lives in Portland; Ruel I., born 
March 8, 1862, who married hlorence Conner, 
and resides with his father; and Addison !■"., 
born I-"ebruary 27, 1870, who is now a book- 
keeper by profession. Politically, a Demo- 
crat, William B. Oilman has been a Selectman 
of his town for seven years. His religious 
faith is that of the Methodist ]".]iiscopal 
church. 

Henry VV. Oilman, the younger of the two 
brothers, and the leading subject of this 
sketch, devoted himself to an agricultural life 
from the time of leaving school until 1862, 
when he felt that his country needed him else- 
where. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty- 
eighth Maine Regiment, for the period of nine 
months; was sent to the South, and was in the 
fioht at Port Hudson, and in several other 
battles. He received a wound in the ear, 
which deprived him of a part of that organ. 
He also at one time had a narrow escai)e from 
instant death, a hostile bullet cutting a furrow 
through his haii' across the top of his head. 
After he returned home he went to .Santa 
Clara County, California, where for a while he 
ran a large hay press. He also interested 
himself in prospecting, spending two seasons 
in Oregon, mining at Canyon City, where he 
was very successful. He then returned to 
farming, which he followed in California until 
he returned home in January, 1867. fioing to 
New Sharon, in this county, he there ran the 
hotel for a year, afterward buying a farm on 
Sandy River, wdiere he remained for two years. 
Then he turned his attention to railroad re- 
pairing. His next move was to Minnesota, 
where he settled down for eight years in 
Wabasha County, buying a quarter of a sec- 
tion of land, and turning himself into a farmer 
again. He also dealt largely in live stock. 



;i8 



BIOGRAPHICAL RF.VIFAV 



shipping a great number of horses to Daivota. 
In i8gi he came back to West Farmington, 
where he engaged with his brother, Fugene 
!■". Oilman, in shipping horses from the West. 
On the 1st of October, 1893, he was appointed 
Postmaster at West I'armington, where lie is 
still engaged in the discharge of his official 
(Uities, to the great satisfaction of the com- 
munit}'. He has likewise continued his lucra- 
tive business as a dealer in horses. 

Mr. Oilman married Miss Anna Porter, the 
daughter of William B. Porter, of West Farm- 
ington, their nuptials being celebrated on the 
18th of January, 1868. They have had three 
children — Fred B., born on the i6th of May, 
1 87 1, who married Emma Porter, and is a 
merchant of Madison: L. lulith, born .August 
18, 1872, now a teacher and a milliner; and 
one child, who died in infancy. The family 
I'esidence is a house that Mr. Oilman bought 
on Winter Street. 

Postmaster Oilman is a Democrat in poli- 
tics, and has served on the School Board of 
his town. In religion he is a Congregation- 
al ist. He belongs to several fraternal orders, 
among them being the ?tlaine Lodge, A. F'. & 
A. M. : and I'lainville Lodge, No. 35, Royal 
Arch .Masons. 




L\W/ ^^-^-I-^-^' l-'ALiNCI';, a prosperous 
I /r% farmer of O.xford, and a veteran of 

tlie Civil War, was born in Poland, 
-Me., January 3, 1837, son of John FI. and 
.Martha (Sawyer) P'aunce. His grandfather, 
William F~aunce, a nati\'e of Massachusetts, 
who came to O.xford as a pioneer, and settled 
upon Pigeon Hill, cleareil a good farm, which 
he carried on witli energy during the rest of 
his active period, and died when about eighty 
years of age. He was twice married, and had 
a family of fourteen children, three by his 
first marriage, and eleven by his second. Of 
the whole number three are now living, 
namely: Moses, a resident of Salem, Mass.; 
Nathaniel M., who lives in Poland, Me.; and 
Captain Isaac F'aunce, of Levviston, .Me. 

John H. I'aunce was born in Oxford. 
Thrown upon his own resources at an early 
age, he adopted farming as an occupation. 
For several years he lived in Poland, where 



by hard work he became the owner of a good 
farm. In 1844 he purchased eighty acres, and 
thereafter resided on it until his death, which 
occurred when he was eighty-one years old. 
He was an industrious farmer, a good citi- 
zen, and a Democrat in politics. His wife, 
Martha, who was a native of either Oorham or 
Otisfield, Me., had five children, as follows: 
Eliphalet, who died in 1880, aged forty years; 
Andrew J., a resident of Hamilton, N.J. ; 
John, who occupies the old homestead in O.x- 
ford; William, the subject of this sketch; and 
Martha A., who is the wife of Arthur Mal- 
colm, and lives at Roach Harbor, Washington. 
The mother died at the age of fifty-two years. 

William F'aunce was reared to farm life, re- 
ceiving his education in the district schools 
of O.xford. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a 
private in Company C, Seventeenth Regiment, 
Maine Volunteers, with which he served until 
the close of the Civil War. He saw his due 
share of active service, having participated in 
the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
villa, Oettysburg, and the memorable fight of 
the Wilderness. At Gettysburg he received a 
gunshot wound in his side. In the battle of 
the Wilderness he was severely wounded in 
the head, and was left upon the field among 
the dead. He was honorably discharged June 
16, 1865, after which he returned home, and 
has since been engaged in farming. At the 
present time he owns a good farm of fifty 
acres. A good set of buildings erected by 
him were destroyed by lightning in 1882. 
These he has since replaced with others of a 
very substantial appearance. 

On December 24, 1S66, Mr. Faunce wedded 
FTdelia M. Swift, who was born in O.xford, 
November 19, 1848, daughter of Samuel and 
Leonicy (Russell) .Swift. Samuel Swift, who 
was born in Paris, February 2, 1791, became 
a successful farmer of this town, where he 
died December 30, 1870. His wife, who w^as 
born in June, 1S09, in Bethel, Me., reared two 
other children, namely: Cliarles O., deceased; 
and Orin F., who lives in Massachusetts. 
She died March 22, 1893. Both parents of 
Mrs. F^aunce attended the Methodist Episcopal 
church. In politics the father was a Demo- 
crat. 

Mr. l-'aunce has fouirht his wav in the world 



BIOGRAPHICAL RKVIFAV 



S'9 



manfully, and has every reason to look with 
pride and satisfaction upon his achievements 
His war record is a good one, including as it 
does his narrow escape from death. He is a 
comrade of T. A. Roberts Post, No. 49, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of O.xfoird. His polit- 
ical principles are Republican. He and Airs. 
Faunce are connected with the West Poland 
Grange, No. 24, Patrons of Husbandry, and 
belong to the Methodist denomination. 



miring friends. When he started out in life 
he was at the bottom of the ladder and without 
means. That he has since climbed to his 
Ijresent jxisition of honor and usefulness is 
verv much to his credit. On October _'0, 
i8<S'7, he married Miss Lena A. Flanders, of 
Winthrop. Thev have two children -Marie 
F. and Hazel M.' 




|1-MF:R L. 1,0VF;J0Y, the well-kiiMwn 
superintendent of the Portland is: Rum- 
ford F'alls Rail mad at Rumford 
F'alls, was born in Pelhel, Me., nn October 
27, US62, son i)f Charles IS. and Celia 1). 
(Bishop) Lovejoy. The father was a farmer, 
and was greatly respected for his personal 
worth. The early life of p:imer L. was spent 
in Bethel. When he was fourteen years old 
he removed with his parents to Aroostook 
County, where he lived i>n the farm and at- 
tended comnmn schnol. He subsequently took 
a course of study in Gould Academy at Bethel. 
On attaining his majority he went to Bo.ston 
to learn telegraphy. During the spring of 
1884 he served as telegraph operator at Sabat- 
tus for the Maine Central Railroad. In June 
of that year he was appointed ticket agent at 
Winthrop. After holding this position for 
nearly ten vears he was appointed in I'ebruary, 
1894,' the station agent at Mechanic I'-alls for 
the Portland & Rumford Falls Railroad. On 
May I, 1896, his faithful services U> the road 
were dulv recognized by his promotion to the 
office of superintendent. He then came to 
Rumford F'alls, which is the headquarters of 
the corporation. While Mr. Lovejoy is liberal 
in his politics and is well posted in govern- 
mental affairs, he does not actively participate 
in political contests. He is a Ma.son, having 
affiliation with the Blue Lodge, the Winthrop 
Chapter of Winthrop, and Trinity Comman- 
dery. Knights Templars of Augusta. The 
other fraternities of which he is a member 
are the Improved Order of Red Men and the 
Independent Order of Foresters at Mechanic 
Falls. His religious belief is that of the 
Universalists. Personally, Mr. Lovejoy is 
bright and genial, having a large circle of ad- 




i:zi;kl\i 

occupies 



TOLMAN, who nwns and 
the old Tolnian homestead 
n New Sharon, Me., and is one of 
the most able and energetic agri- 
culturists of this town, was born where he now 
resides, October 27, 1S41, son of John .S. and 
Ann G. (Collins) Tolman. 

The Tolman property here was hrst settled 
upon bv'Mr. Tolman's grandfather, a Revolu- 
tionary s(ddier who cleared and improved it as 
a pioneer, his original tract consisting ol one 
hundred and si.xty acresT As he advanced in 
prosperity he replaced the log cabin with 
a substantial frame house, and he carried on 
general farming for the rest of his years ot 
activity. 

His" son, John .S. Tolman, the father of 
Hezekinh Tolman, was born November 17, 
iSii, previous to the erection of the frame 
house; and, having assisted his father in im- 
proving the property, he eventually succeeded 
to its owner.ship. He tilled the soil success- 
fully, adding three hundred acres to the origi- 
nal'tract; and he also dealt largely in live 
stock. Industrious, thrifty, and progressive, 
he was one of the prominent citizens of his 
day; and his death, which took place in 1870, 
at the age of fifty-nine years, was the cause ot 
general regret. His wife, Ann (i. Collins, 
whom he married in 1S40, became the mother 
of the following children: Hezekiah, the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Nancy Ann ; Alonzo; Ar- 
della; John W. ; Mary M. ; George M. ; and 
Hannibal B. 

Hezekiah T(dman, the first-born, was edu- 
cated in the common schools of New .Sharon, 
and resided with his parents until he was 
twenty-three years old. He then bought a 
farm of one hundred acres situated upon the 
road leading from Weeks Mills to Farmington 
Falls; and, selling this property, two years 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



later he bought another farm of one hundred 
acres, located north of New Sharon village, 
where he resided for twenty' years. Purchas- 
ing of his uncle, Ezekiel Tolman, the old 
homestead, he has since occupied the place, 
■,\nd, having sold one hundred and sixty acres, 
is now the owner of three hundred acres of val- 
uable land, the tillage portion of which is 
exceedingly fertile. Since coming into pos- 
session of the ancestral estate, he has made 
various iniprovements, placing his pro]3erty 
upon a level with the best farms in this sec- 
tion, and b\' the exercise of careful judgment 
and su|X'rior agricultural knowledge has made 
general farming and stock-raising a \ery profit- 
able employment. He keeps an average of 
one hundred and fift)' sheep and lambs, thir- 
teen head of cattle, three standard Jersey cows, 
and five horses, and has an orchard of one 
hundred and fifty trees. His buildings are in 
a fair state of repair. 

At the age of twenty-three .Mr. Tolman 
married Evelyn 'SI. Hrainerd, daughter of 
William Hrainerd, a prosperous farmer of New 
.Sharon. Mrs. Tolman is the mother of five 
children, as follows: John W. , who was born 
August 27, 1865, married Emma H. Noble, of 
l-"armington, and is now foreman in a shoe 
shop at Haverhill, Mass. ; Gertrude V.., who 
was born July 1, 1867, married Charles H. 
Crimmin, of Eastbrook, and is now residing in 
Bradford, ^lass. , having one child, Royce B. ; 
(irace K. , who was born August 3, 1870, was 
educated in the common schools of this town 
and at the State Normal .School in Earmington, 
and is now engaged in business in Boston; 
Rose A., who was born December ig, 1871, 
married Eester A. Crimmin, a grocer of Brad- 
ford, Mass., and has one daughter, Gladys E. ; 
and Lillian M., who was born November 22, 
iS7,S, has completed her elementary course in 
the common schools of New Sharon, and is at 
present attending the State Norma! School at 
h'armington. 

.As a self-made man Mr. Tolman deserves 
much credit for the genuine success he has 
attaineti in life, and, although he is advancing 
in years, he is strong and active, still possess- 
ing the vigor and ambition of a much younger 
man. In religion he is a Congregationalist. 
and in politics a Republican. 




VRON C. WAITE, one of the 
largest real estate owners in Canton, 
and an extensive dealer in horses, 
cattle, and country produce, was born 
in Dixfield, March 14, 1834, son of Aaron and 
Charlotte (Chesley) Waite. His grandfather, 
William Waite, who was a native of Mas.sa- 
chusetts. fought for independence in the Revo- 
lution. At a later date he settled upon a farm 
in Dixfield, and took a prominent part in de- 
veloping that place. He died at the age of 
eighty-four years. He was a Universalist in 
his religious views, and his wife was a Baptist. 
She lived to a good old age. 

Aaron Waite, Mr. Waite's father, was born 
in Sutton. Mass., January 13, 1799. He was 
reared a farmer, and inherited the home farm 
in Dixfield. After an industrious life, re- 
warded by a good measure of prosperity, he 
died at the age of seventy-three years. In his 
later years he was a Republican, and he at- 
tended the Universalist church. His wife, 
Charlotte, who was born in Paris, Me., April 
21, 1797, became the mother of five children, 
as follows: Charles, born February 7, 1826, 
who died June 20, 1877; Arvilla H.. born 
June 6, 1824, who is the wife of Luther H. 
Ludden, of Dixfield; Charlotte A., born Eeb- 
ruary 7, 1826, the wife of Henry Abbott, of 
East Rumford ; Catherine K., born June 30. 
1828, who married Warren Severy, and lives 
in Dixfield; and Byron C. , the subject of this 
sketch. The mother was eight\--four vears of 
age when she died. 

Byron C. Waite was educated in the common 
and high schools of Dixfield, and grew to man- 
hood in that town. His principal occupations 
in addition to farming have been the buying 
and shipping of farm products, and horse and 
cattle dealing. He owns over five hundred 
acres of land. His homestead in Canton is 
one of the finest pieces of agricultural propertv 
in this locality. On July 4, 1858, Mr. Waite 
was united in marriage to Louisa Treat, who 
was born in Canton, April 22, 1838, daughter 
of Sylvanus R. and Louisa (Paine) Treat. 
The Treat family, which is of English origin, 
was founded in America by three brothers, and 
Mrs. Waite's great grandfather was Ezekiel 
Treat, who settled on Cape Cod. Sylvanus R. 
Treat, who was born in Truro, Mass., June iS, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



1802, followed the trade of a stone cutter in 
connection with farming, jiassing the greater 
part "of his lite in Canton, where he died (Octo- 
ber 10, i<SiS3. He served as a Selectman and 
Tax Collector for a number of years, and was 
highh' respected In' all who knew hini. In 
politics he was originally a Whig, but later 
joined the Democratic ]:)art\'. His wife, Lou- 
isa, whom he wedded April 8, 1829, was born 
in Jay, Me., .May 28, 1 809. She reared an- 
other daughter, Lucy I-'., who, born l-"ebrnar\- 
20, 1831, niarrieil Charles A. W'aite, and dieil 
b'ebruary (), i860. Mrs. W'aite's nidtlier died 
l-'ebruar\- 19, 1880. Hoth her ])arents were 
.Metht)dists. 

Mr. and Mrs. W'aite ha\e four children, 
namely: Osmond S. , a merchant of North Ja}', 
who, born March 18, i860, married (iertrude 
M. I''oster, and has one son. Roland O. ; Mil- 
ford A., a provision merchant and stock dealer, 
of Canton, who, born December 5, 1864, mar- 
ried Clara Hrackett, and has one daughter, 
Gladys I..; VAhi M.. born October 27, 1868, 
who is now the wife of Dr. 11. M. .\ickerson, 
of Portland; and William T. , bnm March 17, 
1873, who is now a cleik in a wholesale store 
in Portlanil. In politics Mr. W'aite is a Dem- 
ocrat. As a member of the Hoard of Select- 
men for eight years he rendered valuable ser- 
vices to the town. He is a Mason, having 
affiliation with Oriental Star Lodge, No. 31, 
of Livermore l'"a!ls; and is a member of Whit- 
ney Lodge, Independent Order of Odd i-'el- 
lows, of Canton, and of Canton Grange, No. 
I 10, Patrons of Husbandry. Hoth he and Mrs. 
W'aite attend the Universalist church. 




L\CAJ/1LLAR1) B. W'KiHT, a popular 
resident and a successful farmer of 
Newry, was born here October 29, 
1846, on the farm where he now lives, son of 
Charles and Hannah W. (Morse) Wight. He 
is a descendant of one Thomas Wight, who 
came from England and settled in Dedham, 
Mass., in 1620. Charles Wight, who is a 
native of Bethel, Me., came here when a boy 
with his parents. He chose the calling of a 
farmer, and, as long as health and strength 
permitted, was engaged in carrying on his 
farm. In 1895, when eighty-four years old, 



he was stricken with ])aralysis, which has ren- 
dered him very feeble both in mind and bodw 
His wite, whose maiden name was Ilannah \\'. 
Morse, died at the age of eighty-si.\ years. 
Both were esteemed membeis of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. lie \otes the Republican 
ticket, but lie has never taken es]jecial interest 
in politics. His children were: Olive ]'.., 
who died when si.xteen years of age; Lydia D., 
who is the wife of Solomon Rose, of North 
(irecne, Androscoggin County; Willard B. , the 
subject of this sketch; and Abbie |., the wife 
of S. A. Wheeler, of Waltham, Mass. 

Being the only son Willard B. Wight has 
alwaws remained at home. He receivetl a 
good, practical education in the common 
school. .Soon after attaining his majority he 
purchased a farm adjoining his father's, and 
for a number of years has had charge of both. 
That of his father contains about one bundled 
acres, and his uwn about one lunidrctl and 
seventv-five acres in all. He also owns, in 
the town of (irafton, about two hundred and 
tift}' acres of wild land, the lumber of which 
he sells. Although the joint care of his own 
and his father's pro]:)erty kee])s him somewhat 
closely confined, he still finds time for the 
fulfillment of his duties as a citizen. l'~or ten 
years he has servetl \'ery acceptably nn the 
Board of Selectmen, and he has been Justice 
of the Peace for a like period. He is, like his 
father, a stanch Republican; .and he is a mem- 
ber of Mount Abram Lodge, No. ^i, lndc])en- 
clent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bethel. 

On March i, 1869, Mr. Wight was married 
to Miss Sarah A. King, a daughter of Isaac 
and Mary King, of Bethel. l-'ive children 
have blessed the union; namely, George K., 
Arthur C, Lon K., Carrie M.,'and P'rcd W. 
(jeorge K. is now residing in Lancaster, Mass. 
The others are still at home. Mrs. Wight is 
a member of the Methodist I^jiiscopal church. 




'Ciil'UAA AM H. KP:EN, a farmer of 
}t>\ Waterford, and a veteran of the late 
war, was born in Leeds, \'orkshire, 
England, June 2, 1840, son of John and ICliza- 
beth (Wiggin) Keen. His father was a nati\e 
of Leeds, where he was engaged in farming 
until 1841. Mr. Keen's mother was born in 



lilOCRAI'HlCAI, RKVIKW 



l^ristcil, ami moved to Leeds with her parents 
when c|iiitc N'ounj:;. Convinced bv the state- 
ments ot two daughters who lived in Lowell, 
Mass., that there were better opportunities of 
impro\'ing his circumstances in the L^nited 
States, John Keen sailed with his wife and 
children for this country in 1841. After 
arriving he made a short stay in Boston, Mass. 
He then went to \'ermont, and, purchasing a 
farm in Norwich, lived there about three 
vears. At the end of that time he sold the 
Norwich farm and bought another in Charles- 
town, .Sullivan County, N.H. Mere he spent 
the rest of his life, which closed December 11, 
I1S72. His wife breatheti her last August 28, 
1865. The)- had six children — Mary A., 
-Sarah, Lizzie, -Susan, William H. , and Jennie. 
William H. is the only survivor of the family. 

After recei\-ing a practical educati(.)n in the 
ilistrict school William H. Keen learned the 
painter's trade, and worked at that and at 
farming until he was twenty-one years old. 
Then, on October 2. 1861, he enlisted in 
Company G, Third Regiment, \'ermont Infan- 
try, under Colonel Brooks and Captain L. D. 
Allen. In a skirmish at Camp Griffin he faced 
the enemy's fire for the first time. Discharged 
at Philadeljihia, Pa., in June, 1862, he re- 
turned home. Shortly after he re-enlisted 
under Colonel Thompson and Captain Robbins 
in the l-~irst New Hamiishire Cavalry, becom- 
ing corporal of Troop L, which at the end of 
the war was commanded bv Lieutenant Jones. 
After taking ]3art in man\' of the subsequent 
engagements he received his final discharge at 
Concord, N.H., in July, 1865, and returned 
to his father's farm, remaining there until his 
father's death. He then moved to Waterford, 
and settled on a farm near his present place of 
residence. In 1881 he was burned out, and 
moved to his present farm, which he ]inrchased 
at that time. His property now comprises 
about one himdred acres of arable and pasture 
land. He raises general crojis and keeps a 
choice dairy. 

On May 2, i86fi, Mr. Keen was tmited in 
marriage with Melissa Brown, a native of Port- 
land, Me. -She was born August 9, 1843, 
daughter of William L. and Sarah L. (Berry) 
Brown, who were natives respectively of 
Eaton, N. H., and Scarboro, Me. Mr. Brown, 



who was a ship carpenter, and devoted the last 
years of his active life to farming, li'ved for 
some time in ]5iddeford, and afterward in 
different parts of the State. He has now 
retired from active work, and resides with his 
son, Loren D. Brown, on a farm about a mile 
and a half south-east of the village of Oxford, 
Me. His wife died in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. 
Keen have had the following children : John 
W. , born January 22, 1868, now in Harrison, 
Me. ; Edgar -S., born March 7, 1871, residing 
with his parents; George H., born March 24, 
187:;. who married Miss Lizzie C. Young, and 
is now living with her father in Waterford; 
M\'ron W. , boin Jmie 6, 1876, still at home; 
Lewis L., boi'n May 15, 1883, also with his 
parents; and l-^lla May, born October 17, 1889, 
who died in September, 1890. Mr. Keen now 
leaves the management of the farm to his sons. 
He has voted the Democratic ticket since his 
majority. A Mason in good standing, he is 
a member of !\Iount Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, 
of Waterford. He and Mrs. Keen attend the 
Congregational church neai' their home. 




AMES W. WITHEE, the well-known 
l)roprietor of Hotel Rumford in Rum- 
ford l^'alls, O.xford County, was born 
November 23, 1838, in the town of 
Winslow, Kennebec County, son of Laureston 
and V^ista (Reynolds) Withee, both natives of 
Maine. When nineteen years old he went to 
Wisconsin, w-here he spent two years in the 
lumber business. Returning to his native 
town, he was occupied in the same way, in 
connection with jobbing, for two or three years 
more. In the mean time he began dealing in 
cattle and horses, the former of which he 
bought and shipped to Brighton, Mass., con- 
tinuing his operations for fourteen years. His 
horse deals extended over a jjeriod of several 
years, and he ship])ed the animals to Boston 
and New York. He owned several trotting 
horses and roadsters, and made racing cam- 
paigns through the State for a number of 
years. 

Until 1877 Mr. Withee resided in Wins- 
low, where he was the proprietor of Hotel 
Halifax. Removing from there to Water- 
ville, he carried on a livery stable for five 



BIOC.K Al'llKAI, RKVIKW 



years. His next venture was to open and as- 
sume the proprietorship of the Stotldaril House 
in Farmington, l'"ranklin County, at wliicii 
plaee he still bought and S(dil hf)rses. ]{ight 
years later he sold this hotel to take charge of 
another in Isleboro, Waldo Count)-, on Penob- 
scot Bay. Mr. Withee also sold this plant 
two years afterward, in order to undertake the 
Woodcliff Hotel, a summer boarding-house 
on the same bay- After conducting the latter 
for one season, he kept Hotel Atwood in 
Lewiston, Me., for one year. In iSg2 he 
rented the hotel in Rumford Falls that he now 
manages. In 1894 he took Mr. C. F. Smith 
into partnershijx In addition to the hotel Mr. 
Withee carries on one of the best livery 
stables in this city, of which he is the sole 
owner ami manager. 

Mr. Withee, who is a Kepublican, takes an 
active interest in politics, was Selectman of 
his native town for a number of years, and in 
1875 represented its interests in the legislat- 
ure. Of fine physique, his genial disposition 
admirably qualifies him for the role of host. 
The returns from his successful catering have 
enabled him to acquire considerable city prop- 
erty. 

Mr. Withee has been twice married. His 
first marriage was contracted in i860 with 
Miss Hannah S. Guptill, f)f Winslow. She 
died in 1S74, leaving two children — Roland 
L., the manager of a liver)' stable in F""arming- 
ton : and Myra V., who lives with her brother. 
The second matrimonial alliance was made 
with Georgia A. Pitman, of Penobscot Countv. 



(5 1 ho: 



HOMAS O. SPRING, who for over 
* I thirty years was connected with the 
meat packing business in Chicago, and 
is now living in retirement at East Hiram, 
was born in the town of Hiram, Me., O.xford 
County, February 6, 1818, son of John and 
Johanna (Hancock) Spring. The first ances- 
tor of the famil)' to settle in Hiram was 
Thomas Spring, Mr. Spring's grandfather, 
who for many years was a tavern keeper, and 
who also owned and cultivated a farm. The 
old tavern which he built near the village in 
1796, and in which he continued to entertain 
travellers until his death, is still standing. 



John Spring, Mr. Spring's father, was born 
in Hartlett, N.H., ancl came with his parents, 
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Spring, to Hiram. He 
settletl upon a farm, which he carried on with 
pnjsperity during the active period of his life, 
and he was one of the stirring men of his day. 
His wife, who was before marriage Johanna 
Hancock, and was a native of Bu.xton, .Me., 
became the mother of five children, as follows: 
Thomas O., the subject of this sketch; John 
H., a resident of Hiram: Marshall W., who 
married a Miss Seavey, and i.s now living in 
this town; I'^benezer H., who is engaged in 
farming in Massachusetts: and Jane, who died 
young. 

Thomas O. Spring in his early years at- 
tended the common schools of Hiram, and he 
continued to reside at home, assisting his 
father upon' the farm until he was twenty years 
old. He then started in life as a butcher, 
learning the business in Westbrook, Me., and 
going from that town t<i Portland, where he 
worked for several years. The great demand 
for experienced butchers at the large slaugh- 
ter houses in Chicago induced him to locate 
in that city, where he found ready employment 
in the stock yards; and, as he was a reliable 
man and an expert in his calling, he advanced 
steadily, until he became fcu'eman of a large 
meat packing establishment. Resigning his 
position in 1886, after over thirty years of 
close application to business in Chicago, he 
returned to Maine, and is now enjoying a 
well-earnetl rest at his home in F'ast Hiram, 
where he owns one of the handsomest resi- 
dences in the village. 

In 1849, while residing in Chicago, Mr. 
-Spring married Flliza H. Gower, a native of 
New Gloucester, Me., daughter of Joshua 
Gower, \\\\o was formerly a well-known farmer 
of that town. Mrs. Spring died April 29, 
1896. Mr. Spring has an ado])ted daughter, 
Addie, wife of Albert Tyler, who is in the 
glass business in Chicago. 

Although not interested to any extent in 
politics, Mr. Spring is quite active in local 
affairs, having served with ability as a mem- 
ber of the Board of Selectmen for one term. 
He was Town Treasurer two years, and has 
held other offices. He is not a supporter of 
any party, but prefers to vote for candidates 



5^4 



BIOGRArHlCAL REVIEW 



whom he considers the most capable of hold- 
ing office. He is a member of Home Lodge, 
No. 508, A. F. & A. M., of Chicago, and his 
social relations here are of a most cordial 
nature. 




iHARLES E. WILLIAMS, a rising 
\'0ung farmer of New Vineyard, 
P'ranklin County, Me., was born in 
Embden, Me., July 9, 1861, son of 
Hanulen T., and Caroline R. (Feabody) Will- 
iams. 

Mr. Williams's father is a native of Somer- 
set County, Maine, where he spent his boy- 
hood and youth, and he acquired a good prac- 
tical education. When a young man he went 
to the Ear West, and was for si.x years engaged 
in mining and school teaching. Upon his re- 
turn East he took up his residence in Law- 
rence, Mass. Eight years later he went to 
Pasadena, Cal., where he still resides, but at 
the present time, 1896, he is visiting his son 
in New Vineyard. By his first wife, Caroline 
B. Peabody, who was a native of New Vine- 
yard, he became the father of three children, 
namely: Louise, wife of Christopher Hoyt, 
who is ill the grocery business at New Port- 
land; Charlie, who died at the age of three 
years: and Charles E., the subject of this 
sketch. The mother died in March, 1884, 
and for his second wife he wedded Mrs. Rox- 
anna Trull, of Lawrence, Mass. 

Charles E. Williams attended the common 
schools, and resided at home until he was six- 
teen years old. He then worked as a farm as- 
sistant for a time, and for four years was em- 
ployed as a clerk in a store, being also en- 
gaged in the ice business. He then came to 
New Vineyard for the purpose of taking 
charge of his grandmother's farm, and has 
since managed the property with success. 
The farm consists of one hundred and forty 
acres of desirable land, capable of producing 
abundant crops ; and he raises hay, corn, and 
potatoes, in large quantities. He has im- 
proved tile farm to a considerable extent, and 
is regarded as one of the most active and pro- 
gressive young men of New Vineyard. 

On January 1, 1890, Mr. Williams married 
Ella Barker, who was born in New Vineyard, 



October 26, 1862, a daughter of George and 
Phidelia (Luce) Barker. Her father was a na- 
tive of Strong, and her mother of Freeman, 
Me. Mr. Barker was for some years engaged 
in farming at Strong, but removed from that 
town to New Vineyard, where he tilled the 
soil until his ileath, which occurred in March, 
1884. His wife, Mrs. Williams's mother, 
died August 12, 1882. Two children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams — 
Addnudd, who was born October 10, 1890; 
and Herbert V.., who was born February 10, 
1895, and died January 29, 1896. 

Mr. Williams is a member of Clements 
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd P^ellows, of 
New Portland; and of Northern Star Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M., of Anson. Both he and Mrs. 
Williams are members of the Congregational 
church. In politics he takes but little inter- 
est, beyond casting his vote. 



'sTtAMES S. DUDLEY, a very enterpris- 
ing and successful young farmer of 
Paris, ]\Ie., was born Februar)' 15, 
1862, on the homestead where he now 
resides. He is a son of the late Smith Dud- 
ley, who also was a native of Oxford County. 
.Smith Dudley was born in Woodstock, Me., 
in June, 1828, but was reared and educated in 
the town of Paris, his parents having settled 
here when he was but one year old. He made 
farming liis life occupation, carrying it on 
with good success until his death, I'^bruary 
22, 1883. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Lydia H. .Stearns, was born in Paris, Me., 
June 2, 1835, a tlaughter of William and Jo- 
anna (Porter) Stearns. (I'urther ancestral his- 
tory, will be found in connection with the 
sketch of the late Jairus Keith Hammond on 
another page of this volume.) After the 
death of her first husband, Mrs. Dudley remar- 
ried, and is now the widow of tlie above-men- 
tioned Jairus K. Hanimond. Of her union 
with Mr. Dudley were born four children, 
namely: Charles S., of Paris; James S. , the 
special subject of this sketch: Ella L. , the 
first wife of Henry D. Hammond, of whom a 
short sketch appears elsewhere in this work; 
and Emily Gertrude, the present wife of Mr. 
Hammond. 



I'.IOCKArilK \1, kKVII'.W 



lames S. Duciley olataiiicd liis education in 
ills native town, and, having inherited the 
paternal homestead, has devoted his time to 
the pursuit of agriculture. Being largely en- 
dowed with those traits of industry, thrift, and 
progressive energy, that mark the true-borti 
New Knglander, Mr. Dudley has been pros- 
pered in a noteworthy manner. He has made 
various and excellent improvements on the 
place, to which he has added by purchase, his 
farm now containing one hundred and ninety- 
five acres. He carries on general farming, 
and, in addition to the usual crops of hay, 
grain, and vegetables, he raises a large quan- 
tity of fruit, having a fine orchard of fifteen 
acres. 

On November 17, 1890, Mr. Dudley mar- 
ried Mrs. Jessie Deering Smith, daughter of 
James A. and Sarah (Cordwell) Deering, and 
the widow of luhvard Smith. Her first hus- 
band died leaving her with one child, Wini- 
fred L. Smith, who was born February 3, 
1889. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley have one child, 
Leander B. , born October 29, 1894. Politi- 
cally, Mr. Dudley is a stanch Democrat. 
Fraternally, he is a member of West Paris 
Grange, No. 228, Patrons of Husbandry. Re- 
ligiously, both he and his wife are of the Bap- 
tist faith, and regularly attend the church of 
that denomination. 



4^» mt 




(sTYHTHUR F. GFORGF is one of the 
rising young men of Hebron, Me., a 
prosperous fruit grower and dairy- 
man. He was born in Hebron, 
March 13, i860, a son of Charles H. and Ruth 
Ann (Gurney) George. A sketch of his 
father may be found on another page of this 
volume. Arthur E. George grew to manhood 
in Hebron, acquiring a good education in the 
common schools and the academy. When the 
time came for him to choose his life pursuit, 
he turned to agriculture, and for some years 
now he has been engaged in general farming, 
giving particular attention to fruit culture and 
dairying. He owns a good farm of one hun- 
dred acres, including tillage, pasturage, and 
orchard land, and is developing its best re- 
sources. 

Mr. George was married December 24, 



1885, to Miss Bertha Sturtevant, who was 
born in Minot, Me., May 11, 1865. Her par- 
ents, Ikadford !■". and Jiurydice (Merrill) 
Sturtevant, are now residing in Hebron, where 
Mr. Sturtevant is engaged in agricultural 
labors. Mr. and Mrs. George have two chil- 
dren — Edna K., born July 26, 1891: and 
Esther F. , born September 29, 1894. In ])ol- 
itics Mr. George favors the Republican side. 
Popular with both jiarties, he has been elected 
to public office, and for three years has served 
as Constable and Collector. His genial dis- 
position, pleasant manners, and honest deal- 
ings, have won for him a host of friends; and 
Hebron Grange, No. 43, Patrons of Hus- 
bandry, to which he and his wife belong, 
has no more popular member than Arthur 
George. He is a communicant of the I-!aptist 
church. 



B 



AVID M. HAMILTON, of Chester- 
\'ille, a veteran of the harvest fields, 
now in his eightieth year, is still 
activelv engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, tliough w'isely limiting himself these 
twelve years past to the care of the twenty- 
acre farm which he bought in 1884. He was 
born in Fast Wilton, Franklin County, Me., 
August II, 1817, son of Asa and Conifnrt 
(Yeaton) Hamilton. 

Mr. Hamilton's father, Asa Hamilton, was 
a native of North Yarmouth, Me. When a 
young man he settled in Farmington among 
the ]iioneers of that town, later bought a tract 
of land in Wilton, cleared a good farm and 
erected a frame house; and he resided there 
until his death, which took place January 25, 
1872, at the age of eighty-four years. He 
reported for duty at Hallowell during the War 
of 1812, and was not called into active service, 
but received from the government a warrant of 
one hundred and si.xty acres of land. He was 
a Congregational ist in his religious faith, and 
he supported the Whig ]iarty in politics. He 
married for his first wife. Comfort Yeaton, who 
was born in 1792, and died November 20, 
1821 ; and his second wife was Mary Yeaton, 
who was born in 1794, died March ir, 1S59. 
By his first union he had three children, as 
follows: John, who was b<iin January 29, 181 5, 



526 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



and died in 1890 ; David M.. whose birth date 
has been mentioned; and Mary F. , who was 
born March 20, 1821, and died May 6, 1.S36. 
David M. Hamilton was born iijjon the farm 
which his father, Asa Hamilton, cleared from 
the wilderness, and in his }i)Uth he assisted in 
improving the profierty. After his marriage 
he resided in Temple four years, and he then 
bought the farm in Chesterville, which is now 
owned and occuiiiecl by his son Charles. His 
familv were all reared upon this farm, and he 
carried it on with abilit\- and success uiUil 
iSiS4, when he sold the projierty to his son and 
bought for himself a small farm of twenty 
acres situated one-ciuarter of a mile from the 
homestead. In politics he was originall)' a 
Whig, later uniting with the Republican party. 
He attends the h'ree Will Baptist church, of 
which he is a member. David M. Hamilton 
was married N(jvember 4, 1849, to Miss Ma- 
tilda I'. Ireland, a daughter of Zadock and 
Rebecca (I-'rancis) Ireland, natives respec- 
tively of Skowhegan and Canton, Me. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hamilton are the parents of fi\e chil- 
dren, as folliiws: ()live I"., wife of L. L. 
Warren, of Benton; Mai\- I-"., wife of B. R. 
Keyes, of this town; Charles A.; Klla M., 
wife of Nathan Webb, <if Jackson: and David 
E. , who married Emma Potter, and now re- 
sides in Colorado. 



tion for future progress. He devotes his prin- 
cipal attention to his dairy, keeping eight fine- 
bred Jersey cows, has an orchard of grafted 
fruit, a large barn with a capacity for holding 
ninety- five tons of hay, besides stable room for 
his cattle and horses, all his buildings being 
in excellent re]iair. His farm, which occupies 
a jileasant location, contains seventy-five acres ; 
and he also owns fiirt\' acres of outlving wood- 
j land and pasture. 

( )n May 3, 1883, Mr. Charles A. Hamilton 
was married to Angie M. Allen, daughter of 
the Rev. David and Amanda M. (Sevary) 
Allen, of Chesterville. The Rev. David 
Allen was born in Jay, Me., December 2"] , 
1 82 I, and died July 1 I, 1885. His wife, who 
is still living, was born January 10, 1S23. 
They were the [larents of five children : John 
B., who died in infancy; John ]-!., second; 
Mary; Mercy A. ; and Angie M., who is now 
Mrs. Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have 
two children, namely: Reuel A., who was 
born December 6, 1884; and Howard A., w-ho 
was born August 9, 1887. 

Politically, Mr. Charles Hamilton is a Re- 
publican, and in 1886 he served the town 
faithfully as Ta.\ Collector. He enjoys the 
heart}' good will of his neighbors and a large 
circle of friends and acquaintances. Both he 
and Mrs. Hamilton attend the Baptist church. 




iHARLKS A. HAMILTON, a pros- 
perous dairy farmer and fruit-grower of 

Chesterville, elder son of David M. 

and Matilda I". (Ireland) Hamilton, 
was born in tliis town, January 3, 1S56. He 
acquired his knowledge of the primarv branches 
of learning in the town schools of Chesterville, 
advanced by attendance at the \\'ilton Acad- 
emy, and completed his course of study at the 
Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. 
When twenty-one years old he went to luifield, 
N. H., where he was engaged in farming for 
one and a half years, and then returning to 
Chesterville he assisted in carrying on the 
home farm until 1883. The following year he 
bought the property of his father, and since 
taking possession has not only conducted it 
with immediate success, but has introduced a 
spirit of enterprise which has laid the founda- 




]a)RGE B. CROCKETT, Secretary 
if the Paris Manufacturing Company 
)f South Paris, Me., was born March 
in Buckfield, O.xford County, Me., 
son of Martin and Prudence (Bates) Crockett. 
He is a grandson of John Crockett, who 
served in both the Revolutionary War and 
the War of 181 2. Grandfather Crockett set- 
tled in Sumner, Oxford County, and was 
engaged in farming during a long and useful 
life of ninet}' years — his wife, Sally Hall 
Crockett, having died much younger. They 
had five sons and a daughter ; namely, Martin, 
Sally, Sumner, Justus, John, and Enoch. 

Martin Crockett, the -eldest son, born De- 
cember 6, 1 801, chose as his life work the 
occupation to which he was reared, and pur- 
j chased a farm in Buckfield that he carried on 
j until 1856, when he exchanged for a larger 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



;27 



farm, whirh he owned until 1S65. At that 
time he removed to West Sumner and went 
into the milling business, which he followed 
for five years, retiring in 1870 to Paris Hill 
and making his home with his son, George B. 
Crockett, with whom he lived until his death 
in 1878. He was twice married, his first wife 
being Miss Desire Farrar, of J^uckfield, who 
lived but a short time after their union. His 
second wife, Prudence S. , widow of W'illiam 
Morton, was born in .Sumner, October i, 1810, 
daughter of Jacob and Hannah (.Sawin) Hates. 
.She lived to be seventy years old. 

George B. Crockett, the only chikl of his 
parents, received his education in the common 
and high schools of the towns of Huckfield and 
Paris, Me. At eighteen years of age he went 
to work for H. F. Morton, who was engaged 
in the manufactiu'e of sleds at West .Sumner; 
and he subsequently became a member of the 
firm of Morton, Forbes & Crockett at that 
place, where they carried on a large business 
until 1871. At the solicitation of the citizens 
of Paris Hill, who furnished funds for the 
erection of a factory building, they then 
moved to that place and the Paris Hill Manu- 
facturing Company was organized, of which he 
was made Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. 
Crockett purchased the Harlow home, which 
he enlarged and remodelled and resided in 
until the manufactory came to South Paris, 
when he sold it and bought the Nichols stand 
on Western Avenue, South Paris. When the 
company came here the name was changed to 
Paris Manufacturing Conijiany. In 1892 the 
factory was burned, and the conipan)- was re- 
organized, since which time Mr. Crockett has 
held the position of Secretary. It is one of 
the largest and most reliable business hrms in 
the State, and a fuller account of it apjjears on 
another page of this work. 

Mr. Crockett married Miss Mar\- II. l-'orbes, 
the ceremony being performed on September 
II, 1869. She was born July 4, 1849, and is 
a daughter of Elbridge Forbes and Julia Pren- 
tiss, and a direct descendant of John Fobes, 
one of the original proprietors of Rridgewater, 
Mass. ; also tracing her ancestry in a direct 
line to Deacon Daniel Fobes, who married in 
1769 Hannah Standish, a descendant of the 
renowned Captain Miles Standish, of the Ply- 



mouth Colon)-. .Si.\ chihiren have blessed the 
union of Mi-. and Mrs. Crtjckett, namel)- : 
Mabel A., born December 18, 1871, the wife 
of C. A. Record, of South Paris; Prentiss !■"., 
born April 17, 1873, who is engaged in the 
trucking business; F^rnest P., born October 
'5. '>^75. who is a packer for the Paris Manu- 
facturing Company; Lucelia K. and Leon ]•;., 
born November 3, 1879; and Fthel I{. , born 
November 16, 1885. In political affiliation 
Mr. Crockett is a Republican. I'ov three 
years he has served as .Superintendent of 
Schools. He is a member of Mount Mica 
Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, of which he is a Past Grand; and 
also of Mount Pleasant Lodge of Rebekahs. 
During the past seven years he has been a 
Deacon in the Baptist church. 




ILLIAM H. BP:RR\', of Hebron, 
is the owner of a farm that has been 
pronounced a model in every qual- 
it\' for which a farm is admired. He was born 
December 10, 1848, in Turner, Androscoggin 
County, son of Henry C. and Charlotte M. 
(Ricker) Berry. His grandfather, Zeri Berry, 
who was a hard-working farmer, was an early 
settler in the town of O.xford, Me., and subse- 
quently owned a good farm in Canton, Me., 
where he died at the age of eigluy-one. In 
politics, Zeri Berry, originally a ^^'hig, after- 
ward became a Republican. He took an 
active ]iart in temperance work, and was a 
member and liberal supporter of the Ba])tist 
chLirch. He was twice married. His first 
marriage was contracted with Abigail Tumei-, 
and the secontl with (Charlotte Ricker. He 
had four children, namely: William 1-"., a 
farmer living on the old homestead in Canton; 
Charles \\'., a farmer in Turner; Henry C, 
deceased; and Persis, also deceased, who was 
the wife of Lewis Lea\itt. 

Henry C. Berry, William H. Berrv's father, 
was born in Canton in March, 1824. He fol- 
lowed agriculture during his active life, giving 
attention principall)' to fruit-growing and 
dairying. In 1870 he settled on the farm 
where his son is now living, and died there 
July 5, 1893. He took an active interest in 
town affairs, voting the Republican ticket, and 



S3S 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



scrxctl as a member of thf Hoard of Selectmen. 
Mr. Bcrr)' was a member of the Baptist church 
at Turner. Mis wife, who was born in Turner 
in March, 1S27, is now living at the old h(jme. 
They reared seven children, namel)' : Horace 
R., who died at the age of twenty-three year.s 
and si.\ months; William H., whose name 
appears at the head of this article; Persis H., 
the wife of Hiram Gilman, of Anson, Me. ; 
LysanderJ., a resident of An.son ; Melville J. 
and Charles I.., both in Milwaukee, Wis.; 
and Ella M., the wife of Herbert R. Howard, 
of Milwaukee. 

William H. Berry was reared and educated 
in the town of Turner, and learned the shoe 
cutter's trade. At the age of nineteen he 
went to Auburn, Me., where he followed his 
trade for ten \'ears. He eventually bought a 
half interest in the farm on which he now 
resides, and in 1878 took up his residence 
there. I-'rom 1876 to 1878 he worked in a 
shop and also looked after hi.s- share of the 
farming. Mr. Berry's father was his partner 
in the ownership and management of the farm. 
After his father's death he became the sole 
proprietor of the estate. It is one of the 
largest farms in this locality. He has made 
many improvements upon it, and his farm 
buildings are clean and well-equipped with 
modern conveniences, including running water. 
He is actively engaged in general farming, 
fruit-growing, and dairying. Plight acres of 
his land are devoted to fruit. His staple 
crop is Baldwin apples, of which he gathers 
about four hundred barrels annually, the crop 
of 1896 yielding o\-er one thousand barrels of 
merchantable fruit. He keeps from forty to 
forty-five head of cattle, the dairy embracing 
from twenty-eight to thirty milch cows, full- 
blood and grade Jerseys. 

Mr. Berry was married December 25, 1873, 
to Mary J. Gilman, who was born in Anson, 
September 22, 1853. Pier father, Benjamin 
Gilman, was a thrifty farmer of Anson, a life- 
long resident of that town, took a prominent 
part in town affairs, voted the Republican 
ticket, and was nearly seventy when he died. 
His wife lived to be seventy-seven. Both 
were members of the Baptist church. Mr. 
and Mrs. Berry have one daughter — Bernice 
E. , who was born in Hebron, October 19, 



1881. A Republican in politics Mr. Berry 
does not neglect his duty as a citizen. Pie 
has no desire for public oflfice, and has de- 
clined to serve as a town official. He is a 
member of East Hebron Grange, No. 300, 
Patrons of Husbandry, and has presided as 
Overseer of the Grange. Both he and Mrs. 
Berry are members of the P^ree Will Baptist 
church. 




M ERICA ANDREWS, a prominent 
farmer and an extensive landholder of 
Paris, Me., was born on the farm 
where he now lives, December 22, 
i8ji, son of John and Anna (Butterfield) 
Andrews. 

Mr. Andrews's paternal grandfather, lul- 
ward Andrews, with his wife, born Dorcas 
livans, came from Massachusetts to this town 
at a very early period of its settlement; and 
here both lived to a good old age. They 
reared five sons and four daughters, as follows: 
Captain John Andrews; Captain Alfred An- 
drews; the Hon. Charles Andrews, formerly 
Congressman; .Sullivan; PIdward ; Dorcas; 
Betsey; Polly; and Clara — none of whom are 
now living. 

Captain John Andrews, father of America, 
spent his entire life in Paris, devoting his 
time to agricultural pursuits. Prior to his 
marriage he bought one hundred and fifty acres 
of wild land, which is now included in the 
present homestead. Ha\-ing built a log cabin, 
he proceeded to clear some of the land for cul- 
tivation. Bears, deer, wolves, and other wild 
animals were plentiful ; and the dusky red man 
was frequently seen, but was usually friendly. 
The nearest mill was many miles away ; and, 
there being neither highways nor pathways, the 
stalwart pioneer made the round trip on foot, 
with his grist on his back, finding his perilous 
way by means of blazed trees. He had the 
frame and strength of an athlete, and could 
easily lift a barrel of vinegar. John Andrews 
was for many years Captain of a company of 
State militia, and was an active participant in 
the War of 1812. In politics he was a stanch 
Democrat, and in religion both he and Mrs. 
Andrews were Methodists. He died on the 
home farm at the age of fourscore and three 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



529 



years. His wile, wlmsc nuiidL'ii name was 
Anna Hutterfielcl, was born in Standish, Me., 
and died in I'aris at the age of seventy-eight 
years. They had fourteen ciiildren; nameh', 
Abizer, Alfred, Betsey, Clara, Anna, .Amanda, 
Melvina, America, Laura, h'liza, .Sallv, Co- 
lumbia, Vesta, and James. 0{ these, Amer- 
ica, Laura, ]{liza, and \'esta are the only ones 
living. 

America Andrews, the eighth child, and 
the special subject of this sketch, grew to 
manhood on the homestead, obtaining a practi- 
cal common-school education in what was then 
known as the Taunton Green School. He 
continued his residence on the home farm, 
carefully looking after his parents in their 
declining years, and in 1865 assumed the pos- 
session of the ancestral acres. Industrious 
and thrifty, as he accumulated money he in- 
vested it in other land, until he now has a 
farm of three hundred and fifty acres, which 
by energetic labor and wise management he 
has brought to its jjresent fine condition, 
making it a most desirable home for his famil}' 
and an attractive place of resort for their hosts 
of friends. His buildings are of a substantial 
character, the barn being new, and furnished 
with the modern conveniences for carrying on 
his wcjrk. 

Mr. Andrews w^as married November 5, 
1853, to Martha I-'uller, who was born in 
Hartford, Me., May 21, 1833, a daughter of 
ILirvey and Temperance (Howard) l*"uller. 
Her mother was born in Hridgewater, Mass., 
and her father in Paris, Me., where he carried 
on farming during a long period of useful 
activity, attaining the advanced age of eighty- 
four \'ears. Mrs. Fuller died when but forty- 
four years old. She and her husband had 
twelve children, namely: Charlotte; Paulina; 
Temperance; Alonzo; Edwin; Lysander, liv- 
ing in Upton, Me. ; Addison ; Martha, Mrs. 
Andrews; Alpheus, who lives at Pomerov, 
la. ; P-^lmira, of Woodstock, Me. ; William 
H. ; and Mary K. 

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews ha\e had seven chil- 
dren, the following being their record ; Wal- 
ter S. , born in August, 1855, died in Sep- 
tember, 1888; Wallace, born July 12, 1857, 
now principal of the I^utler School at Port- 
land, Me., married Harriet l^radfortl, and they 



ha\'e loui' children — Dura !>. , i\Iarion M., 
llaroUl T. , and Harriet Marguerite; Aljiheus 
I)., who was born l)eceml)er 14, 1860, and 
now assists his father in the management of 
the home farm, wheie he has always lived, 
married J. Ella Benson, and the\' have two 
children — Alfred D. and Aliiniie Beatrice; 
Lucy A., born March J5, 1866, has taught 
school thirty-eight terms in Oxford County; 
Jamie H., born June 5, 1864, died at the age 
of nine months; Minnie, boin l'"el)ruary 25, 
1869, was engaged in teaching at the time of 
her death in 1888; and an infant, not nanieil, 
died at the age of three weeks. 

Politically, Mr. Andrews is a Demcjcrat ; 
and religiously he and his wife and family are 
Methodists. Mr. and Mrs. i\ndrews united 
with the Methodist Episcopal church forty 
years ago;' and he has served as Class Leader, 
and is now .Steward, a position which he has 
held the past thirty years. Aljiheus I). An- 
drews, the son who has remained on the home- 
stead, is a member of Paris Grange, No. 215, 
Patrons of Husbandry, and is also a member of 
the local school board. 



7TAHARLKS W. WALK1-:K, a pronii- 
I V-^ nent farmer of Canton, was born in 
^U Peru, an adjoining town in O.xford 

County, Me., July 4, 1845, son of 
Winslow and Amanda M. (Benson) Walker. 
He is a great-great-grandson of George and 
I^lizalieth (Snow) Walker, the former of whom 
was born at Kittery Point, Me., May 11, 1731, 
and the latter was born March 13, 1731. 
George Walker and his wife, whom he wedded 
September 15, 1755, settled in I'almouth. 

Their son William Walker, Charles W. 
Walker's great-grandfather, was born in I-'al- 
mouth, March 28, 1756. He served as a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary War, and settled 
upon a tract of wild land in Peru, Me., about 
the year 1802. He was a sturdy pioneer, who 
made the most of the opjxntunities within his 
reach for attaining prosperity; and he man- 
aged to establish a comfortable home for his 
family. He married Sybil Staples, who was 
born in Topsham, Me., March 2^, 1764; and, 
according to family tradition, the ceremony 
was performed under peculiar circumstances. 



>30 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



The river being swollen beyond its usual size 
by freshets, it was impossible to ford it; and, 
as the minister could not get to them, the 
bride and groom stood upon one side, while 
the parson, standing upon the ojiposite bank, 
made good the nuptial bonds. William and 
Sybil Walker were the ])arents of twelve chil- 
dren, as follows: Hezekiah, Susanna, George, 
Sally, William, Jr., Nathan, Sybil, Rebecca, 
Charity, Mary, Samuel, and Eliza. William 
Walker died December i, 1.S33, his wife sur- 
viving until August 16, 1849. 

William Walkei', Jr., son of William and 
Sybil, and the ne.\t in this line, was born in 
Falmouth, September 30, 1790. lie accom- 
panied his parents to Peru, and in young man- 
hood he learned the shoemaker's trade. His 
other occupations were tilling the soil and 
keeping a hotel. He opened the first public 
house in Peru in 1834, and the first post-office 
in Pern was established there. He owned one 
hundred and fifty acres of good land, and car- 
ried on the hotel in connection with farming 
for twenty years; but during his lattci' years 
he devoted his whole attention to his farm. 
He died in 1868. He was one of the stirring 
farmers and prominent citizens of Peru in his 
day, and served the town with ability in va- 
rious important ofifices. He married for his 
first wife Martha Knight, who was born in 
Falmouth, Me., A]iril 7, 1787, and she be- 
came the mother of foui' children, namely: 
Winslow, who was born August 29, 181 i; 
Lois, who was born October 18, 181 3; Dor- 
cas, who was born May 2, 1815; and Daniel, 
who was born February 13, 1S17. Mrs. Mar- 
tha Knight Walker died I'ebruary 25, 1817; 
and William Walker married for his second 
wife Mary Chase, who was born in lUickfield, 
April 4, 1 791. The children by his second 
marriage were : Martha, who was born March 
16, i8ig; William H., who was horn Januarv 
7, 1824; Amanda M., who was born P'ebruary 
21, 1829; and Adelia, \\ho was boin Ma\' 12, 
1834. 0( these the only survi\-oi-s are : \Vill- 
iam H., who resides at the Walker homestead 
in Peru; apd Adelia, who is the widow of 
Amos Harlow, and resides in Peru. Their 
parents were members of the Free \Vill ]5ap- 
tist church. 

Winslow Walker, eldest son of William and 



Martha (Knight) Walker, and father (if 
Charles W., was born at the homestead in 
Peru, where he was a lifelong resident. Dur- 
ing his active manhood he followed sur\-e\-ing 
quite extensively in connection with farming. 
He lived to reach the age of eighty years. In 
politics he was a Democrat, and for many 
years was identified with public affairs, in 
which he displayed a great deal of practical 
ability anil sound judgment. He was a mem- 
ber of the Board of Selectmen for a number of 
years, and also served as Town Clerk and 
Treasurer. In his religious views he was a 
Universalist. His wife, Amanda M. Kenson, 
who was a native of Peru, reared a family of 
four children, as follows: W'illiam C. , who is 
now residing in Minnesota; Alfred H., a resi- 
dent of Peru; Abbie (i., who is no longer 
living; and Charles W., the subject of this 
sketch. Mr. Walker's mother lived to be 
seventy-nine years old. She was a member nf 
the Free Will Hajitist church. 

Charles W. Walker was educated in tiie 
schools of Peru, and was reareil to farm life. 
He resided at the homestead, assisting in 
carrying on the farm, until he was thirty years 
old; and after his marriage he settled upon the 
Hathaway farm in Canton, where he now lives. 
This property, which is one of the best farms 
in the Androscoggin Valley, consists of two 
hundred and fifty acres of well-located land; 
and the tillage portion is under excellent cul- 
tivation. He carries on general farming and 
dairying, keeping from ten to fifteen heatl of 
Jersey cattle ; and he also raises quite a luim- 
ber of sheep. 

On December 4, 1S75, Mr. Walker was 
united in marriage with Lydia T. Hathaway, 
daughter of Tallman and Sarah (Austin) Hath- 
away, (if Canton. The Hathaway family, 
which is well known in this locality, descends 
from Captain ]<]benezer Hathaway, a native of 
Massachusetts, and a Revolutionary soldier. 
Mrs. Walker's great-grandfather, Gilbert Hath- 
awa)', died March 20, 1829, aged eight\'- 
four _\'ears ; and her grandfather, also named 
Gilbert, was born in Massachusetts, September 
-9- '//S- He came from P^all River to 
Maine, finally settling in Canton ; and he was 
engaged in farming here until his death, which 
took place December 11, 1863. He was a 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



531 



Deacon of the liaptist cluiixli. lie married 
Lyclia Tallman, who was Ijoin in Tiverton, 
R.I., December 10, 1771; and she died in 
Canton, December 13, 1867. TaUman Hatha- 
way, Mrs. Walker's father, was born in Liver- 
more, Me.. May 27, 1.S03. He was an ener- 
getic and i^rosperous farmer, who cleared and 
improved the jM'operty where Charles W. 
Walker now resides; and he died March 29, 
181S7. He was a Republican in politics, and 
a L' niversalist in his religious views. His 
wife, Sarah Austin, who was born in Canton, 
when it was a pnri of Jay, March 11, iSio, 
Ijecame the mother of si.\ children, namel}' : 
Mary E. ; William .S. ; i-Jod(dplnis V.. ; Alan- 
son S. ; Lydia T. , who is now Mrs. Walker; 
and Peter T., wIkj is no longer living. Mrs. 
Walker's mother died December 15, 18S4. 
Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the parents of seven 
children, as follows: Frank L., who was born 
December 12, 1879; Minnie A., who was born 
Januarv 2^, 1882; Jennie L. , who was born 
January 7, 1884; Lillian M., who was born 
August 20, 1885; Charles W. , who was 
born May 16, 1888; Alfonso G. , who was born 
March 22, i8go; and I-^lla May, who was 
born November 3, iSgi. 

In politics Mr. Walker is a Democrat, and 
in his religious views he is liberal. Lie is a 
member of Canton Grange, No. no. Patrons 
of Husbandry, and is now acting as its Treas- 
urer. Industrious and capable, he takes advan- 
tage of every improvement calculated to facili- 
tate the production of sui)erior crops; and he 
is regarded as one of the most progressive and 
successful agriculturists of this vicinitv. 




"ERMAN STINSON HOUGHTON, 
a prosperous merchant of Wilton, 
Me., and one of the largest hard- 
ware dealers in I'ranklin County, 
was born in W'eld, Me., May 7, 1830, son of 
I'lphraim and Sarah S. (Masterman) Houghton. 
Mr. Houghton's grandfather, James Hough- 
ton, was a native of Dublin, N.H., and when 
a young man settled at Wilton, N.H. He 
later moved to Weld, Franklin County, Me., 
where he took up one hundred and sixty acres 
of intervale land, which was in a wild state, 
and, clearing up what afterward proved to I)e 



one of the best farms in the locality, erected 
a set of frame buildings, residing there until 
his death. He married Hannah Russell: and 
she reared a large family, among whom were 
six sons — namely, liphraim, James, Jr., Abel, 
Harvey, Sewall, and Daniel. 

l'".phraim Houghton, son of James, was born 
in Wilton, N.H., October 26, 1787. His 
youth was spent in helping liis falhei' upon 
the home farm, and when a young man he 
bought a tract of unimproved land, consisting 
of three hundred and twenty acres, situated in 
the central pa.n of the town of Weld, Me. 
After lixing in a log house until he had 
cleareil a large portion of his land, he erected 
substantial buildings; and, continuing the im- 
provements in connection with tilling the 
soil, he al.so dealt quite extensively in cattle 
and sheep, buying stock, anel letting it to the 
farmers in the neighljorhood. Shortly after 
the death of his wife he sold the i_)ro])erty to his 
son, and. retiring from active labor, passed his 
last days in Wilton, Me., where he died at 
the age of eighty years. In politics he was 
originally a Whig; and, when the anti-slavery 
movement first became a political issue, his 
was the only vote cast in its favor in the town 
of Weld. He supported the Re])ublican party 
from the time of its formation until his death. 
He was a member of the Congregational 
church. His wife, formerly .Sarah S. Master- 
man, who was born in Deering, N.H., Marth 
7, 1792, daughter of James and Hannah 
(Dows) Masterman, became the mother of 
eight children, as follows: .Sarah, who was 
born June 12, 1815: Rebecca M., who was 
born October 23, 1S17: Azel E. , who was born 
June 29, 1819; John N., who was born I-'eb- 
ruary 20, 182 1; h'anny W. , who was born 
August 22, 1823; Harriet A., who was boiii 
May 29, 1825; E\\y,a A., who was born Ajiril 
26, 1827; and Herman S., the subject of this 
sketch. Mrs. Sarah S. Masterman Houghton 
died March 20, 185 i. 

Herman Stinson Houghton, the youngest of 
the family, acquired his education in the dis- 
trict schools, the Phillips High School, and 
the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. 
At the age of eighteen he began teaching 
school ; and a short time later he went to Sterl- 
ing, Mass., where he was for some time cleik 



BIOCxRArHICAL REVIEW 



in a general store. lie tJien engaged in tak- 
ing contracts for bottoming shoes for manu- 
facturers in Natick, Mass., employing help, 
and carrying on quite a profitable business 
until he returned to Maine. On October 6, 
i<S53, lie, in company with K. B. Fuller, 
oiiened a general store in Wilton, carrying a 
large stock, including hardware and stoves; 
but three years later this firm was dissolved 
and the stock divided, Mr. Houghton taking 
the hardware, while his partner retained the 
remainder. I-lstablishing himself in the hard- 
ware business, he soon afterwanl bought the 
Strickland store, to which he built an addi- 
tion; and he continued to do a large business 
in that line until his building was destroyed 
in the disastrous conflagration from which 
tlu' town suffered in 1893. He immediately 
built a fine new store, si.\ty by thirty feet, and 
three stories high, and is now using all of the 
available room, including the basement, for 
the storage and display of his large stock of 
goods. Aside from his mercantile business, he 
has conducted other business, which has been 
profitable. He now owns a farm of seventy- 
five acres in the town of Jay; and, having pur- 
chased his father's former dwelling here, he 
has completely rebuilt and remodelled the 
same, and has one of the finest residences in 
town. 

Mr. Houghton m.arried Lucy A. Hardy, of 
Massachusetts. She was born October 11, 
1829, daughter of Reuben and Betsey (Pratt) 
Hardy. Her father was born June 30, 1803, 
son of Simon and Lorissa Hardy; and her 
mother was born December 18, 1800, daugh- 
ter of Robert and Rebecca Pratt. Mrs. 
Houghton's parents had four children— Eliz- 
abeth; Lucy A., who is now Mrs. Houghton; 
Sarah; Simeon; and Lauretta. Mr. and Mrs. 
Houghton have had three children, namely: 
Lizzie Emogene, who was born April 26, 
1853, and is now the wife of F. E. Jeffrey, of 
Boston, Mass.; a daughter who died in in- 
fancy; and Herbert E., who was born August 
22, 1870, and is now associated with his father 
in business. 

In politics Mr. Houghton has been a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party since its 
organization: and, although lie has never 
sought office, he was elected Town Clerk, in 



which capacity he served with ability. He is 
a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, in- 
cluding the Flncampment, being Past Grand of 
Williamson Lodge, No. 20. He contributes 
to the support of the Congregational church, 
which he and his wife attend. He is a highly 
respected member of the community, as is 
also Mrs. Houghton, who has been an exceed- 
ingly valuable helpmate to her husband in 
securing the prosperity they now enjoy. 




place 



KNJAMIN BIRD, late of Paris, Me., 
belonged to a family that was iden- 
tified with the early settlement of 
the town of Norway, his native 
He was born December 15, 1813, son 
of John and Polly Bird. After having ac- 
c|uired in his early years a common-school edu- 
cation, Benjamin Bird turned his attention to 
general farming. He bought his first land in 
Paris, Me., the place now owned by Abner 
Jackson, of Norway; and, after residing there 
for two years, he came to the farm on which 
his widow now lives, then containing about 
seventy-five acres. Intelligent and practical, 
he was a very successful agriculturist, and 
took especial pride in raising a high grade of 
live stock — choice cows, strong o.xen, and 
large hogs. In other words, he was a model 
New England farmer. 

On December 4, 1850, Mr. ]?inl was mar- 
ried to Miss Harriett Rust Millett, the cere- 
mony being performed b\- the Rev. Reuben 
Milliner, of Norway. Mr. J^ird was born in 
Norway, December 19, 1827. Her parents 
were Nathan and Mercy (Sampson) Millett, 
the former of whom was a native of Norway, 
and the latter of Massachusetts. Mr. Millett 
was a hard-working farmer, and resided in Nor- 
way air his life. In politics he was a Repub- 
lican. He died in 1889, aged eighty-nine 
years, having been born September 11, 1800. 
His wife was born .September 15, 1804, and 
died in 1S68. Both were esteemed members 
of the Baptist church in Norway. They had 
one son and four daughters, all of whom are 
living, namely: Harriett Rust, Mrs. Bird; M. 
Louisa, wife of Newell Porter, of South Paris, 
Me. ; Nathan W., occupying the old Millett 
homestead in Norway: Martha M., wife of 



BIOC RA PH ICAL REVIFAV 



."i-i-i 



Franklin I'orter, nf Paris, Mc. ; and jnlia K., 
residing in Paris. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bird iiaci no children. Since 
her husband's death on August 15, i8<S4, Mrs. 
Bird has continued to carry on the farm, keep- 
ing it up to its former high standard. .She 
has a dairy of from fifteen to twenty cows, 
mostly grade Jerseys; and, besides carrying on 
general farming, she gives considerable atten- 
tion to fruit culture. She is a communicant 
of the Baptist church at Paris Hill, of which 
her husband was also a member. In ])olitical 
affiliation Mr. Bird was a Republican. 



^RANK A. SHURTLEFF. a well- 
known druggist of South Paris, O.xford 
County, was born in Portland, Me., 
July 22, 1863, son of Alonzo H. and Hannah 
(Tribou) Shurtleff. The first ancestor of the 
family in this country was William Shurtleff, 
who in the early part of the seventeenth cen- 
tury emigrated from England, and settled in 
Plymouth, Mass. The record shows that in 
1634 he was ajiprenticed to one Thomas 
Clark, to learn the carpenter's trade. He 
later married F'lizabeth Lett ice, and moved to 
Marshfieki, Mass. At this early period the 
family name was spelled "Shettle,"' and later 
"Shirtly," finally assuming its present form. 
F'rom William Shurtleff, first, the line of 
descent is continued through William, second, 
Thomas, and Jonathan, who married Eliza- 
beth Leach, to Simeon, first, who was born in 
Middleboro, Mass., June 23, 1758, was a 
farmer, and became an early settler of Nor- 
way, Me. He and his wife, Submit King- 
man, had a son, Alva, who was born in 
Norway, this county. May 30, 1786, and who 
married Anna Shaw, a daughter of Abner 
Shaw. 

Their son, Simeon, second, grandfather of 
Frank A. Shurtleff, was born in Paris, O.xford 
County, Me., September 2, 18 10. When a 
young man, he juirchased a small farm in 
Megalloway, Me., which he carried on until 
1845, when he sold it, and went to Paris Hill. 
After a short residence there he removed to 
Portland, where he engaged in trucking, and 
also conducted a coal and wood yard, until he 
finally retired from business. He died at the 



age of eighty-two years. He was three times 
married. His first wife, Lydia, a (laughter of 
Joshua Lombard, died at the early age of 
twenty-one years, leaving one child, Alonzo 
]•". His second wife, who was by maiden 
name Harriet Adams, bore him three chiUhen 
-Jennie, Almira, and Diana. After her 
death, which occurred March 4, 1844, he mar- 
ried Hannah Hathaway. She died July 19, 
1884. 

Alonzo K. Shurtleff, son of .Simeon and 
Lydia Shurtleff, was born in Megalloway, 
Me., January 15, 1833. He received his edu- 
cation in the Paris and Hebron Academies, 
and at the early age of eleven years began to 
work as a farm hand for his board and clothes. 
After being thus employed for two years, he 
learned th;e shoemaker's trade, working with 
his uncle, Alvah Shurtleff, and followeil it 
subsequently for a short time. He then went 
to Portland, where he engaged in teaming, antl 
later purchased his father's business, which 
he carried on for about twelve years. At the 
expiration of that time he sold out the busi- 
ness, and came to South Paris, to take charge 
of the packing department of the Paris Flour 
Mills, subsequently becoming superintendent 
of the custom department, which latter pcjsi- 
tion he still holds. Shortly after coming here 
he purchased the Hamlin property, 36 Main 
Street, and enlarged and remodelled the 
liouse. In 1885 it was destroyed by fire; 
but the following year he replaced it with a 
new and commodious residence, enlarged the 
barn, beautified the grounds, and otherwise 
improved the property into a handsome and 
valuable estate. 

He is a Democrat in politics, and has served 
for several years as Constable and Chief 
lingineer of the fire department. He is a 
member of Mount Mica Lodge, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. By his wife, Han- 
nah, whom he married November 5, 1854, and 
who is a daughter of Adna and Hannah 
(Kinsley) Tribou, he has had four children, 
namely: Emma E., born September i, 1855, 
now a teacher; Ida M., born August 20, 1858; 
F'rank A., the special subject of this sketch; 
and Arthur K., born July 12, 1881. 

Frank A. Shurtleff, the elder of the two 
sons, after acquiring his education at the 



;34 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



South I'aiis Institute and the Oxford Normal 
School, applied himself to learn the drug busi- 
ness, first working four years for A. M. 
Gerry. He then went to Portland, where he 
was employed for a similar length of time in 
tile drug store of A. S. Hines. In 1887 he 
I'stablished himself in business in South Paris, 
o])ening in Market Square the largest and best 
appointed drug store in Oxford County. He 
carries a large and select stock of drugs, 
p.itcnt medicines, chemicals, toilet articles, 
druggists" sundries, stationery, school sup- 
])lies, and sporting goods, and has built up an 
excellent trade. lie is a registered apothe- 
cary, the prescription department being under 
his personal supervision; and he employs two 
able assistants. 

On October 29, 1S89, Mr. Shurtleff was 
united in marriage with Laura Clifford, a 
daughter of Charles Clifford. Mrs. Shurtleff 
died November 23, iSgi, leaving one son, 
.Stanley, who was born November 16, 1S91. 
Mr. Shurtleff is very popular socially. He is 
connected with Mount Mica Lodge, No. 17, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Hamlin 
Lodge, No. 31, Knights of Pythias; and with 
the Order of the Golden Cross. Politically, 
he affiliates with the Republican jiarty ; and he 
is now Town Treasurer. He is a memiicr of 
the Congregational church. 



tmo 



I'lORGE K. TUBI5S, of the firm of 
V |ST C. N. Tubbs & Co., Norway, Me., 
large dealers in general merchandise 
and groceries, was born here June 30, 1851, 
son of Orrin antl Elizabeth (Horr) Tubbs. 
He is a great-grandson of Jacob Tubbs, born 
in l^ingham, Somerset County, Me., who was 
one of the first settlers on Lee's grant in Nor- 
way, receiving his deed direct from Mr. Lee. 
He came from Hebron to Norway about the 
year 1795. He married Miss Jemima Church- 
ill, by whom he had six children — Jacob J., 
Charles, Angier, Sally, Hannah, and Samuel. 
Angier Tubbs, born in Hebron, January 18, 
1785, removed to Norway with his parents; 
.and, wlien he started out in life for himself, he 
jjurchased land here, and cleared a good farm. 
He married Miss Philena Packard, and they 
were the parents of nine children; namely, 



James, Eunice, Charles, Jacob, Philena, Mary 
Ann, Orrin, Mary Ann, and Nathan N. 

Orrin Tubbs, whose birth occurred Febru- 
ary 12, 1822, wdien a young man went to Gor- 
ham, N.H., and engaged in the dry-goods 
business, which he followed for a number of 
years, becoming a leading citizen of that town. 
At length he sold out his business in Gorham, 
and removed to Norway, where he became a 
partner in the firm of C. N. Tubbs & Co. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Horr. 

Their son, George E. Tubbs, whose name 
appears at the head of this sketch, completed 
his education in the Gorham and Bethel Acad- 
emies. He was employed as a clerk in his 
father's store up to 1882, when he opened a 
hardware store, which he conducted success- 
fully until 1893. Then, coming to Norway, he 
entered the firm of C. N. Tubbs & Co., who 
do a thriving and profitable business. On 
June 6, 1882, Mr. Tubbs was joined in mar- 
riage with Miss Izah Alma Millett, who was 
born on February 7, 1861. Three children 
have been born to them, namely: George 
Millett, with whom they were called to part 
when he was but twenty months old; Homer 
Deane, whose birth was on June 18, 1889; 
and Dorothy Horr, born October 11. 1891. 

Mrs. Tubbs is a daughter of Solomon I. and 
Harriet (Porter) Millett. Her father, born 
April 12, 1816, son of Solomon Millett, is a 
grandson of John and Martha (Sawyer) Mil- 
lett, and great-grandson of John Millett, Jr. 
John Millett, Sr. , father of John, Jr., was a 
son of Thomas Millett, and a grandson of 
Thomas Millett, Sr., who was born in Eng- 
land in 1605, and was the founder of the 
family in America. He cyossed the Atlantic 
in 1635, and settled first in Dorchester, Mass. 
Later he was a teaching elder in the church 
in Gloucester. In 1676 he and his wife and 
one child were killed by the Inilians in Brook- 
field, Mass. 

John Millett, Jr., was born in Gorham, 
June 12, 1767, whence he came to Norway in 
1789, and with his brother .Solomon purchased 
one thousand acres of wild land, much of 
which they cleared and divided. Solomon 
Millett, son of John and Martha (Sawyer) 
Millett, was born in Norway, January 7, 1793. 
He served an apprenticeship as clothier, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



:f;vik\v 



subsequently went into business for himself 
near where the Opera House now stands, 
manufaeturinf^ flannel and other woollen 
cloths. He finally retired to a farm inherited 
from his father, living there until his death, 
at eighty years of age. Solomon I. Millett, 
son of .Solomon Millett, received a limited 
common-school education; and at twenty-three 
years of age he went to Boston, in the employ 
of Frederick Pope. His business was han- 
dling pianofortes for the different factories in 
Boston and vicinity, and this he followed with 
profit until 1849. I" l*'ebruary of that year, 
with a party of Boston boys, he took passage 
on a vessel for Aspinwall, from there he 
cro.ssed over on foot to Panama, and three 
weeks later he took the Scotch brig " Colon ia'" 
from Panama to San Francisco, the passage 
from Boston to the Golden Gate occupying 
five months, in which he visited many ports. 
From San Francisco he went by way of .Sacra- 
mento direct to the mines on the American 
River, where he engaged in mining, spending 
the rainy season in .Sacramento. He met with 
alternate success and loss, but on the whole 
had a substantial balance on hand. When the 
spring came, with the new arrival of l^ostnn 
boys, he went to spentl the summer on Trin- 
ity River; but, not being satisfied with the 
Trinity, he was one of a party of nine who 
crossed over to the Shasta River. Here, 
they all became dissatisfied except himselt : 
and he sent back for his old partner, Robert 
I'arkin, of Boston, and they remained through 
the season, and made a fair thing. 

Closing his summer work, he returneil to 
Sacramento, where he met his old employer, 
Mr. Pope; and together with Parkin and Pope 
he located at Mokelumne Hill, where they 
spent the winter. The spring following. Mr. 
Pope being taken sick, Millett returned to 
]?oston with him, ami remained about two 
months, then returning to Mokelumne Hill 
with J. S. Millett and A. F. Jackson. He re- 
mained in the mines about two and a hall 
years, and then, returning once more to Bos- 
ton, took up his former occupation. Two 
years later he sold out, and came to Norway, 
and purchased the old Nathaniel Bennett farm 
of two hundred and fifty acres, and another 
tract of one hundred and fifty acres, making a 



four-hundred-acre farm, which he carried on 
successfully, and also dealt quite extensively 
in cattle up to 1S85. At that time he i)ur- 
chased the Major li. W. Millett house and 
lot, af the corner of Main .Street and Paris 
Avenue, where he now resides. He also owns 
two tenement houses. 

His wife, Harriett (Porter) .Millett, to 
whom he was married February 23, 1857, was 
born August 20, 1823, being the daughter of 
John and luuiice (Hicks) Pcrler, of Paris. 
Her father was engaged in farming and car- 
pentry. Mr. and Mrs. Millett have had three 
children, namely: Alice, born P'ebruary 24, 
1859, who died January 8, 1873; Izah A., 
Mrs. Tubbs; I-:. Stella,' born June 10, 1863, 
who married (leorge P. Whitney, Jr., October 
28, 1884, resides in Boston, and has one .son, 
Don John. Mr. Whitney, who is a son of the 
widely known George P. Whitney, of Fast Ox- 
ford, is an engineer in the employ of the New 
York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. Mr. 
Millett is a Democrat in political affiliation. 
He is a stockholder in the water-wf)rks, a Di- 
rector of the National Bank, and a stockholder 
in the Opera House. l*"raternally, he is a mem- 
ber of Oxford Lodge, No. 18, A. 1-". & A. M. 

Mr. Tubbs is a Democrat in jmlitics. Dur- 
ing his residence in Gorham he was Town 
Clerk nine years, and also served on the 
School Committee. He is an esteemed mem- 
ber of the following fraternal organizations: 
Oxford Lodge, No. 18, A. I'. & A. M.; Glen 
Lodge, No. 54, Inde]5endeHt Ordei' of Odd l'"el- 
lows, of Gorham, N.IL, of which he is a Past 
Grand. 




itA^/lLIJAM I-. CALDICN, a successful 
farmer of Phillips, Me., and one of 
the Board of Selectmen of the town, 
was born in Hallowell, now Manchester, Ken- 
nebec County, Me., September 9, 1S45, and 
is a son of Benjamin I', and Velina (Hoyt) 
Calden. On his father's side he is of Scottish 
descent, there having been two brothers of 
this family name who came from Scotland to 
America, one going to the Southern States, 
and the other, the founder of this branch, set- 
tling in Maine. 

Thomas Calden, the father of Benjamin P.. 



iS'i 



HI()GR M'lIlCAL KEVIKW 



spent the greater part of his life in Candia, 
N.H., where he worked at reed-making by 
hand. He is said to have served in the Revo- 
lutionary War, and as a privateer in the War 
ot 1812, being captain of a schooner. Of his 
ten children, only one is now living; namely, 
Benjamin P., aged ninety-seven years. 

Benjamin I'. Calden was born in Candia, 
N.H.. l-'ebruary S, 1799. He has followed 
farming most of his life, but for many years 
was also employed as a ship-carpenter. Nine 
children were the fruit of his union with 
X'elina Hoyt, the three now living being Mar- 
garet, wife of D. V. Hodges, of Phillips; 
Charles B., residing in Rangeley ; and Will- 
iam F. Their father is a member of the 
Methodist church, in which he has been Class 
Leader for years. Although nearly a cente- 
narian, he still enjoys good health. 

Charles 11 Calden, son of Benjamin 1'., in 
his boyhood and youth attended school suc- 
cessively in Hallowell, Cornville, and Phil- 
lips. l-"or a number of years he has been 
foreman of lumbering crews in the winter sea- 
son, and has worked at farming in the sum- 
mer. He joined the Blue Mountain Masonic 
Lodge, No. 67, of Phillips, in 1873. 

William F. Calden, the other son of lien- 
jamin P. Calden, and the sjiecial subject of 
this sketch, first attended school three years 
in Hallowell, then at Cornville, Somerset 
County, and finally in Phillips. The years 
directly following >vere spent in river logging 
in the winter and farming in summer, and 
since 1857 he has carried on farming exclu- 
si\Lly here in Philli])s. His farm contains 
about two hundred and fifty acres, and yields 
on an average fiftv tons of hay yearly. On 
May 29, 1872, Mr. Calden was joined in mar- 
riage with Hannah Orr, of Phillips. Their 
five children are all living ami at home; 
namely. Bernice D., ]'>ed, Winnie, Carrie, 
and Kvelyn, the three younger ones being in 
school. 

In political affiliation Mr. Calden is a Re- 
puiilican. He has served two terms as Select- 
man, and an equal length of time on the 
School Committee. He is a member of North 
l-'ranklin Grange of l^hillips, and a communi- 
cant of the Methodist E|iiscopal church, in 
which he is a Class Leader. 




HARLES H. KERRY, one of the 

oldest native residents of ]3uckfield, 
^ Me., where he has carried on gen- 
eral farming for thirty-five years, 
was born on March 20, 1S24, son of Obadiah 
and Abigail (Ricker) Berry. His father was 
a native of this town and a jiractical farmer. 
Possessed of a vigorous constitution, he tilled 
the soil with an energy and industry which 
gained for him a comfortable prosperity; and 
his last years were passed in retirement here. 
In politics he was a Whig, later joining the 
Republican party; and he was known and es- 
teemed as a useful citizen. He lived to be 
eighty-fi\'e years old; and his wife, who was 
born in Ikickfield, attained the age of eighty- 
three. Roth were members of the Free Will 
Baptist church. 

Charles H. l^erry attended the town schools, 
and grew to manhood upon the farm which he 
now owns and occupies. Learning the cabi- 
net-maker's trade, he followed it for several 
years, but finally relinquished that r)ccupation 
in order to devote his whole time to the care 
and improvement of his farm. He owns one 
hundred and twenty-fi\e acres of well-located 
land, capable of producing large and superior 
crops; and the dwelling-house, which was 
built over one hundred years ago, is still in a 
good state of preservation. 

On February 7, 1849, Mr. Berry was mar- 
ried to Cynthia Flarris, who was born in Lew- 
iston. Me., February 7, 1825, daughter of 
Richard and Martha (Reed) ILarris. Mr. and 
Mrs. Rerry have two children, namely: 
Charles I"., who was boiii in Auburn, Me., 
February 24, 1S55: and Ida A., who was born 
in Auburn, August 19, 183S, married O. H. 
Hersey, a lawyer of Buckfield, and has three 
children— Augustus M., Avilla Mav, and 
Carrie B. 

Politically, Mr. Berry is a Republican ; and 
he has served with ability as a member of the 
Board of -Selectmen, Town Agent, and in other 
offices. Both he and Mrs. Berry are memliers 
of the Congregational church. 

Charles ¥. Berry, who resides at home with 
his parents, and now relieves his father of 
most of the cares pertaining to the farm, ])os- 
sesses the manly vigor and sterling ambition 
of one whose full measure of success is only a 



r.IOC.RAI'lIlCA]. RKVIKW 



5M 



question <if time. He is a Republican in pol- 
itics, and is a member of Evening Star Lodge, 
A. V. & A. I\l., of Huckfield. He married 
on November 9, 1880, Sadie H. Dearborn, of 
Hartford, and has one son — Frank \)., who 
was born l''cbruary 7, 1S86. 




r^")| 1-'. FITCH, M.D., a prominent 
])li\sician of Hrownfield, was born 
August 9, 1859, in Sebago, Cum- 
berland County, Me., son of John 
and Nancy \V. (.Sanborn) l'"itch. Dr. b'itch's 
grandfather, William I'itch, was a native and 
lifelong resident of Sebago; and his active 
period was there siient in tilling the soil of a 
good farm. 

Dr. Fitch's father was reared to agricultural 
pursuits in -Sebago, his native town, and is 
still residing upon a farm there. His first 
wife, Nancy W. Sanborn, who also was born 
in Sebago, died in 1893, leaving three chil- 
dren, as follows: H. F. Fitch, M.D., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Mary Iv, who is the wife 
of Dr. L. H. Poore, and resides at Webb's 
Mills, Me. ; and Fred, who married Mary 
Hill, and lives at the homestead in Sebago. 
John Fitch wedded for his second wife Mrs. 
Sarah Swett. 

H. F. Fitch aceiuired his early education in 
the common schools of Sebago and at the high 
school in Bridgton. His medical studies were 
pursued at the University of \'ermont, where 
he was graduated with the class of iSSf), at the 
close of a four }'ears' course. He first lo- 
cated for practice at Kezar Falls, Me. ; but, 
after staying there for one year, he settled in 
Hrownfield village, where he has since contin- 
ued to advance in ])opularity, and is now 
firmly established in his professional career. 
His practice is not confined to this tow'n alone, 
as his regular circuit covers a large area in 
this section of the county, embracing several 
adjacent villages and plantations. He deals 
to some extent in drugs and chemicals. 

On December 25, 1887, Dr. F'itch was 
united in marriage with Fanny Patten. Mrs. 
Fitch is a native of Newport, Me., where her 
father, John F. Patten, was formerly a pros- 
perous farmer. Her parents are no longer 
living. 



Since settling in Brownfield Dr. iMtch has 
served upon the Board of Health, has ably 
filled the office of Town Clerk for several \ears 
past, and has held other town offices. I'oliti- 
cally, he acts with the Rejiublican ]iart\'. Ik- 
is a member of .Shepherd's l\i\er Lodge, No. 
169, A. V. ik A. M. ; and both he and Mrs. 
P'itch attend the Congregational church. He 
ovms one of the handsomest residences in the 
village, and aside from his high [irofessional 
standing he is a great social favorite. 



M 



.-\NII<;L L. swan, son of I'rancis 
and Mary (Pierce) Swan, was born 
May II, 1821, on his father's farm 
in New Sharon, where he is still an 
iKHiored antl respected resident. 

His grandfather was I'rancis .Swan, .Si., a 
worthy Deacon of the Congregational church, 
who was twice married. Deacon .Swan's first 
wife was Martha Parker, and his second was 
Abigail Elliott, both of them being natives of 
Massachusetts. By his wife Martha he had 
two children : Francis, the father of Daniel L. 
.Swan; and a daughter, who died in infancy. 

P'rancis Swan, the son of Deacon l-"rancis, 
was born in Methuen, now Lawrence, Mass., 
in 1779. In 1 801 he was married to Mary 
Pierce, only daughter of Joseph Pierce. Her 
father was of the fourth generation in direct 
descent from Mr. Daniel Pierce, who came 
from the west of England, to Massachusetts, 
lived a few \ears in Watertown, and im the 
4th of March, 1645, received from the Ciuuuil 
of Newbury, Mass., the grant of twelve acres 
of land, conditioned on his retaining" his resi- 
dence there for life. He agreed to stay there, 
provided he did not return to old P'ngland. 
Apparently contented in his new home, he 
remained in Newbur\])ort until his death. 
The first dwelling built and occu]iied by him 
was a frame house, which was accidentally 
burned through the agenc}', it is said, of one 
of his slaves. He afterward erected on the 
same site a stone house, which is standing at 
this day. He bought a tract of land near the 
Newbury port market, about three miles sc[uare. 
Among his children was a son Benjamin, wlio 
was married November 8, 1692, to Lydia 
P^rost, of Kittery, daughter of Major Charles 



53S 



]1I()(;K.\I'H1( \I, RF.VIKW 



iMdst. Thev had ten sons and two daughters. 
The thii'd son, Thomas, horn November 9, 
1706, married a hKl\' named Frost, and lived in 
the okl stone house built by his grandfather. 
Joseiih Fierce, son of Thomas, married a Miss 
(jLiinby, and had three children: Charles; 
Mary, who became the wife f>f Francis .Swan 
and mother of the subject of this sketch; and 
Samuel. 

Francis antl !\Firv (i'ierce) .Swan had seven 
children, as follows: Martha P., who died at 
the age of eighty-five years; Charles P., who 
died at the age of eighty-three; William, who 
tlied at the age of eighty-five; P^rancis, Jr., 
who died at the age of seventy-si.x ; Mary F., 
who died at the age of sixty-three; Daniel L., 
whose name begins the jiresent sketch ; and 
F'rederick, who also is still living. P'rancis 
.Swan, the father of this family, died on the 4th 
of August, i<S66, aged eighty-six years and nine 
months; and Mary Pierce Swan, his wife, died 
November 15, 1873, aged ninety-three }'ears. 
He was a Whig in ])olitics in his younger 
da)'s, but later became a Republican. His re- 
ligious belief was that of the Congregational 
church, like that of his father before him. 
When he came to this jiart of the country from 
Massachusetts in 1819, he bought a farm of 
eighty-two acres in extent, where his sons 
Daniel and P'rederick were born. The other 
children were liorn in Massachusetts. Plis 
farm, which was then occupied by Mr. Carr, 
was situated on the north side of the Sandy 
l\i\er. 

Daniel L. .Swan, fourth son of p'l'aiicis and 
Mary, recei\'ed his education in tlie public 
schools of New .Sharon, including the high 
school ; antl at the age of eighteen he began 
teaching school in his native ]ilace. He has 
taught during his life twenty-five schools. 
\or is this all of his educational work. He 
has served as a member of the -School Com- 
mittee of New .Sharon for twenty years. He 
h;is likewise Iield the office of Selectman of the 
town for five consecutive years. Ititelligent 
and clear-headed, he is well versed in ances- 
tral lore, tracing his descent from early colo- 
nists, as here shown. 

P'rederick .Swan, his \-ouiiger brother, was 
born on P)ecember 8, 1822. He also was 
educated in the schools of his native town, 



completing his course of study in the high 
school. In the winter of 1 842-43 he taught 
school in Starks, an adjoining town in Somer- 
set County. He remained a resident at the 
old homestead till he was past thirty years of 
age. In 1854 he was appointed sub-officer in 
the State Reform School, where he remained 
for two years and a half. P^ederick Swan was 
married in 1S57 to Martha A. Thompson, the 
daughter of Robert Thompson, a farmer of In- 
dustry. The\' had one child. Martha, who died 
in infancy. 

In 1857 the two brothers, P)aniel L. anil 
P'rederick Swan, bought a farm of eighty-two 
acres adjoining the old homestead; and after 
this purchase they bought a tract of one hun- 
dred and fortv-five acres, owning therefore at 
that time a projiert}- of two bundled and 
twenty-seven acres of good farming land. 
Both are, like their father, stanch Republicans 
in politics, and Congregationalists in religious 
belief. They are well known in the com- 
munity, and greatly admired for their sturdy 
independence of character, imimpeai-hable 
honesty, and faithful citizenshij). 




ON. WALDO PETTFNGILL, of 
Rumford P'alls, the \'ice-President 
and Manager of the Portland & 
Rumford P'alls Railroad, has been 
largely instrumental in developing Rumford. 
He was born at Livermore P'alls, Me., De- 
cember I, 1844, son of Oliver and Huldah 
(Haker) Pettengill, both natives oi this .State. 

Oliver Pettengill, who was born in the town 
of p\avette, Kennebec County, spent his early 
life there and in P^ast Livermore, chiefly occu- 
pied in farming. In 1866 he iiurchased a 
large farm in Rumford, about six miles from 
the present \illage, and settled there perma- 
nently. In addition to being a farmer he was 
also a mill man, was very successful in a 
financial way, and at his death, which hap- 
pened in his sixty-sixth year, he left a large 
estate. Plis wife, who was born in Liver- 
more, died at the age of seventy-one. Both 
were members of the Methodist church. 

Waldo Pettengill attended the common 
schools and the academies at P'armington anil 
Auburn. He was twenty-one years old when 



lUUCRAI'IIICAI, RKVIKW 



5,1') 



his parents settled in Rumford. Me was 
afterward engaged in farming and surveying 
for a number of years. In iSSi tiie ground 
where the city of Rumford I\alls stands was a 
wilderness, and the great body of water, 
which falls one hundred and eighty feet in less 
than a mile, practically unused. Impressed 
with the industrial possibilities of the local- 
ity, Mr. I'ettengill began to buy land on both 
sides of the Androscoggin. Later he suc- 
ceeded in interesting capitalists in the place, 
and helped to organize the Rumford Falls 
Water Power Company, a coriioration with a 
capital stock of five hundred thousand dollars. 
A stockholder in this company himself, he 
acted as its agent; and under his energetic 
direction the plans of the company soon began 
to take form. In August, 1890, the building 
of a number of dams was started; and in the 
winter of i 890-91 large areas of the land were 
cleared. In the early part of 1893 the Rum- 
ford Falls Paper Company's factor)-, the first 
in the place, was completed. This is a large 
place, costing, with the plant, upward of a 
million dollars. In the same year the F21ectric 
Light Water Company was ready for business. 
Of this company Mr. Pettengill was. and is 
now, the Treasurer and Manager. He is a 
large stockholder in the Portland & Rumford 
Ivalls Railroad, of which he is Vice-President 
and Manager; a Director of the woollen-mills; 
a Director of the Rnmford I'alls Trust Com- 
pany; President of the Rumford Falls Build- 
ins: and Loan Association ; and President of 
the Rnmford Falls Publishing Company. He 
is now one of the wealthiest men in the State. 
Mr. Pettengill was married June i, 1870, to 
Miss Sarah \l. Briggs, of Mechanic Flails, Me., 
and has now three children. These are: 
Oliver, a clerk in the railroad office here; 
George W. , an electrician in the employ of 
the Electric Light and Water Company of 
Rumford F\alls; and Huldah E. , who is at 
home. An active Republican, Mr. Pettengill 
has distinguished himself in public affairs as 
well as in business. He served on the School 
Committee for si.x years, on the Board of Se- 
lectmen for eleven years, was County Commis- 
sioner for six years, was elected State Senator 
in 1890, and was a member of the Governor's 
Council in 1S93 and 1S94. He is well ad- 



vanced in Masonry, belonging to Blazing Star 
Lodge, No. 30, of Rumford F'alls; Rnmford 
Chapter; the Council at Norway, Me.; St. 
Albans Commaudcry ; and the Maine Consis- 
tory at Portland. As an Odd I'"e]low, he be- 
longs to Pennacook Lodge, No. 130, of Rum- 
ford Falls, and the Encampment at Di.xfield. 
A Knight of Pythias, he is a member of Mct- 
talluc Lodge, No. 99, of Rumford I'alls; and 
he has membershiii in Wawannnka Tribe, No. 
41, I. O. R. M., of this place. 



/^TiTaNVILLE W. HARNDEN, a 
y '•) I highly respected resident of Den- 
^ — mark, Oxford County, Me., son of 
Reuben and Anna (Mackay) Harnden, was 
born October 19, 1843, upon the farm he 
now owns and occupies. His grandfather, 
Joseph Harnden, who was the first of the 
family to settle in Denmark, was a native of 
Wilmington, Mass. He made the first clear- 
ing upon the farm where his grandson now 
resides, and resided here until his death. 

Reuben Harnden, son of Joseph, was lioin 
in Denmark, Me., and inherited the home- 
stead. He continued the improvements begun 
by his father, bringing the land to a good state 
of cultivation ; and he was one of the most 
prosperous general farmers of his day. He 
died August 25, 1894. His wife, Anna 
Mackay, who was a native of Saccarapi)a, 
Me., was the mother of three children; 
namely, Sarah Ann, Granville W. , and 
Lyman P. Sarah Ann Harnden, who be- 
came the wife of Alonzo B. Warren, is no 
longer living. Her husband married for his 
second wife Isabella Ames, and is now resid- 
ing at the homestead. Lyman P. Harnden 
married Abbie Sparks, a native of Vermont ; 
and they make their home in Middletown, 
Conn. Mrs. Anna M. Harnden died in Oc- 
tober, 1893. 

Granville W. Harnden acquired a common- 
school education in his native town, and from 
his youth np has been engaged in agricultural 
pursuits at the old homestead. After his mar- 
riage he took charge of the farm, which con- 
sists of one hundred and si.xty acres, and is 
devoted to the raising of hay, corn, oats, and 
potatoes; and he also runs a saw-mill. 



540 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



III luiie, 1866, Mr. Hanulcn married Ala- 
tilda Lord, a native of Lovell, Me., and a 
daughter of William Lord, then a prosperous 
farmer of that town. Mr. Lord is now eighty- 
four years of age. He makes his home alter- 
nately with two of his daughters — Mrs. 
W. \V. Berry and Mrs. I. II. Berry, both of 
Denmark, Mc. Mr. ami Mrs. Harnden have 
three children, namely: Charles L., who was 
horn March 17, 1867, and is now residing at 
home with his parents; Esther Evelyn, who 
was born October 20, 1872, and is now the 
wife of Ereeman H. Day. an operati\e in a 
leather board factory in Milton, N. II. ; and 
Marian Lulu, who was born January i, 188S. 

In politics Mr. Harnden is a Democrat, and 
has served with ability in some of the town 
ofifices. He is an industrious and upright 
business man; and, although his lumber opera- 
tions absorb a great deal of his time, he finds 
sufificient opportunity to improve his home- 
stead, and keep the proiierty in first-class 
condition. 




U.STIN A. NELSON, First Selectman 
)f the town of Hebron, was born in 
O.xford, March 9, 1855, son of 
Atldison and Mary A. (Nelson) 
Nelson. Addison Nelson was a native of O.x- 
ford County. He owned a good farm situated 
in the town of O.xford. and during a greater 
jiortion of his life was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. He was an energetic and industri- 
ous man; but his active period closed in the 
prime of life, and he died at the age of forty- 
six years and six months. Honest and up- 
right, he was highly respected and esteemed 
by his fellow-townsmen, and he was ever ready 
to assist his neighbors in the time of need or 
aid in any movement for the good of the gen- 
eral community. He was a Republican in 
politics, and a member of the Baptist church. 
To him and his wife, Mary, were born tw^o 
children, namely: Austin A., the subject of 
this sketch; and Lillian L., who died at the 
age of si.xteen years. Mrs. Mary A. Nelson, 
who is a native of O.xford County, is still 
living, and resides with her son. 

Austin A. Nelson was educated in the dis- 
trict schools and at Hebron Academy, and 



grew to manhood as a farmer in Oxford. He 
owned a good farm in his native town, w'here 
he resided until 1881, when he bought his 
present property of two hundred acres in He- 
bron, and has since given his attention to gen- 
eral farming and dairying. His farm, which 
is located within the limits of three towns, is 
well adaptetl for the raising of hay and the 
pasturing of cattle; and he keeps a hen! of 
twenty-five cows, consisting of full-blooded 
Holsteins and grade animals, the product of 
which sujjplies a well-equipped dairy. 

On March 21, 187S, Mr. Nelson married 
Emily L. Buckman, who was born u]ion this 
farm, daughter of Calvin and Lorinda Buck- 
man. She is a descendant of Captain Daniel 
Buckman, an early pioneer of Hebron, who 
made tlie first clearing, and built a log house 
on this farm when the localit}' was mostly a 
dense wilderness. His descendants have oc- 
cupied the estate ever since, and the family is 
one of the oldest and best known in this part 
of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the 
parents of two children, namely: Addison C, 
who was born in O.xford, September 3, 1880; 
and Laura C, who was born in Hebron, Janu- 
ary 13, 1893. 

Mr. Nelson supports the Republican [larty, 
and in local public affairs he is a leading 
spirit, being at the present time First Select- 
man of the town. He is a stirring and pro- 
gressive agriculturist of the self-made type, 
and he is regarded as one of the most success- 
ful farmers in this vicinity. Air. and Mrs. 
Nelson attend the L'nivei'salist church at Me- 
chanic I'^alls. 



B 



Me., 



E COSTER BROTHERS.— Among 
the men who have achieved success 
and prominence in the field of agri- 
culture in the vicinity of Hebron, 
the De Coster brothers, James P. and 



Almon, occu]iy a leading place. They are sons 
of Cyrus and Mary A. (Prescott) De Coster. 
James P. De Coster was born in Brighton, 
Mass., March 19, 1844; and Almon was born 
in the same place, September 4, 1850. They 
belong to an old Hebron family, their grand- 
father, Roger De Coster, having been one of 
the early settlers of this town. He was an 



KX-.KAl'lIUAI, RK\'li:W 



541 



energetic and pri)i;rcssive farmer and a promi- 
nent citizen. He was active in local affairs, 
taking precedence by his intelligence and 
force of character; and he rejiresented the town 
in the State legislature. 

Cyrus De Coster, son of Roger, was honi in 
Hebron, November 2, 18 12, and was reared and 
educated in this town. When a young man, he 
went to Brighton, Mass., where he engaged in 
butchering: and, finding this occupation quite 
lucrative, he followed it until 1871. making 
his home in Brighton. In 1871. buying a 
farm in Hebron, he moved back to his native 
town, where he is now living. In politics he 
is a Democrat. His wife, who was born in 
Sanbornton, N.H., died in Brighton in 1868. 
Mr. De Coster attends the ]?aptist church, 
which was his wife's chosen place of worship. 
He has four children living — James P. ; Ellen 
L., who was born in Brighton in November, 
1846, is now the widow of George Goodrich, 
and lives with her father in Hebron; Verin, 
who was born in Brighton, July 12, 1848, now 
a salesman in Boston; and Almon. Verin De 
Coster is married. His brothers are single. 

James P. and Almon De Coster were reared 
and educated in Brighton, Mass. The elder 
has been engaged in butchering, but now with 
his brother devotes his energies to farming 
and dairying in Hebron. They own over 
three hundred acres of land, and raise abun- 
dant crops for market ; and they have a large 
and choice dairy, keeping twenty head of fine 
Jersey cattle. 

Their farm is furished with good buildings; 
and the whole appearance of the place indi- 
cates sagacious management, plenty, and pros- 
perity. Both brothers are members of the 
Democratic party. They are liberal in relig- 
ious matters, questioning no man's creed, and 
disposed to give each one his due according to 
character and abilitv. 



'OWARD PEASE, one of the promi- 
nent citizens of West Farmington, 
Me., is a successful farmer and 
president of a large insurance com- 
pany. He was born in the town of Wilton, 
this county. His father, Stephen Pease, was 
born October 7. 1817; and his grandfather. 




Isaac Pease, was born at Martha'.^ Vineyard, 
Ma.ss., Sejitember 11, 1777, and was the eld- 
est son of Stephen and Mary Pease, the 
former born Ajiril 15, 1749, and the latter 
January 3, 1756. 

Isaac Pease was a striking type of the early 
New Englander, tireless in manual labor, and 
filled with a strong sense of the importance of 
religious belief. Born at Martha's Vineyard, 
he went to Maine when about fourteen years 
of age, and worked as a farm hand for a num- 
ber of years. In early manhooil, having saved 
some money, he purchased one hundred and 
fourteen acres of wild land in the town of 
Wilton, then a pioneer settlement, au'J, erect- 
ing a log house, developed a homestead. He 
afterward erected a good set of frame build- 
ings. Gifted with natural eloquence and a 
strong belief in the doctrines of John Wesley, 
he became quite noted as a Methodist 
preacher, and was often called upon to fill 
pulpit vacancies. He lived to be over ninety 
years of age, and was active to the last. He 
married Temperance Moor, who was born in 
Kittery, Me., July 22, 1774. Their children 
were: Dorcas, Ijorn September 6, 1812; 
Joanna, born June 11, 181 5: Stephen, above 
named; Sewall, born August i, 1820. Mrs. 
Temperance M. Pease died 1846. 

.Stephen Pease, the eldest son, inherited the 
homestead in Wilton, and managed it for a 
number of years, subsequently selling it, and 
purchasing a farm in F"armington. Later he 
disposed of that property, in order to buy a 
farm adjoining the one now owned by his scni : 
and this also he sold in a few years, purchas- 
I ing a house and store in Wilton. The List 
, venture proved satisfactory, and he was in 
trade in Wilton up to the time of his death. 
In ]jolitics he was a Democrat, in religious 
belief a Methodist. He died at the age of 
seventy-three. His wife, who is a daughter 
of .Samuel and Annie (Wilson) Knowles, of 
-South Chesterville, was born March 3, 1828, 
and is nearly seventy years of age. Six chil- 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. -Stephen 
Pease, four of whom grew to maturity, namely: 
Howard, born January 31, 1849; Ella A., 
now Mrs. Wilkins: Charles R., a merchant in 
Nashua, N.H., born February 3, 1852; 
Bertice A., born October 30, 1853, now prac- 



5+^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



tisins^ law at \asluia, N.Ii. Twin suns died 
in infancy. 

Howard Pease, who is the eldest of the fam- 
ily, acquired his education in the public 
schools of Wilton and Farmington. He left 
home at the age of twenty-two, and obtained 
employment in a weaving factory in Lewiston ; 
but he decided that outdoor life suited him 
best, and eventually purchased the George 
Butterfield farm, an estate of one hundred and 
fifty acres. For some years he has been suc- 
cessfully engaged in general farming and stock 
raising; and he owns eighty acres of land in 
the town of Wilton, in addition to his Farm- 
ington property. He has made many im- 
provements on his land, remodelling and re- 
pairing the buildings, and has greatly in- 
creased tlie \alue of his property. He has 
been president of the Home RIutu;:l l^'ire In- 
surance Company ever since it was organized. 

In 1872 Mr. Pease married Lizzie A. Wil- 
son, daughter of William and Mary E. 
(Carlow) Wilson. William Wilson was born 
in the town of Castle- Wellan, County Down, 
Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, son of Isaac 
and Margaret (Stewart) Wilson. He went 
from his native land to St. Andrew-s, New 
Brunswick, and from there to Retl Beach, 
Me., on the St. Croix, where he owned and 
managed a large farm. Starting without cap- 
ital, his only resources a strong constitution 
and thrifty disposition, he attained wealth and 
position. He was made a Mason in 1827, 
and took thirty-two degrees. In religious be- 
lief he was a Baptist. He attained the great 
age of eighty-nine years. His wife, w-ho was 
a daughter of Jacob C. and Lizzie (Turner) 
Carlow, both of iMiglish birth, died at the age 
of forty-five. This couple had several chil- 
dren — Lizzie A. (Mrs. Pease) ; Martha J. and 
Margaret J., twin sisters; William ]■'., who 
died in infancy; Sadie S. ; William M., who 
dietl when fourteen; John and James, twin 
brothers, who died in infancy; Mary E. ; 
George T. ; and Viola E. P'our children 
have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pease 
— Gertie M., born January 12, 1S74, who 
lived but eight months; Oscar E., born June 
10, 1876, who is a student at Bowdoin Col- 
lege, now in his tliiril year in that institution; 
Locke H., born December i, 1883; and Guy 



W., born June 16, 1S86. Mr. Pease is an 
esteemed member of the Republican party. 
Mrs. Pease is an Episcopalian, having joined 
that church at Calais, Me. 




LBION L. TUBBS, an active and 
thriving young agriculturist of the 
town of Greenwood, Oxford Count)-, 
Me., was born December 12. 1868, 
in Casco, Cumberland County, a son of Ilar- 
land P. and Martha M. (Maxfield) Tubbs. 

Harland P. Tubbs, a son of Luther Tubbs, 
was born in Litchfield, Kennebec County, this 
State, and there grew to manhood. On attain- 
ing his majority, he started in life for himself. 

Following the tide of emigration westward, 
he went as far as Cooper County, Iowa, and 
there engaged in farming four years. Not 
satisfied with the results, he returned to his 
native State, and settled in Casco, where, with 
the exception of the time that he was in the 
P'ederal army during the war of the Rebellion, 
he has since been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. His first wife, formerly Miss Martha 
Maxfield, died 1875, leaving five children, as 
follows: George M., a farmer, in Greenwood, 
who married Cora Swan; John L. , of Casco, 
Me., who married Lucy Nason ; Mary A., who 
died in 1888, the wife of William Da\is, of 
Rumford, Me. ; Albion, the subject of this 
sketch ; and P"rederick Eugene, who died at 
the age of ten years. .After the death of his 
first wife the father married Miss Belinda 
Stone, of Otisfield township; and they became 
the parents of three children — Charles and 
Emma, and an infant unnamed, all deceased. 

Albion L. Tubbs received his education in 
the public schools of Casco, remaining at 
home until nineteen years old, when for about 
a year he worked out in Greenwood. He soon 
married, and with his bride settled on the 
farm where he now lives. He has two hun- 
dred acres of land, much of it being in a good 
state of cultivation, well adapted for raising 
the crops common to this section of New Eng- 
land. He is carrying on general husbandry 
after the most approved modern methods, being 
enterprising and progressive, and a worthy 
representative of the up-to-date Eastern 
farmer. He has a small dairy, and gives some 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



543 



attention to stock raising, whicii lie consiileis 
a profitable branch of his business. 

On Marcli 14. iScSq, Mr. Tubbs married 
Anna Kinsley, who was born in Greenwood 
township, a daughter of Welcome and Lucy 
Kinsley. Welcome Kinsley was born in 
Auburn, Me., son of Azel Kinsley. He 
married Lucy Hathaway, of Paris, Me., and 
lived for some si.^ years in Woodstock, where 
he was Postmaster. He then sold his store, 
anil bought the farm, where he ever after 
lived, and where his daughter, now Mrs. 
Albion Tubbs, makes her home, she being 
the only child of her parents now living. Mr. 
and Mrs. Tubbs have no children. Politi- 
cally, Mr. Tubbs uniformly supports the Re- 
publican ticket and the temperance cause, and 
has served his fellow-townsmen in some of the 
smaller offices of the place. He is a member 
of the grange of Patrons of Husbandry at 
Bryant's Pond. 



LBION K. P. GOOGINS, an exten- 
sive farmer and fruit-grower of Hiram, 
Oxford County, Me., who has long 
been prominently in local public 
affairs, was born in Old Orchard, York 
County, this State, December 29, 1827, son 
of Nathaniel and Lucy (Thurston) Googins. 
Mr. Googins's paternal grandfather was David 
Googins, a prosperous farmer and lifelong 
resident of Old Orchard. He was the father 
of nine children — Nathaniel, Richard, Henry, 
David, John, Betsey, Jane. Susan, and Sarah. 
Of these, John died young; and the others all 
lived to reach matm-ity, but none are now 
1 i v i n g. 

Nathaniel Googins, the first named of the 
five sons, was born in Old Orchard. In his 
earlier mature years he followed the sea; but 
he finally settled upon a farm in his native 
town, where for several years he was diligently 
and prosperously engaged in tilling the soil. 
His last days were passed in Lyman, Me. 
His wife, who was before marriage Lucy 
Thurston, and was a native of Scarboro, Me., 
became the mother of ten children, as follows: 
Louisa, who was born May 9, 1825, and mar- 
ried Francis A. Dearborn (both deceased) ; 
Albion Keith Paris, the subject of this 




sketch; Francis B., who was born August 26, 
1829, married Mary Taylor, and resides in 
Saco, Me. ; Ellen Hannah, who was Ijorn Sep- 
tember I, I S3 I, and is now the wife of Joseph 
(i. Libby, a machinist of Biddeford, Me. ; 
Christiana Plummer, who was i)orn .September 
13) 1833- '1"'' married William D. (niilfortl 
(both deceased); Daniel Tiiurston, who was 
born December 7, 1835, and died August 6, 
1837; William Hayes, who was born August 
20, 1838, married for his first wile Priscilla 
S. Prescott, and for liis second Cora Lothrop, 
and is now a cari)enter of Scarboro, Me. ; 
Lydia Ann, who was born December 4, 1840, 
married James Barry, and resides in Dakota; 
Lucy Abbie, who was born August 13, 1843, 
and is now the wife of Cyrus M. Lunt, super- 
intendent of the Lewiston water-works; and 
Charles Sumner, wiio was born P'ebruary 24, 
1846, married Clara A. Moore, of Somers- 
worth, N.H., and died August 9, 1896. Mrs. 
Lucy T. Googins, died November 7, 1870. 

Albion K. P. Googins acquired a common- 
school education, and resided at the parental 
home until lie was twenty years old. He then 
followed the sea for eight years; and in 1856 
he settled in Hiram upon the old .Stephen 
Wentwortli place, where he has since resided. 
His farm, which is one of the finest and best 
managed in this vicinity, consists of one 
hundred acres, is well improved, antl pro- 
duces excellent crops of hay, corn, and jiota- 
toes annually. Mr. Googins also raises a 
large amount of fruit, which is the source of 
considerable income. 

On March 12, 1856, Mr. Googins w-as joineil 
in marriage with Ruth Healy Bensley, who 
was born in Scarboro, Me., July 29, 1833, 
daughter of George A. and Rachel W. (Bowe) 
Bensley. George A. Bensley was a native of 
Maiden, Mass., and followed the sea until his 
death, which took place in 1835; and his wife, 
who was a native of Cape Tilizabeth, died in 
1868. Mr. and Mrs. Googins have three chil- 
dren, as follows: Mary Louisa, who was born 
November 27, 1857, and is now the wife of 
John B. Laton, a prosperous farmer of Tren- 
ton, Me. ; Edith Cressy, who was born Febru- 
ary 2, 1865, and is now the wife of Benjamin 
S. Hoyt, a successful farmer of Newington, 
N.H. ; and Fred Carlton, who was born Feb- 



544 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ruary 27, i8fi8, married Ellen Haven Dow, ol 
J^aldvvin, Me., and is now a millman in 
l^owlc)', .Ma.s.s. 

Politically. Mr. Googins is an earnest sup- 
l^ortei' of the Republican party, and has con- 
tributed much toward securing its success in 
this locality. He has been Chairman of the 
Board of Selectmen three years, Town Clerk 
four years, and Highway Surveyor twenty 
3'ears, besides holding other town offices; and 
he is now serving upon the Board of Health. 
He is connected with the Grange and the Pa- 
trons' Aid Society; and Mrs. Googins is a 
member of the- Universalist church. As a 
progressive farmer and citizen of ability and 
worth, Mr. Googins ranks among the foremost 
residents of Hiram; and he enjoys the sincere 
esteem and good w^ill of his neighbors and fel- 
low-townsmen. 




AMUEL A. BUM PUS, a promi- 
ment and respected resident of He- 
bron, Oxford County, is prosperously 
engaged in general farming, stock- 
raising, dair)'ing, and fruit-growing. He 
was born in Hebron, May 24, 1829, son of 
Samuel and Rebecca L. (Kinsley) Bumpus. 
His grandfather, Maurice l^umpus, who was 
a pioneer settler of Hebron, reclaimed a farm 
from the wilderness, and in the course of time 
attained a place of prominence in the com- 
nnmity. Maurice died in Hebron at a ripe 
age, October 13, 1837; and his wife, Huldah, 
]3assed away December 18, 1841. 

Samuel Bumpus, a nati\-e of Hebron, born 
May 2^1. 178S. succeeded to the home farm, 
which in his time covered one hundred and 
fifteen acres. He was very successful in farm- 
ing, and was also profitably engaged in stock- 
raising. Mr. 15umpus served in the War of 
l8i2, and received a pension for his services. 
He cast his maiden vote with the Whigs; and, 
when the Republican jjarty was formed, he 
naturally gave his adhesion to that organiza- 
tion. In religious belief he was a Univer- 
salist. He ilied on the home farm at the 
advanced age of fourscore and si.\. His 
wife, who was born in Auburn, Me., March i, 
' 799i ^\''T^ 'ilso over fourscore when she died 
at Hebron. Their domestic circle included 



eleven children, namely: Azel K., now resid- 
ing in Norway, Me. ; Martha H., the widow of 
Captain Horatio LeBaron, residing in Hebron; 
Martin K., in Turner, Me.; Samuel A., the 
subject of this sketch; Laura E., the wife of 
Horace Tribou, in Machias, Me. ; Horatio, in 
Wakefield, Mass. ; Dulcina R., the wife of 
Joseph Hibbs, of Hebron; Amanda E., the 
wife of H. Nelson Hood, of Greene, Andro- 
scoggin County; Columbia A., in Hebron; 
Harriet lileanor, who died June 3, 1842; and 
Mary, the widow of H. N. Hood, who died 
aged about fifty years. 

Samuel A. Bumpus was reared and educated 
in his native town. When he attained his 
majority, he started in life for himself, choos- 
ing agriculture for his chief occupation. His 
first land purchase was a part of the old home- 
stead in Hebron. He added to this property 
until at one time he owned three hundred 
acres in Hebron and Turner. In October, 
1872, he purchased the farm on which he now 
resides. This is a valuable estate of one hun- 
dred and forty-three acres. On it he has made 
many iniprovement.s, erecting substantial build- 
ings and developing the best qualities of the 
land. 

Mr. Bumpus was married ]"ebruar\- 25, 1836, 
to Miss Nancy H. Bowles, who died January 
24, 1857, leaving one daughter, Gustie N. 
This daughter is now the wife of Ansel Bow- 
man, of Hebron. On June 2, 1859, he con- 
tracted a second marriage with Miss Sarah H. 
Goodhue, who was born in Deerfield, N.H., 
May 28, 1834, daughter of Sewall and Hannah 
(Jenkins) Goodhue. Mr. Goodhue, who was 
a native of Deerfield, N.H.. was eufraged in 
farming in the early part of his life, and in re- 
tailing wood in the latter part. In politics he 
was a Re]niblican, and he served two years in 
the -State legislature. He died at the age of 
si.\ty-seven. Mrs. Goodhue, who was a native 
of Greenland, N. H., and a member of the 
Congregational church, passed away in her 
fifty-fifth year. They reared four other chil- 
dren — James W. , Samuel G., Langdon, and 
Mary A. Mary A., now^ deceased, was the 
wife of Alden Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Bumpus 
have two children — James L. and Grace li. 
James L. was born in Turner, Me., March 21, 
1861. He was reared in Hebron, finishing 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



545 



his education at Hcl)r<iii Acadcmv. A man of 
energy and character, he is a carpenter, black- 
smith, and farmer. He is prominent in the 
Kepublican party, and is the present Chairman 
of the Jioard of Selectmen. He likewise 
ser\'etl in that ca|)acity in 1888-90, and again 
in 1893. Also, in 1895, he acted as Town 
Clerk dnfing a temporary vacancy in that 
ofifice. He married Miss Bertha A. Cuni- 
mings, who was born in Alliany, Me., August 
5, 1S67, daughter of Deacon Da\i(l !•". Cum- 
mings, and was educated in the common 
schools and academx' of Hebron. .She is the 
mother of one child — Mabelle G. , born June 
4, 1893. Miss Grace E. Bumjni.s was born in 
Turner, Me., July 9, 1S71. She graduated 
from Hebron Academy in the class of 1888, 
and since that time has been successfulh' en- 
gaged in teaching. 

Mr. Samuel A. I^umpus, who is a Reijubli- 
can, takes an active interest in town matters, 
and has served as Selectman. He, his wife, 
and children are memljcrs of Hebron Grange, 
No. 43, Patrons of Husbandry; and they 
attend the I^ajitist church, of which Mrs. 
Himipus, James I.., and Grace are members. 
Mr. ]?umi)us also belongs to P^vening Star 
Lodge, No. 47, A. F. & A. M., of Huckfield. 



"rank barker, who has resided all 
his lifetime iqjon the farm he now 
owns antl cultivates in Fr\-elnirg, O.x- 
ford County, is a native of this town, born 
June 27, 1850, son of Joseph W. and lumice 
(Hobbs) l^arkei'. Llis great-grandfather, who 
came from Andover, Mass., in 1784, is 
counted among the early pioneers of the local- 
ity. John Barker, his grandfather, who was 
born in Andover, Mass., accompanied his par- 
ents to Maine, and became one of the most 
successful farmers of his day. He was a noted 
hunter when the district was for the most part 
a wilderness, abounding in fur-bearing ani- 
mals; and he occujiied the farm where his 
grandson now lives. He died at the advanced 
age of ninety-three years. His wife passed 
her last days upon the farm. 

Joseph W. Barker was born at the home- 
stead, December 3, 181 3. When a young 
man, he engaged in logging quite extensively, 



and .subsequently followed that business until 
he w^as fifty years old. He then devoted his 
attention exclusivel}' to agriculture. With 
the excejition of a year passed in another jiarl 
of the town, he has spent his life at the home- 
stead, where he now resides with his son and 
wife. He retired from active labor in 1 88(). 
His wife, Eunice, a native of Chatham, N.H., 
had by him six cliildren, of whom the onlv 
survi\-or is h'l'ank, the subject of this sketch, 
who was the hftli-born. The others weie : 
Augusta M. ; Welistei- ; Sybil; Lucian, who 
died yoimg ; and another child who died in 
infanc}'. The niothei- is now eightv nwus old. 
I'rank Barker received his education in the 
common schools and at the Norway Academy. 
At an early age lie became a serviceable 
assistant on the farm. .Since 1871 he has 
managed the projiert}- with abilitx' and gootl 
judgment. It contains about two hundred and 
fifty acres of land. It yields large and sujie- 
rior crops of the staple products. Mr. Barker 
has continued the march of improvement 
started by his father, and has not once ])er- 
mitted the |iroperty to deteriorate in any 
particular. 

On August 13, 1871, Mr. Barker was united 
in marriage to Mary Ross, who, a native of 
Norway, Me., was reared in Portland. .She 
died August 20, 1S73, leaving one daughter 
— Hattie, who was born August 19, 1873, and 
still resides at home. ( )n December 31, 
1877, Mr. Barker entered a second marriage, 
contracted with Leila ALarion Davis. .She was 
born in Lowell, Mass., October 9, 1852, 
daughter of James and Marv (.Stac)) Davis, 
who subsequently migrated from Lowell to 
Wisconsin, where they were engagetl in farm- 
ing, and died. By his second union Mr. 
]3arker has eight children, as follows: James 
Wilson, who was boi n October 24, 1878; M. 
P'unice, who was born June 12. 1880; (lUstie 
M., who was born January 18, 1882; Marion 
L., who was born August 5, 1883; Stillman 
F., who was born September 26, 1885; Al- 
bion G., who .was born March 4, 1888; Sybil 
G., who was born March 21, 1892; and Wal- 
ter D. , who was born July 17, 1895. All are 
still beneath the parental roof-tree. While 
Mr. Barker, since coming of age, has sup- 
ported the Republican party in politics, he has 



h6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



never aspired to office. He is a charter mem- 
ber of Fryeiourg Lodge, No. 49, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, of Fryebin-g Centre, 
and is connected with the Grange. 




LIOMAS M. PARKER is the senior 
member (if the Phillips Hardware 
Company, one of the leading business 
enterprises of this town. A son oi Joseph VV. 
and Harriet Parker, he was born in Lisbon, 
Me., September 4, 1831, and came to Phillips 
with his parents when but three years old. 
Joseph W. Parker lived in Phillips a number 
of years, then moved West, but finally re- 
turned East and settled in Chesterville, Me., 
where he died April 7, 1878, eighty-three 
years of age. His wife died May 3, i88g, 
aged seventy-eight years, four months, and six 
days. They were attendants of the Baptist 
church. 

After completing his education, Thomas M. 
Parker went into the grocery and dry-goods 
business in West Farmington, where he re- 
mained two years. He then removed to King- 
field, and followed the same business there for 
twenty years. Coming from Kingfield to 
Phillips, he started in the hardware business 
with Horace A. Prescott, under the firm name 
of Parker & Prescott, the partnership lasting 
five years, at the end of which time he bought 
out Mr. Prescott's interest and took in his son, 
Cheney E. Parker. Four years later W. B. 
Butler was received as a member of the firm, 
and a stock company was formed known as the 
Phillips Hardware Company. They deal prin- 
cipally in stone, iron, and agricultural imple- 
ments. 

While a resident of Kingfield, Mr. l^arker 
served as Sujiervisor of Schools and as Town 
Treasurer one term. He has been a Director 
in the Phillips National Bank since its m'gan- 
ization. On October 2, 1864, Mr. Parker 
married Mary P. Dudley, a daughter of Will- 
iam K. Dudley, of Kingfield. They have one 
child, Cheney P>. Parker. ]?oth parents are 
attendants of the Free Bajitist church. 

Cheney K. Parker, born in Kingfield, Me., 
June 13, 1866, is the ]iresent Postmaster of 
Piiillips, in which capacity he has served since 
January, 1895. He was able to supplement 



the instruction received in the common schools 
of Kingfield by a course of study at the Dirigo 
lousiness College in Augusta, shortly after 
which he entered into jjartnership with his 
father under the firm name of T. M. Parker 
& Co. A stock compan)' has since been 
formed as above mentioned, but he continues 
his connection with the business. In political 
affiliation he is a Democrat, like his father. 
P"raternall\', he is a member of Saddleback 
Lodge, No. 92, Independent Order of Odd 
I-'ellows, of Phillips. On October 2, 1879, he 
married Miss Addie G. Turner, of Newcastle. 
They have two children, namely: Floyd E., 
si.\ years old; and Glidden M., three years 
old. Cheney E. Parker and his wife attend 
the Congregational church. 



(5 1 pToMAS JEFFERSON ANDREWS, 
* I one of the largest fruit-growers in Sum- 
ner, Oxford County, was born on his 
farm, August 12, 1836, son of Peres and Abi- 
gail (Keen) Andrews. Peres, who was born 
in Boston, Mass., son of Darius Andrews, 
settled on this farm about the year iSio. At 
that time the district was a wilderness and 
a favorite haunt of bears, l^recting a log 
cabin, he made a clearing, established a home, 
and lived here in prosperity until his death on 
September 17, 1889, at the age of ninety-seven 
years. He was twice married, and reared five 
children. The latter were: Greenleaf, now 
deceased; Washington, a resident of Sumner; 
James, also deceased; Arvilla, the wife of 
Addison Bowker, of Sumner; and Thomas 
Jefferson. In politics he was a Democrat, in 
religious belief a Baptist. 

Thomas Jefferson Andrews has lived on this 
farm since the day of his birth. He was edu- 
cated in the district school near his home, and 
was brought up familiarized with farm work 
and practical horticulture. For several years 
now he has been engaged in general farming 
and fruit-growing, and he has been remarkably 
successful. He has about three thousand fruit 
trees. Of apples alone he cultivates a great 
variety, including the Baldwin, the Ben Davis, 
the King, the Northern Spy, the Russet, and 
the Rhode Island Greening. His ap]ile croji 
averages three hundred barrels, though lie has 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



5)7 



gathered as much as one thou.saiul barrels in a 
year. His plum orchard contains three hun- 
dred trees, and the crop averages forty bushels. 
The maples growing on his land have yielded 
one hundred and fifty gallons of syrup in a 
season and three hundred pounds of sugar. 
He owns in all about one thousand acres of 
land, wild and cultivated. The estate is a 
veritable garden of nature, where miniature 
lakes nestle in the hollows, bosky dells and 
rocky fastnesses afford retreats for wild deer 
and the fo.x, which, are still to he found here. 
Mr. Andrews was married December 30, 
1877, to Mary E. Canwell, who was born in 
Franklin Plantation. Her parents, William 
\V. and Jane R. (Murch) Canwell, are now 
living in Sumner. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews 
have four children, namely: Chester G., born 
P'ebruary 5, 18S1; Leland J., born May 8, 
18S3; Kdith May, born September 25, 1886; 
and Millie J., born September 14, iSgi. In 
political matters Mr. Andrews favors the Re- 
publican party. In religious belief he is lib- 
eral, while his wife is an Adventist. Me is 
one of the oldest citizens in this part (if the 
town, and is widely known and respected. 



/^^TkORGE a. KIMBALL, an enterpris- 
I [51" ing and successful agriculturist of 
^-^ Lovell, Oxford County, Me., was 
born in this town, October 5, 1857, his par- 
ents being l-'red and Olive (Farnham) Kimball. 
His father, who also was a native of Lovell, 
after marriage settled first at Lovell Centre 
on a small farm. Later on he moved to the 
farm now owned by Joseph Smith, and in 
1870 he located on the farm which his son now 
occupies. Here he conducted agricultural 
pursuits uninterruptedly to the year of his de- 
cease. On September i, 1S49, he married 
Miss Olive F'arnham, a daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. Joseph P""arnham, of Hiram, Me. Of 
this union were born two children, namely: 
Ella Beatrice, who died at the age of five and 
a half years; and George A., the subject of 
this sketch. Mr. Fred Kimball passed away 
X^iigust 16, 1S87. His widow, Mrs. Olive V. 
Kimball, on November 23, 1891, was united 
in marriage with Nathaniel Palmer, and now 
resides with her husband on a farm in Lovell. 



George A. Kimball grew tn manho<id on the 
])aternal homestead, receiving his early mental 
training in the common schools of his native 
town. During the lifetime of his father he 
co-operated with him in the work of the farm, 
and since his father's decease he has managed 
the estate for himself. It consists of about 
one hundred and seventy-five acres ; and thereon 
he is principally engaged in the cultivation of 
general garden produce, though he also devotes 
some attention to stock raising and dairying. 
Besides this farm Mr. Kimball owns ninety 
acres elsewhere in the township, making his 
entire landed [jrojierty about two lunidred and 
sixty-five acres. 

On July 25, 1880, Mr. Kimball married 
Miss PhcKbe K. Stearns, a daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. Silas Stearns, of Lovell, to wdiom 
she was born December 3, 1862. Mr. Stearns, 
who was by occupation a farmer, died while 
serving his country in the Civil War. Mrs. 
Phcebe E. Stearns Kimball passed away Sep- 
tember 3, 1886, in her twenty-fourth year, 
without issue. On July 4, 1891, Mr. Kimball 
married for his second wife Miss Carrie D. 
McAllister, who was born January 5, 1875, a 
daughter of G. I'erley and P'annie T. (McDan- 
iels) McAllister, of Lovell. Her father was 
formerly a farmer of this town, and now re- 
sides here. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball mourn the 
loss of a daughter. Pearl 15eatrice, whose 
earth life was very brief. They iiave one son, 
Fred Don. 

Mr. Kimball has jwrticipatcd actively and 
efficiently in the general civic and social 
affairs of the community. Among the offices 
which he has worthily filled may be named 
that of Township Treasurer, which he occupied 
for three or four years; and that of Selectman, 
he having served several years on that board, 
of which he is now the second member. Mr. 
Kimball likewise was the Postma.stcr of Lovell 
Centre for a little more than six years. Dur- 
ing the time he was engaged in the general 
merchandise business. He is a member ot 
Kezar Valley Lodge, No. 66, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, at Lovell. In politics 
he afifi Hates with the Republican party, the 
principles of which he has always supported. 
Religiously, both he and Mrs. Kimball are in 
fellowship with the Christian church of Lovell 



S48 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Centre. Mr. Kimball ha.s always enj()_\-ed a 
goodly degree of success in his mercantile life, 
and he has the cordial respect and confidence 
of all his broad circle of acquaintanceship. 



t^TON. ENOCH W. WOODHL'RV, of 
L^J Bethel, Me., an experienced man of 
\{s I affairs, who as a State and county 

^~"^ official has discharged many im- 
portant public trusts, is a native of Sweden, 
Oxford County, Me. He was born on Janu- 
ary S, iSiiS, the \'oungest son of Andrew and 
Sallie (Stevens) Woodbury, and comes of an 
old New England family, tracing his descent 
from V\'illiani and Elizabeth Woodbury, who 
left England in 162S, and located in Salem, 
Mass. 

His grandfather, a later William W'oodbury, 
who was born in Beverly, Mass., was a sea 
cajitain, antl commanded a privateer at the 
time of the Revolution. Suffering the chances 
of war, he was taken prisoner, and sent to 
Halifax, where he was held for a year. He 
survived his imprisonment, however, and lived 
to an advanced age. Captain Woodbury's 
only daughter, Susan, married Benjamin 
Cleaves, who was the grandfather of Henry H. 
Cleaves, the ]iresent governor of the .State of 
Maine. 

Andrew Woodbury, aforenamed, son of Cap- 
tain William Woodbury, was born in Beverly, 
Mass., March 18, 1776. In 1796 he moved 
with his parents to Bridgton, Me.; and about 
iSoo he settled in the town of Sweden, where 
he built the first frame house in the place, and 
was one of the leading farmers. Though not 
a church member, he was a conscientious and 
upright man. and contributed liberally to all 
worthy enterprises. He died at the age of 
eighty-two. His wife, Sallie Stevens, whom 
he married in 1798, was born in Andover, 
Mass., in 177S. She was a daughter of James 
Stevens, of that town, a large landholder, who 
owned the ground on which the village of 
Centre I^ridgton, Me., now stands. Mrs. 
-Sallie -S. Woodbury dietl in .Sweden, Me., in 
i860. .She was the mother of ten children, 
nine of whom grew to maturity, Enoch W. 
being the only one living to-day. The others 
died as follows: Sallie, at the age of eighty- 



two years; Susan, at thirty -nine; Andrew, at 
eighty-six; Martha, at fifty-five; Aaron, at 
eighty: Esther, at sixty-eight; William, at 
si.xty-six; Lucy Ann, at forty-nine; and Har- 
riet, at the tender age of two years. 

Enoch W. Woodbury attended the common 
schools of Sweden, Bridgton Academy, and a 
private high school at Lovell village. This 
latter institution was three miles from his 
home, and he walked that distance every day. 
He was a zealous student, and hoped to gratl- 
uate from the high school; but his health was 
so poor that he was obliged to abandon, the 
idea, and seek outdoor employment. He 
always had a taste for intellectual pursuits, 
and taught school at South Harrison when he 
was sixteen years of age, receiving a salary of 
thirteen dollars a month : and for several 
subsequent years he taught during the winter 
terms. When he w'as twenty-three years of 
age, he opened a small general store at Sweden, 
which he managed for four years; and for six- 
teen years thereafter he was engaged in the 
cattle trade, making his home in Sweden. 
He eventually formed a partnership with the 
Hon. Robert A. Chapman, for the sale of gen- 
eral merchandise in Bethel; and in 1875, buy- 
ing Mr. Chapman's interest, he took into 
partnership his son-in-law, Josiah U. Puring- 
ton, who now carries on the business, Mr. 
Woodbury having retired. 

He was married July 2, 1840, to Sallie 
Kimball, of I^ridgton, who died in 1890 from 
the effects of a paralytic shock. Eivc chil- 
dren were given to Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury, 
namely: Webster, a graduate of ]?owdoin Col- 
lege, who was eleven years pastor of the 
church at Skowhegan, Me., and is now located 
at Milford, Mass. ; Franceta A., a graduate of 
North Bridgton Academy, and for some lime 
a teacher, now the wife of J. U. I'urington, 
mentioned above; Emma C, wife of Francis 
Chandler, of Bethel; Wesley K., who gradu- 
ated from Gould's Academy, was in the mer- 
cantile trade three years, 'reading law with his 
father in the mean time, finished his legal 
studies at Pottsville, Pa., was athiiitted to the 
bar in 1881, and now has a large practice in 
Pottsville; and a child who died in infancy. 

Mr. Woodbury has long been identified 
with the Republican party, and in ante-bellum 



BIOGRAPHICAL RF.VIEW 



549 



days was a strong Abolitionist. Elected to 
the State Senate in 1856, he was honored with 
re-election, and in 1859 was a member of the 
House of Representatives. In 1861 he was 
appointed Judge of Probate, in kS6j he was 
elected Judge of the Probate Court, and in 
1866 he was re-elected. He was appointed 
superintendent of the State Reform School in 
March, 1867, and .served until November, 
1870, when he resigned: and in 1874 he was 
made a trustee of the State Insane Asylum, 
with whose management he was connected 
until 1879. In 1889 he was appointed on 
the State Valuation Commission, and while 
attending to his duties in 1889-90 he spent 
four months in Augusta; and in 1 890-91 he 
was in the State capital for the same length 
of time, attending to similar duties. 

ludge Woodbury, it is thus seen, has de- 
voted his energies largely to the service of 
the public, working zealously for his party and 
his country, and is still busy with voice and 
pen, contributing regularly to the local 
papers. Though seventy-eight years of age, 
he enjoys fairly good health, and his mental 
powers are undiminished. He makes his 
home with his daughter, Mrs. J. V. Puring- 
ton. The Judge has been a member of the 
Congregational church for fifty-seven years, 
and "his conduct has always been guided by the 
root principles of Christianity. His character 
is a strong and noble one, and he is beloved 
by all who know him. 



-OSl-:i'lI S. PERRY, a retired farmer 
and real estate holder, for many years 
a resident of Wilton, was born in West 
Poylston, Mass., April 25, 1806, son 
of Joseph and Sally (Sawyer) Perry. His 
grandparents, Moses and Hannah (Adams) 
Perry, were residents of Holliston, Mass., and 
moved to West Boylston February 11, 1801. 
In September, 1809, Moses Perry moved the 
family of his son Joseph to Temple, Me., 
making the journey by team. Their wagon 
was the first seen in Temple. On arriving 
there, they,stopped to dine with Henry Butter- 
field, who had partially cleared a farm; and, 
as land was cheap, Joseph Perry bought a tract 
located in the south-western part of the town. 



Two years later Moses Perry also moved with 
his wife and family to Temjile, where he re- 
mained until reaching the age of seventy 
years, when, unable to labor, he returned to 
Massachusetts, where he spent the rest of his 
days, dying in West Boylston when about 
eighty years old. He and his wife Hannah 
reared si.\ children; namely, Joseph, Betsey, 
Asenath, Hannah, Mary, and Cynthia. 

Joseph Perry, the father of Joseph S. , was 
born in Holliston, Mass., P'ebruary 24, 1779. 
He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. 
In .September, 1802, he moved to We.st Boyl- 
ston, and seven years later in i S09 to Temple, 
where, as narrated above, he bought a tract 
of land. This he cleared and improved into a 
good farm, upon which he resided until 18 12, 
when he moved to North Wilton, Me. Here 
he tilled the soil, and worked at his trade dur- 
ing the rest of his active period, and died at 
the age of eighty-eight years, I-'ebruary 22, 
1867. His wife, Sally, a native of Massachu- 
setts, became the mother of nine children, 
namely: Miranda, born January 3, 1804: Jo- 
seph .Sawyer, the subject of this sketch; 
Moses; Eucy E. ; Mary: John W. ; Sarah; 
Cynthia; and l-jneline. She lived to be 
eighty years old. 

Joseph S. Perry, who accompanied his par- 
ents to Wilton when he was about si.\ years 
old, acquired his education in the schools of 
this town. Having resided with his parents 
and cared for them during their declining 
years, he succeeded to the ownership of the 
homestead. While it was in his possession 
he increased the value of the property by im- 
proving the land and remodelling the build- 
ings, and he tilled the soil with good finan- 
cial results until 1S70. Then, selling the 
farm to D. Avery, he bought the John Card 
property of eighteen acres, situated in the 
village of Wilton, where he now resides. He 
has since sold six building lots to good ad- 
vantage. 

On July 4, 1833, Mr. Perry wedded Mary 
Eaton, who was born June 14, 1 8og, daughter 
of Osgood Eaton, an early pioneer of p-arm- 
ington. Me. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have had 
two children. Their first-born child died 
in infancy. The other, Mary Annette, who 
was born May 15, 1838, is now the wife of 



55° 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIFAV 



lienjamin F. Russell, and has two children, 
namely: Amlin B., horn March 7, 1864; and 
Nora E., born March 4, 1.S67, who married 
Walter W. Coller, of Norfolk, Conn., and 
died December 13, 1894. Benjamin 1". Rus- 
sell, who is a son of James Russell, is a pros- 
jierous farmer, and the owner of considerable 
real estate. He resides with the parents of 
his wife for the puri)ose of managing their 
property, and caring for them in their old age. 
His son, Amlin B. Russell, who is a plumber 
of Boston, married Cora Voter, by whom he is 
the father of three children, namely: Marian 
H., who is no longer living; \'ivian A.; and 
Cora. In politics Mr. Perry has acted with 
the Republican party since its formation, and 
has ably filled various town offices. Although 
he is a nonogenarian, he enjoys good health, 
and performed considerable work in the way 
of gardening last summer. He is regarded by 
his fellow-townsmen with the highest respect 
and esteem. Mrs. Perry, who is now eighty- 
seven years old, is remarkably well preserved, 
and is still active in household affairs. The 
family are all members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. 



(sltl':FFREY A. HARDY, an enterprising 
and progressive farmer of Paris, is a 
native of this town. He was born De- 
cember 20, i860, son of William W. 
and Eunice C. (Gurney) Hardy. But little is 
known of the early ancestry of the family 
Thomas W. Hardy, grandfather of Jeffrey A., 
was for some time a seafaring man, after 
which he became a farmer and cattle dealer in 
Andover, \'t., where he died at the age of 
forty-seven. His wife, Betsev, lived to be 
seventy years old. 

William W. Hardy, the only child of 
Thomas W. , born November 9, 1823, in An- 
dover, Vt., passed his boyhood with relatives 
in Hollis, N. H. When a young man, he 
served an apprenticeship at the machinist's 
trade. This calling he subsequently relin- 
quished in order to learn the shoe manufactur- 
ing business. Having accomplished his j^ur- 
pose, he settled in Natick, Mass., where, after 
working for some time as a journeyman, he 
engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes 



upon his own account. In 1850, in company 
with others, he went by way of Cape Horn to 
California, where he arrived after a voyage of 
si.K months. The party engaged in mining for 
a short time, and then disbanded. Thereupon 
Mr. Hardy proceeded to sell a large lot of 
boots and shoes, which he carried w-ith him as 
a venture. This venture proved so profitable 
that he returned East with the purpose of re- 
peating it. He did not carry out the plan, 
however, but once more entered the shoe man- 
ufacturing business in Natick. From there 
he moved to Paris in 1858, and bought the 
farm of one hundred and thirty acres where he 
now resides. He has made various improve- 
ments in the property since, carrying on gen- 
eral farming with energy and judgment. His 
wife, Eunice, whom he married at Natick, 
May I, 1852, was born in Minot, Me., Janu- 
ary 8, 1833, daughter of Samuel and Lucy 
Gurney. Samuel Gurney was an industrious 
tiller of the soil for many years in Minot, 
from which town he moved to Hebron, Me., 
where he resided until his death, which took 
place when he was seventy-five years old. 
Mrs. Gurney attained about the same age. 
They had a family of eight children, five of 
whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. William 
W. Hardy have had four children, as follows: 
Leonard, who was born in Natick, August 12, 
1855; Henry, who was born October 5, 1859, 
and died March 17, i860; Jeffrey A., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Lewis G. , who was 
born March 4, 1874, and died August 24, 
1876. Both parents are members of the Pa- 
trons of Husbandry. The father is a Repub- 
lican in politics, and liberal in religious 
views. The mother is a member of the Bap- 
tist church in Hebron. 

Jeffrey A. Hardy was e.ducated in the Paris 
schools, and brought up to farming on the 
homestead. He had assisted on the farm until 
1886, when his father practically retired from 
active labor, leaving the entire management 
of the property in his hands. Since then he 
has developed a spirit of enterprise that is 
bringing him to the front rank of the success- 
ful agriculturists in the locality. 

On May i, 1887, Mr. Hardy was united in 
marriage to Nellie E. Andrews, wdio was born 
in Buckfield, ^le., January 3, 1861. She is a 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



daughter of the Rev. Otis and Betsey An- 
(hews. Her mother is now deceased. Mr. 
Andrews is a Free Will Baptist preacher of 
New Sharon, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy have 
one daughter, Effie, who was born January 15, 
1 89 1. In politics Mr. Hardy acts with the 
Republican party. He is connected with 
Mount Mica Lodge, Independent Order of Odd 
F"ellows, of South Paris. In his religious 
sentiments he has no particular preference for 
any denomination. 




ILI.IAM F. YORK, a thriving 
farmer of Porter, O.xford County, 
and a veteran of the Civil War, was 
born in Sebago, Me., February 38, 1836, son 
of Samuel and Sarah (Meserve) York. His 
grandfather, Isaac York, was a native of 
Standish. Me., where he was reared upon a 
farm; and he was a lifelong resident of that 
town. 

Mr. York's father was born in .Standish, 
Me., July 4, 1S02. He was engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits during the active period of 
his life, which was passed mostly in his native 
town; and he died June 14, 18S3. His wife, 
Sarah, who was a native of Morrill, Me., be- 
came the mother of nine children, three of 
whom are living, namely: Sarah, who is the 
wife of Madison Brown, and lives in Liming- 
ton ; William F., the subject of this sketch; 
and Maria L., who married Charles French, a 
prosperous farmer of Porter. The others 
were: Mary; liliza; Aurelia; Charles; Susan; 
and George W., who died during the Civil 
War. Mrs. Samuel York died January 24, 
1863. 

William F. York was educated in the com- 
mon schools of his native town, and resided at 
home until he was twenty-six years old. On 
August 25, 1862, he enlisted as a private 
in Company B, Forty-fourth Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Foster and 
Captain Griswold, and served in the Civil 
War for nearly one year. He participated in 
the battle of Whitehall and several minor 
skirmishes; and after receiving his discharge 
at Readville, Mass., June 16, 1863, he re- 
turned to Standish. He remained at the 
homestead, assisting in carrying on the farm 



until 1866, when he came to Porter, and, set- 
tling upon the farm where he now resides, has 
since tilled the soil with unusual energy and 
success. His property consists of one hun- 
dred and fifty acres of excellent tillage land, 
the fertility of which is equal to any in this 
locality. Besides raising large crojis of hay, 
oats, and potatoes, he pays some attention to 
the dairying business. 

On January 13, 1866, Mr. \'ork married 
lulia Libby, who was born in Porter, April 3, 
1835, daughter of Levi and Eliza (Boothby) 
Libby. Her father, who is no longer living, 
was a prominent farmer of this town. Mr. 
and Mrs. York have had four children, namely: 
Charlie W., born July 12, 1871, died January 
6, 1882; Eliza Jane, born December 15, 1872, 
is the wife of Charlie A.. Roberts, a prosper- 
ous farmer of Porter; Mary E., burn June 7, 
1875, married William F. Rounds, and they 
reside with her father at the homestead. Mr. 
York's first child died in infancy. 

Politically, Mr. York is a Democrat, and 
has held several town offices. He has through 
his industry and ability achieved success in 
his chosen calling, and possesses the esteem 
and good will of his neighbors. He and his 
wife are members of the Baptist church. 



/^SFeORGE B. PP:RKINS, who carries 
I '9) I on a dairy farm in Hebron, was liorn 
^ — ^ u]ion the farm he now owns and oc- 
cupies, P'ebruary 27, 1834, son of Elias and 
Polly (Davee) Perkins. The Perkins home- 
stead was settled upon and cleared from the 
wilderness soon after the Revolutionary War, 
by George B. Perkins's grandfather, Plbenezer 
Perkins, who was a native of i\Iassachusctts, 
and served as a surgeon throughout the na- 
tional struggle for independence. He was a 
sturdy and industrious pioneer, owned one 
hundred acres of land, and resided here until 
his death on December 17, 1840, at the age of 
eighty-three. He married Sarah Weston, who 
died March 5, 1851, nearly eighty-five years 
old. She reared a family of seven children, 
each of whom lived to be over seventy years 
of age. Their names were: Ebenezer, Sally, 
Fanny, Josiah, Zachariah, Silence, and Elias. 
Elias Perkins was born at the homestead, 



lil()(;R.\l'lll( AL REVll'AV 



Decern Iji/r J5, 1S05. His whole life was 
spent upon the larm, which he cnltivated in- 
dustriously and with success during his long 
]jeriod of activity; and he died here March 25, 
1891. He was a Universalist in his religious 
belief, and in politics he supportetl the Demo- 
cratic party. His wife, who was born in 
Hehion, May 5, 1807, became the mother of 
three sons antl five daughters. Three of the 
children are living, namely: George H., the 
subject of this sketch; Isabella, who is the 
widow of I'hilip Dayee. and resides in Minot, 
Androscoggin County; and Dora, who is the 
widow of William I'oole, and lives in Stone- 
ham, Mass. The others were: Harrison, 
Zenas, Mary, Clara, and Abbie. The mother, 
who still survives, rcsitles with one ot her 
daughters. 

Cieorge B. Perkins acquired his education in 
the common schools of Hebron. When a 
young man, he learned the shoemaker's trade, 
which, togethei' with farming, he afterward 
followed for some twenty-five years. He then 
relinquished his trade in order to devote his 
entire attention to the homestead projierty, 
which came to his ]50ssession. The farm con- 
sists of the original one hundretl acres bought 
and owned by his grandfather.. He makes a 
specialty of dairying, for which he keeps an 
average of fifteen full-blooiled anil graded 
jersey cows: and he is c|uite extensively en- 
gaged in raising fruit. On October 7, i860, 
Mr. I'erkins wedded Caroline L. Lowell, who 
was born in Minot, July 21, 1838, daughter of 
W'illiam and Atosa (Greenwood) Lowell. 
.Mr. Lowell, who was born in l^uckfiekl, Me., 
October 30. 1803, ilied .September 5, i88g: 
and his wife, born in Hebron, March 5, 
1805, died August 4, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. 
Perkins have had four children, namely: 
Atosa G. , who died at the age of ten years; 
Laura W. . born ^hiy 30, 1867, who married 
C. H. Bridgham, and resides in Auburn, Me.; 
Charles L., born November 24, 1868, who 
died October 20, 1896; and Elmer 1""., born 
I'ebruary 6, 1871, who resides at home. 

Mr. Perkins has been quite prosperous in 
his farming. He takes a lively interest in 
all matters relative to the general welfare of 
the community. In ]x)Ii[ics he is a Rej^iubli- 
can. Both he and Mrs. Perkins are members 



of the West Minot Grange, No. 42, Patrons of 
Husbandry. In religious belief they are L'ni- 
versalists. 




lis II. MLLINDY, manager of the 
Lagrow Lumber Mills, Wilton, and a 
\'eteran of the Civil War, was born in 
Lyndeboro, N.H., November 11, 1837, 
son of Josejjh and -Susan (Manter) Melindy. 
The family is of English origin. The grand- 
father of Otis H., Joseph Melindy, who was a 
native of Brookline, X.IL, settled in Wilton, 
N.H., where he was successfully engaged in 
farming, and lived to the ad\anced age of 
ninety-two years. He married Betsey Bradv, 
who died in middle age. Her children by him 
were: Joseph, Rebecca, Abigail, and Mary. 

Joseph Melindy, the father of Otis H., was 
reared a farmer. Inheriting the home.stead, he 
carried on the farming successfully for many 
years. In the latter part of his life he sold 
the propert}', and, retiring from active labor, 
bought a home in the village, where he passed 
the rest of his da\s. In ]iolitics he supported 
the Republican party, and he was a member of 
the Congregational church. He died of heart 
disease, at the age of si.\tv-eight )ears. 
Joseph Melindy was twice married. His first 
wife, .Susan (Manter) Melindy, who was a 
daughter of William Manter, died at the age 
of thirty-eight. .She bore him nine children, 
two of whom died in infancv. The others 
were: Jane, Manter, Albert, .Sarah, Otis H., 
Betsey, and Rosetta. His second marriage 
was contracted with Abigail Burton, whose 
only child by him was Abbie J. 

Otis H. Melindy, after leaving school, 
assisted his father njion the farm until he was 
seventeen years old. He then began work in 
the bobbin shop, where he remained five years. 
In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Eighth 
Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, for 
service in the Civil War. He was made a 
Corporal, and served in the Red River expedi- 
tion under General Banks. Taken jirisoner at 
.Sabine Cross Roads in April, 1863, he re- 
mained a captive within the stockade at Tyler, 
Te.x. , until the close of the war. After re- 
cei\'ing his discharge, October 23, 1865, he 
returned North, and settled in Wilton, Me. 



r.lOCR AI'lllCAI. Kl'AIKW 



Here he bought the Chiindler farm, which he 
carried (jn tor a year. Then, selling that prop- 
erty, he purchased land, built a new house, and 
lor the next seven years was employed in the 
box factory. Alovdna; to Weld, Me., aftei' 
this, he resided theie for six years, during 
which time he followed the carpenter's trade, 
and worked in the spool factory. Fr(jm Weld 
he came back to Wilton, and in 1.S8S assisted 
in building the Lagrow Mills. Since the 
conijiletion of these mills he has acted as foie- 
man of the emjilovees. The business consists 
of the manufacture of long and short lund^er, 
shingles, and other buikling materials, and the 
execution of all kinds of sawing and planing. 
-Some time ago Mr. MeHud\- bought the 
V. Robbins [iropert)' here, and has since occu- 
pied it as a residence. 

Mr. Melindy wedded Mairiet .Augusta 
Chandler, daughter of I.uke Chandler, of Wil- 
ton, and now has had three children. These 
are: lulward, now the foreman of the crimp 
room of a shoe factory in New Mampshire, 
who married Belle Underbill, and has twin 
sons, Har\'ey and Harlow; Riley, who died in 
infancy; and P^zra, a stenographer in the office 
of the Provident Life and Trust Company of 
Boston. Roth in business and social circles 
^[r. Melind)- is a general fa\-orite. He is con- 
nected with Wilton Lodge, A. F. &- A. M. 
In politics he actively supports the Reijubli- 
can party. l^oth he and Mrs. .Melindy arc 
meml.)ers of the Methodist ]".pisco|)al church. 




lA'IX ]■■. PERKINS, Chairman of the 
Board of Selectmen of Brownfield, 
Ale., was born in Eaton, N. H., No- 
vember 4, 1847. He is the only son 
of John W. and Caroline (Nason) Perkins, for- 
merly of I-laton, but now of this town. His 
j)aternal grandparents, Stejjhen anil Philomela 
(Perkins) Perkins, were both nati\-es of Wells, 
Me. ; and in 181 3 they settled upon a farm in 
I'^aton, where they livetl for the remainder of 
their li\'es. Stephen Perkins, who was an in- 
dustrious farmer and a ]irominent citizen, 
served as a Selectman for eighteen years. 
He also rejjresented his district in the legis- 
lature, acting first with the Whig and latei' 
with the Re|iublican parties in politics. 



John W. Perkins, son of Stephen, was bmu 
June 7, 1813, in ]{aton, N.H., antl for many 
years was one of the ])ros])erous and represent- 
ative farmers of that localit\'. lie continued 
to reside in his nati\e town until 187^, when 
he luoved to ]^rownfield ; and he is now lixing 
here in ictiremenl from active laboi-. His 
wife, Carol ine Nason, who was born in Jvaton, 
May 22. 18J4, is a daughtei- of Enhraim and 
.Sarah (Wolcott) Nason. Her father was a 
nati\e of (iorham. Me. ; and her mothci was 
born in lloldei'ness, N.H., and was a rclati\e 
of the family of Roger Wolciitt, the lueseiit 
governor of Massachusetts. E])hraim Nason 
was an intelligent and prosperous farmer. 
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Perkins are the ])areuts 
of three chiklren, as follows: Maria IL, who 
was born AJa\' iT), 1842, and is now the wile 
of Edwin -Snow, a prominc'Ut meichLint and 
lumber dealer of .Snowville anil an ex-memlier 
of the New Hampshire Senate; Alvin V., the 
subject of this sketch; and Clara A., who was 
born Se]itember 25, 1853, and is the wife of 
David P. Cutting, an undertaker of j-'ree- 
dom, N. H. 

Alvin I'. Perkins was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and resided at the parental home 
until lie was twenty-one years old. lie was 
employeil for several years as clerk in genei;il 
stores in different localities, and came to 
Brownfield in 1874. He has been engaged 
alternatel)' in mercantile business and farm- 
ing, having resorted to the last-named occupa- 
tion for the purpose of recovering his health, 
which was somewhat impaired b\ close con- 
finement. 

Mr. Perkins was first married .September 30, 
1875, to Clara J. Giles, daughter of Thomas 
R. and Jane M. Giles, the former of whom 
w'as a merchant antl farmer of l{aton, and both 
were natives of that town. Mrs. Claia (liles 
Perkins died September 3, 1877; and on Jan- 
uary I, 1884, Mr. Perkins wedded Amanda K. 
Lowell, his jiresent wife. She was born in 
Hiram, Me., daughter of Mial and Rachel .M. 
Lowell, pros])erous farming people of that 
town. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have one daugh- 
ter — Beatrice A., who was born (October 4, 
1885. 

In politics Mr. Perkins is a Republican. 
While rcsiiling in Juiton he served as a Select- 



554 



BK )G R.\ PHI C AL R KVI EW 



man and Town Treasurer. He was Superin- 
tendent (if Schools here in 1888, and was 
elected Chairman of the Board of Selectmen in 
1895. The ability he displayed in the admin- 
istration of public affairs is highly appreciated 
by his fellow-townsmen. He and Mrs. Per- 
kins are members of the Congregational 
clinrch, ami take an active interest in religious 
work. 




Me. 



ATIO R. CtODWTN is a thrifty 
antl prosperous farmer, who has a fine 
homestead with broad acres of fer- 
tile land in Bethel, Oxford County, 
He was born June 29, 1835, in the 
town of Upton, this county, and is a son of 
the late James and Apphia (Segar) Godwin. 
James Godwin was a native and lifelong resi- 
dent of Oxford County. He was a well-to-do 
farmer, a prominent citizen of the town where 
he lived, an active Republican in politics, and 
in religious belief he was a Congregationalist. 
He died at the age of sixty-nine. Mrs. God- 
win was born in Hanover, which lies north- 
east of f^ethel. Her father, Nathaniel Segar, 
was a native of Newton, Mass., and lived there 
till 1774, when he removed to Sudbury, Can- 
ada, as it was called, now Bethel. In one of 
the incursions of the Indians upon the settle- 
ment he was taken |)risoner in August, 1781, 
and carried to Canada, where he spent se\eral 
months in ca])tivity, being released in Novem- 
ber, 1782. Mrs. Godwin died at the age of 
sixty-seven. 

Horatio R. (iodwin recei\ed a common- 
school education in his native town. He re- 
mained on his father's farm until of age, and 
then, hiring himself out as a farm hand for 
monthly wages, worked in that way for some 
time. After establishing a home of his own, 
he opened his house to summer boarders; and 
a gay company brightened the farm-house 
every season, bringing to the place new life and 
ready cash — the latter accessory less poetic, 
perhaps, but very essential. In 1877 Mr. 
Godwin ])urchased the farm in Jiethel on which 
he now makes his home. This is an estate 
of two hundred acres, beautifully situated on 
the Suiulay River, about four miles from the 
village of Bethel. It is a homestead of which 



any man might well be proud, and represents 
Mr. Godwin's own earnings. 

Mr. Godwin's first wife, formerly Miss 
Mary E. Chandler, of Bethel, died in 1883, 
leaving three children — ^ Ernest VV., Wirt H., 
and Chandler, all living with their father. In 
1884 Mr. Godwin contracted a second marriage 
with Mrs. Ida M. Maybery, of Bethel. By a 
former husband she had one daughter, Minnie 
G. Maybery. In politics Mr. Godwin is a 
stanch Republican. He is well known in the 
locality, and may be regarded as a representa- 
tive citizen of Bethel. 




ILLIS L. GATCHl'XL, M.D., an 
experienced physician residing in 
East Brownfield, Me., now retired 
from general practice and devoting himself to 
special work, was born in Wales, Me., August 
14, 1854, son of Hiram and Mary S. (Given) 
Gatchell. 

Dr. Gatchell's father, who is a native of 
Monmouth, Me., spent the earlier years of 
his life in Kennebec County. Eor the past 
thirty years he has been engaged in lumbering 
upon quite an extensive scale, and he is now 
residing in Brownfield. His wife, who was 
before marriage Mary S. Given, and is a 
native of Newport, Me., is the mother of nine 
children, namely: Willis L., the subject of 
this sketch; Carrie L. ; Marion F. ; Mary R. ; 
Cora and Flora, twins; Helen; Hannah C. ; 
and Georgie I'". 

Willis E. Gatchell actjuired his early edu- 
cation at the academies of Fryeburg and South 
Paris, and he taught penmanship to earn 
money for the purpose of defraying his ex- 
penses while [unsuing his classical and pro- 
fessional studies. After attending the Boston 
University, he entered the Maine Medical 
School at Brunswick, where he was graduated 
with the class of 1882. He located first for 
practice in Baldwin, Me., remaining there for 
one year. He then settled in Brownfield vil- 
lage, where he continued to practise success- 
fully until the spring of 1896, when he sold 
out, and removed to his present home in East 
Brownfield. As a specialist, he now gives his 
I)rincipal attention to diseases of the ear ai\d 
eye, supijlying properly adjusted spectacles to 



lilOCRAIMIKAl, RK\'1KW 




l)ers(jns witli impaired \isioii. lie owns about 
two humlred acres of land in this town and 
vicinit)'. 

In l-'ehiuarv, 1S77, l^i'- Gatchell was united 
in marriai^e to Mlla 1-". 'rwitchell, who was 
horn in I'aris, Me. Her father, I'rank 
Twitchell, formerly a prosper(jus farmer ol 
that town, is no longer living. Dr. and Mrs. 
Gatchell have one daughter — l*"lorence. who 
was horn in 1<S,S'7. Mrs. (Jatehell is a gradu- 
ate of the College of Fhs'sicians and .Siu-geons 
in Boston, Mass. .She is now residing in 
Chico. Cal., f(>r the benefit of hei- health. 

In politics Dr. (jatchell is a Reiiubliean, 
and for some lime he scrveil upon the Hoard 
of United .States Pension M.xaminers. lie has 
advanced in Masonry to the Royal Arch de- 
gree, and is a nieniber of Greenleaf Lodge, of 
Cornish, Me. 



ri'LETON F. M.'XSON, a pn.isperous 
general merchant of North Huckheld, 
and the Postmaster of the town since 
1875, was born in Huckheld, August 
3, 1H41, son of Naphtali and Arvilla S. 
(Watemian) Mason. Mr. Mason's grand- 
father, Phili|) C. Mason, was an early settler 
of Paris, this county, where he followed the 
trades of a blacksmith antl mason, being at the 
same time engaged in farming. He afterward 
moved to Huckfield, and there resided until 
his death, which occurred February 7, 1856, 
when he was about si.\ty-fivc years old. He 
possessed more thLin ordinary aliility. ills 
various employments enabled !iim to obtain a 
comfortable living at all times. In politics 
he sujiported the Democratic party, and he was 
a member of the Baptist church. I'or his first 
wife he married Betsey Coburn, who died 
March 2f\ 1826. He subsec|uently married 
Lucy Coburn. whose death occurred at an 
advanced age. Of the twelve children reared 
by him — si.\- born of eacii union — seven are 
now living. 

Naphtali Mason, the eldest of his father's 
siu'viving children, was horn in Paris, Decem- 
ber 16, 1 81 7. When a young man, he engaged 
in farming in Buckfield for several years. 
.After that he was in the livery stable business 
in South Paris, where he resided for t\vent\- 



Hve \ears, or until his retirement from active 
labor. Since that time he has made his hiinie 
with his children. He is a Democrat in pol- 
itics and a liberal in his religious views. He 
has been twice married. His first wife', 
.\r\'illa .S. (Watemian ) Mason, born in 
Huckfield, April 14, i8rj, died < )ctoln'r 16, 
1869, leaving thiee chihh'cn. These were: 
.\pplcton h". , the subject of this sketch; Oriza 
A., born J.uniar}' (j, 1845, who is now the 
widow of \. C. Marston, and lesides in Au- 
buin, Me.; and Nancv N., born January zy. 
1832, who is now the wife of Charles H. Hig- 
gins, of Auburn. The mother's pai'ents were 
James and Keziah (Smith) W'aterman. resjjcc- 
tiveh' natixx's of .Massachusetts and Maine. 
When he was a young man, James Waterman 
|)enetrated _the wilderness of Maine, and, set 
tling upon a tract of land in West Huckfield, 
erected a log house and cleared a good farm. 
He was one of the successful farmers ol his 
daw and, after enjoying a long life of ninetv-si.\ 
vears antl nine months, died Jul)' 23, 1 861. 
He was a stalwart man, and no resident in his 
section was better or more favorably known. 
In his last years he voted with the Kcpublican 
part)'. His wife was a lad)' of coiisiderable 
mental vigoi', who dcNoted much time to the 
study of the Bible, and was a member ol tin: 
Baptist church. She died .August 4, 1858, 
aged eighty- si.\ \'ears, ten months, antl thii'- 
teen da\'s. 

Api^leton I'". Mason ac(-|uiretl a practical 
I'oiumon-school education iii Huckfield. In 
18(14, after having taught school for se\'eral 
teinis, he engaged in mercantile puisuits in 
Xoith Buckfield. .Since 1875 he has occu])ied 
his present place of business, in which he car- 
ries a large and well-selected stock of general 
nierchandise, all first-class goods, which he 
sells at moderate prices. He displavs much 
business capacity, and has steadily helil the 
patronage (if a large portion of the communitA' 
in this section. On March 1, 1868, Mr. 
Mason wedded Fmma Adelaide Monk. She 
was born in North Buckfield. .Se|iteniber 14, 
1S47, daughter of Flias and Fliza (Turner) 
Monk, the former of whom was a stirring and 
industrious carriage makei' here. Neither of 
Mrs. Mason's [-jarents is now li\'ing. 

Mr. Mason holds liberal leligious views. 



S5(> 



BIOGRAPHICAL Rt:VIEVV 



In politics he is a Democrat. He has served 
as a member of the l^oard of Selectmen and 
Sui)erintendent of Schools for several years, 
and has held the office of Postmaster for over 
twenty years. Me is a member of Evening Star 
Lodge, No. 14;, A. F. & A. M., of Buckfleld. 




'^U LHKRT E. KNOWLES, a carriage 
manufacturer of North Chesterville, 

I'armington, was born June 2, 1S49. 

in Jay, this county, son of the Rev. 
Iqjhraim and h'lorinda (Young) Knowles, 
His grandfather, Samuel Knowles, was bom 
in Chesterville, and inherited a homestead in 
this town, containing one hundred and fifty 
acres of gootl farming land. Samuel was an 
inilustrious and successful farmer, a man of 
strong character and high moral worth, and an 
ardent advocate of the temperance cause. He 
was twice married. His first wife, in maiden- 
hood Anna Wilson, bore him three children — 
Martha, Ephraim, and Lucinda. His second 
wife, whose maiden name was Sally Adams, 
had five children by him: namely, Clarissa, 
Samuel L., Julia, Jedediah, and Sidney. 

The Rev. Ephraim Knowles made the most 
of the educational advantages offered by the 
public schools. In early manhood he bought 
a farm of two hundred acres in the town of 
Jay, and from that time until the close of his 
life was active and successful in agricultural 
jjursuits. When quite young, he became a 
member of the Vvce W'ill Baptist church. 
Gifted with natural eloquence, he began to 
preach at the age of twenty-five. In time he 
became so popular that he was in almost con- 
stant demand, acting as pulpit supply in his 
own and the surrounding towns. Eventually, 
he founded a church in Rome, Me. He was 
active both as a preacher and farmer to the 
very end of his life. .'\t the age of seventy- 
four he erected a set of good buildings on his 
homestead, the original buildings having been 
destroyed by fire. He died January 5, 1885, 
ageil seventy-five years. His wife, who is 
favored with a remarkably strong constitution, 
celebrated her eightieth birthday March 2, 
1896. Five children were born to this couple 
— Elliott, Albert K., Flora E., Sumner, and 
Frank H. Sumner died young. 



Albert I^. Knowles received a practical 
public-school education. He began to learn 
the trade of carriage-making when twenty 
years of age, under the instruction of John 
Knowlton. He subsequently worked as a 
journeyman in Mr. Knowlton's employment 
for one yeai', antl in that of S. D. Knowlton 
for the ensuing ten years. At the end of that 
time he started in business for himself, hiring 
a shop in North Chesterville. Shortly after 
he purchased the establishment of Ebenezer 
Knowlton, bv the bridge. Fortune seemed to 
faxor him here. His business so increased 
that he was soon obliged to Ijuild an addition. 
Making a specialty of high-grade work, he 
turns out a number of wagons and some 
sleighs annuall}'. He still has chaige of the 
family homestead. For his home he pur- 
chased the E. Knowlton place at the corner, 
on which he has made many improvements, 
including a fine stable adjoining the house. 

Mr. Knowles was married December 23, 
1890, to Lucv E. Dorsett, a daughter of Asel 
and Arvilla S. (Lane) Dorsett, of Standish, 
Me. Mr. Dorsett, who was a prominent 
farmer of Standish, died in 1S90, aged 
seventy-four. In 1862 he enlisted in Com- 
pany Y, Nineteenth Regiment, Maine \'olun- 
teers, as a drummer, took part in many of the 
principal battles of the Civil War, and was 
discharged in 1865. His wife passed away in 
1879, in her fifty-ninth year. They had but 
one other child, Sarah E. Mr. Knowles is a 
member of the Democratic partw In relig- 
ious belief he is a Universalist. 



I"C^\0SC()E G. TRUE, proprietor of one 
I ^-^ "f the best improved and most pro- 
|b\ cluctive farms in the town of Hiram, 

O.xforcl County, was born in Den- 
mark, Me., January 9. 1852, son of Joseph and 
Phebe (Alexander) True. Obadiah True, Mr. 
True's grandfather, was a native of Sanford. 
He served in the Revolutionary War, and 
later settled in Denmark, Me., where he 
passed the closing years of his life. 

Joseph True, Mr. True's grandfather, son 
of Obadiah, was born in Sanford, and accom- 
panied his parents from that town to Denmark. 
After being engaged in tilling the soil upon 



HIOCRAPHICAL RKVIKW 



557 



his own accmiiit in liirain and in Haldwin tor 
some years, he settled u])on the farm now oc- 
cupied by his son, Roscoe (i., and resided 
here until his death, which took place March 
J, iS.So. His wife, I'hebe Alexander, who 
was a native of Henniker, X II., was the 
mother of five children, as follows: Dorcas, 
who became the wife of M. K. Mabry, of Yar- 
mouth, Me., and is no longer living;- : .Sarah, 
who died at the age of eighteen years: Roscoe 
(;.. the subject of this sketch; Mar\-, who 
died in June, 1892: and Cynthia, who is re- 
siding in Hiram. 

Roscoe G. True acquired a cnmmon-school 
education, and resided at home until he was 
eighteen years old. He then went to Hing- 
ham. Mass., and was employed in driving a 
team in that vicinity for three years, at the 
expiration of which time he returned to 
Hiram, and resumeil work u]5on the farm. He 
later bought the homestead jjroperty here, and 
he has since devoted his time and attention to 
general farming. Besides the homestead farm 
of one hundred and forty acres, he owns one 
hmidred and fifty acres of valuable land in 
another ]3art of the township; and, aside from 
the usual farm products, he raises considerable 
fruit, and breeds some excellent cattle. He 
has made various im|-)rovements u])on the land 
and buildings, which has greatly increased the 
value of his property; and he now has one of 
the best homesteads in Hiram. 

On June 30, 1861. Mr. True was united in 
marriage with Ellen S. Bean. She was born 
in Denmark, Me., December 13, 1838, daugh- 
ter of William and .Sarah F. (Blunt) Bean. 
Her parents, highly reputable residents of 
that town, are no longer living. Mr, and 
Mrs, True have one son of their own, Frank 
E., who was born August 27, 1865, and is re- 
siding at home: and they have ado]ited Irving 
E. Mabry, Jr, 

In politics Mr. True is a Democrat, but has 
never aspired to public ofifice. He has given 
his undivided attention to the cultivation of 
his farm, and, working with both hands and 
brains, has been fairly successful in life. 
His many excellent qualities make him popu- 
lar with his fellow-townsmen, and he is 
widely and favorably known throughout this 
section. 




EANDI:R S. BM.l.lNGS, an extensive 
lumber manufacturer of .Scnith Paris, 
was born in Waterford, Me., Octo- 
Ix-r 10, 1838, son of Charles and 
I'^li/a (Cjould) Billings. lie comes of good 
American stock, his grandfather having been 
a ])atriot soldier of the Revolution, Charles 
joinings w'as born in Temple, Mass., in 1790. 
In early manhood he settled in Waterford, 
being one of the pioneers of that town. He 
])urchased a farm there, and became one of the 
leading and most progressive men of the local- 
ity. He died at the age of eighty-six. He 
was twice married: and his second wife, wliose 
maiden name was Eliza Gould, became the 
mother of five children — namely, Charles, 
Iknr\' S., Peter J., Eeander S., and ICmily 
II. Mrs. Jiliza Gould Billings died at the 
age of forty years. 

Leander -S. Billings passed his boyhood and 
youth in his native town, acquiring a practical 
education in the common schools. Me was 
' reared to agricultural pursuits, w-hich he fol- 
lowed until reaching the age of thirt}' years, 
when he relinquished farming, and became a 
railway employee. He advanced rapidly from 
one position to another, finally becoming con- 
ductor for the Atlantic Sleeping Car Com- 
pany, with headquarters at Salamanca, N. Y. 
For some time he made the run from New 
York City to Buffalo. In 1875 he came to 
South Paris, where, in compan\- with (j. P. 
Whitney, he purchased the saw and sta\-e 
mills formerly operated by H. True & Cfi. : 
and for the next ten years the firm of Billings 
& Whitney carried on the manufacture of 
I staves and crates. He then bought, his part- 
ner's interest in the business, which he has 
since conducted alone, greatly increasing his 
output by the addition of all kinds of building 
materials to his products. He has enlarged 
and remodelled the mills, thereby increasing 
[ their productive capacity, and has also erected 
\ spacious storehouses to meet the demands of 
a constantly developing enterprise. He has 
cleared a great deal of timber land in this 
vicinity, and buys a large number of logs, and 
I deals in Southern and Western lumber, which 
! he receives by the carload. His enterprise 
furnishes employment for a large number of 
men, and his business abilitv and unceasing 



55S 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



activity cnnlributc lar,L;cly tn the welfare of 
the town. 

Mr. r)illinL;.s sui)i)orls the Kei)iiblicaii party: 
liut. a.s JTis husines.s CDiisumes the greater part 
of his time, he takes no active part in politics, 
l^eyond casting;' his \-ote. He has advanced in 
I\Iasoii|-\- to the C]ia])ter, anil is a member of 



'aris I,od_ge, No. 94. 



I 



e IS a 



ISO a member 



of Mount Mica Lodge, No. 17, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, and of the lincamp- 
ment. Mr. liillings married Anna F. Thayer, 
lie resides at the old I'helps homestead, which 
he purchased some time ago, having since re- 
modelled and iinproved the jiroperty into a 
pleasant and comfortable home. 




LIX'l'J^ ALLFX, a prosperous dairy 
farmer of Miram, O.xford County, e.x- 
memlier of the Maine legislature, was 
born ill Wells. Me., August 6, 1824, 
son of Hosea and Dorcas (Blaisdell) Allen. 
Mr. Allen's grandfather was Jotham Allen, a 
native of Wells, who moved from that town to 
a farm in Wilmington, Me., antl resided 
there foi- the rest of his life. Jotham was the 
father of nine children — William, Hosea, 
Robert, George, Sally, Susan, Sophia. Temple, 
and Lydia, none of whom are living. 

Mosca Allen, Mr. Allen's father, was born 
in Wells, and was brought up a farmer. In 
1 8^5 he came to Hiram, and, settling upon a 
farm in the \icinit\' of his son's jjresent resi- 
dence, culti\'ated it with success until his 



death, vvhicdi occuned 



July 



i.Syo. Hit- 



wife. Dorcas, who was a natix'e of Wells, be- 
came the mother of six children, nanieh': 
Christophei", who married .Sarah 1{. Hosmer, 
of Newton. iMass., and is now a widow; 
Oliver, the subject of this sketch: George, a 
prosi)erous farmer of Brookfield, Mass., who 
successively married Adelia Wentworth, Irene 
Young, and Nancy Pingree; Dorcas Jane, who 
is now the widow of Fben Blaisdell, and re- 
sides in I<;ast Denmark, Me. ; Andrew, who 
married Lizzie l^radley, neither of whom is 
now living: and Hosea R.. who married 
I'21eanor Tlioms, and is now a successful 
farmer in Loekwood, Cal. The mother dietl 
.Se])tember 11, i.S.Stj. 

Oliver Allen came to Hiram with his j)ar- 



ents when he was a year old, and subsequently 
ncc|uired his education in the common schoids 
of this town. At the age of sixteen he went 
to Newton. Mass., w-liere he was employed as 
an assistant uptm the farm connected with the 
Theological Seminary for two years. After 
this he worked for different farmers in the 
neighborhood for fi\'e years. In 184S he en- 
gaged in agriculture on his own account in 
Hiram, on a farm which he conducted until 
1857. He then moved to his present property 
in the northern part of the town. He now 
owns one hundred and thirty-five acres of ex- 
cellent land, the tillage portion of which is 
well improved. Besides cultivating the 
staple products, he raises some fine cattle for 
his own use, and makes a specialty of dairy 
farm i ng. 

On March 3, 1848, Mr. Allen "wedded 
Mary L. Lvans, who vvas born in Hiram, June 
9, 1828, daughter of Oliver and Mary (Lock) 
F^vans. Her parents, who were both natives 
of Rochester, N.H., in September, 1827, set- 
tled in Hiram, where her father became an in- 
dustrious and successful farmer. Fie died Oc- 
tober 7, 1882; and his wife died March i, 
18S3. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have four chil- 
dren, as follows: Angeline, who was born De- 
cember 25, 1849, and is now the wife of Au- 
gustus I'eabod)-, a prosperous farmer of F'ergus 
F'alls, Minn. : Fdward L. , born September 11, 
1852, wlio married Florence Putnam, a native 
of Massachusetts, and has two children — 
Mary Louisa antl lumice Putnam; I'lvans O., 
born May 15, i860, who married Ccb;i Cram, 
and is a manufacturer in I^asl llii;im; and 
Bertha J., born November 8, 1862, who is 
now the wife ot Daniel Bealy Cram, a success- 
ful farmer of Hiram, lulward L. now assists 
his father on the farm. 

Mr. Allen for many years took a prominent 
part in public affairs. He was a member of 
the Board of Selectmen for nearly fifteen 
years, acting as Chairman of the body for the 
greater part of that time; and he ably repre- 
sented this district in the legislature in 1867. 
Flis first Presidential vote was cast for F"rank- 
lin Pierce, and he has acted with the Republi- 
can jiarty since its formation. He still main- 
tains a liveh' interest in all matters of 
importance to the general community. He is 



r.IOCR AIMIIC AI, RFAMFAV 



;so 



a member of MmiiU ('utlcr (iiimgc, N(i. 152, 
I'atrons (if 1 lusbaiulry, of Hiram. 



■ABKA X'AUCillAN was for a number 
of years an important member of tlie 
agricultural community of P'arniington, 
Mo., occupying the farm on which his 
widow, Mrs. Amanda M. Vaughan, still makes 
her home. He was born in New Vineyard, 
Franklin County, August 21. iSiO, the son of 
Jabez and Mary (Thompson) A'aughan. The 
elder Jabez Vaughan came to Maine from I'om- 
fret, Vt. He took a large tract of wild land 
in New \'incyard, cleared it, and proceeded to 
make it fit for planting purposes. He died in 
middle age. His children were: Ruel, Alan- 
son, Mary, Jabez, and Lucy. 

Jabez Vaughan, Jr., in early manhood pur- 
chased a farm in New Vineyard, which he 
tilled for twelve years. He then bought the 
Butterfield farm, which at that time was 
owned loy T. Greenwooil. It was a valuable 
property, covering one hundred acres; and he 
was very successful in raising general crops. 
In 1S63 his buildings were destroyed by fire; 
but, nothing daunted, he rebuilt on tiie same 
site. Mr. \';iuglian was an exemplary citizen, 
:nid was universall)' respected. He was a Re- 
liublican in politics from the time of the 
organization of that party, and in religion a 
l<"ree Will Hai^tist, being :i Deacon of the 
church for m;niv years. He died in 1S71, 
;iged fifty-five. 

In May, 1841, .Mr. \'augh:ui was united in 
marriage with .Miss Amanda .M . Butterfield, 
the ilaughter of Asa and Hannah (Jordan) 
Butterfield,. She was born in Farmington, 
November S, 18 19. Her grandfather, Jesse 
Hutterfield, was the first of the family in this 
vicinity. He was a Revolutionary soldier, 
who fought in the battle of Hunker Hill; ;ind, 
after the indepentlence of the colonies was es- 
tablished, he with his family moved to Sandy 
River, taking up Lot 16. This he cleared, 
:ind developed into a good farm^ He lived to 
an advanced age, attaining a position of prom- 
inence and influence in the town. Asa 
Ikitterfield, .Mrs. Vaughan's father, was born 
in Farmington, August 30, 1786. He lived 



and in rhillips, and then purchased his 
f;ither"s farm in I'"armington, on which he 
lived initil 1S57. In that year he moved to 
I'iqua, Ohio, wheie he and his wile died. 
Mr. Hutterfield, like most of his name, was 
enterprising and energetic, ;ind was highly re- 
spected. In religious belief he w:is a Lniver- 
salist, antl in politics originall)' a Whig and 
later a Republican. 

Jabez and Amanda M. (Hutterfield) Vaughan 
had one child, Mir;i O. .She w;is married ^\u- 
gust 37, 1876, to .Sumner W . Thom]ison, a 
native of New Portland, Me., the son of 
Daniel and IClizabeth (Weathern) Thompson. 
Mr. Daniel Thompson was a progressive 
farmer of New Portland. Hoth he and his 
wife lived to a gooil age, spending the latter 
part of their lives in the town of New .Sharon, 
where he and his son Sumner bought a I arm. 
In politics he was a Republican, in religious 
belief a Methodist. He had but two children 
— Warren V. and .Sumner W. , before men- 
tioned. Sumner W. Thompson came to New- 
Sharon with his parents. .About ten years 
later he removed to the Hutterfield laiin. his 
wife's inheritance. (^n this propeil\- he has 
made many improvements, developing its re- 
sources. .Mr. Thompson also is ;i Republican. 
On religious subjects he has liber;il views. 
He and his wife have one child, Ldmund CJ., 
born April 10, 1879. Mrs. Vaughan is enjoy- 
ing the sunset of her life with her daughter 
and her daughter's family, and the daily 
routine is brightened by friendly intercourse; 
for she is well known and highh esteemed in 
I'armington. 



for 



some time in Chesterville, this county, 



TTAHARLICS F. STAKlilkn, Postmas- 
I v-^ ter at 0.\ford, antl junior jiaitner in 
\%^^ the firm of Lord & Starbird, general 
storekeepers, was born in this town, 
May 28, 1866, son of Charles II. and Julia 
W. (Ames) Starbird. Charles II. Starbird. 
who was a native of Raymond, Me., w;is a Stir- 
ling, industrious man, and a worthy, upright 
citizen. He followetl various occupations; 
but his active career was brought to a close in 
the prime of life, and he filed in O.xford at the 
;ige of forty-two years. His wife, Jidiii, who 
w:is a native of Dover, Me., is no longer liv- 



s6o 



BIOGRAPHICAL RF.VIEW 



ing. Charles F. Starhird passed his boyhood 
and youth in Oxford, and attended the schools 
of this town. When sixteen years old, he 
began to learn the harness-maker's trade, 
which he followed luitil entering tlie store of 
Lord & Edwards as clerk. After the retire- 
ment of Mr. Edwards from the firm in Novem- 
ber, 1S93, he bought an interest in the busi- 
ness, with which he has since been associated. 
In politics he supports the Democratic party, 
and in 1894 was appointed Postmaster at Ox- 
ford, a position which he still holds. On Jan- 
uary ij, 1896, Mr. Starbird wedded Kate W. 
Houghton, daughter of George C. Houghton, 
of this town. He is connected with Norway 
Lodge, No. 16, Indejiendent Order of Odd 
Fellows, and with the Sons of Temperance. 
Mrs. Starbird is a member of the Congrega- 
tional church. 




jVRUS S. HAYES, a prominent resi- 
lient of Oxford, and proprietor of one 

% of the largest and best farms in this 

section of Oxford County, was born 
in this town, February 27, 1831, son of Den- 
nis and Hannah (Keith) Hayes. His grand- 
father, Isaac Haves, was an early settler in 
Poland, Me., and was one of the leading 
farmers of his locality. He and his wife were 
F'ree Will Baptists in their religious belief, 
and they both lived to a good old age. They 
reared six sons; namely, Dennis, Richard, 
Isaac, William, Sewell, and Hezekiah, of 
whom the only survivor is Sewell. 

Dennis Hayes, father of Cyrus .S. , was born 
in Poland, Me. In his early nianhooil he fol- 
lowed the carpenter's trade. Later in life he 
moved to (Oxford, where he operated a mill and 
carried on a large farm, becoming one of the 
leading residents of this town. He was twice 
married. Py his first «ife, whose maiden 
name was Mary Johnson, he had eight chil- 
dren, of whom the only one now living is 
Henry S. , who resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
For his second wife he married Hannah Keith, 
;i native of Bridgewater, Mass., and of his 
children by her three survive, namely : Mary 
A., widow of the Rev. Thomas Ellis; Cyrus 
.S., the subject of this sketch; and Isabella E. , 
wife of Nathaniel Fisher, of Oxford. 



Cyrus .S. Hayes was educated in the schools 
of Oxford. He acquired by practical experi- 
ence a thorough knowledge of farming, and is 
now the owner of three hundred and fiftv acres 
of valuable land, which constitutes one of the 
best located and most ]iroductive pieces of 
agricultural propert}' in this localitv. Besides 
carrying on general farming upon an extensive 
scale, he deals cjuite largely in agricultural 
implements. His success in life has been 
gained by hard work, and the proper utiliza- 
tion of e\"erv opportunity for advancement; 
and his upright character has won the esteem 
and good-will of his fellow-townsmen, who 
regard him as one of the most able farmers and 
progressive citizens of this town. 

On Januarv 10, 1866, Mr. Hayes was united 
in marriage with Lizzie T. Jenkins. They 
are the parents of nine children, as follows: 
S. Henry T. , Fred S., Edward K., Annie E., 
Jennie P., F^lorence S., Nellie M., AndrewJ., 
and Arthur G. In politics Mr. Hayes is a 
Republican. He has figured prominently in 
local affairs, having capably served the town 
three vears as a member of the Board of 
Selectmen. He also held other offices. 
Mrs. Haves was born in Scituate, Mass., 
April 6, 1846. She is a daughter of Peleg T. 
and Elizabeth F. (Jenkins) Jenkins. Her 
father died in J 849, and Mrs. Jenkins was a 
second time married, and now resides in (Jx- 
ford, the widow of Nehemiah Manson. 



T^.ALVIN W. SHAW, who for nearly 
I SX thirty years has occupied his piesent 
^^Is farm in Paris, Oxford County, is a 

native of this town, born April 5, 
1847, a son of .Soranus and pjneline (Jackson) 
.Shaw. 

His father was born in Paris, this county, 
October 11, 181 1, and was reared upon a farm. 
The active period of Soranus Shaw's life was 
spent in tilling the soil of a good farm which 
he owned in this town; and by his patient 
industry and persistent energy he maintained 
a comfortable home for his family, and gave 
his children a good practical education. He 
was an upright, conscientious man and a 
model neighbor. His death, which took place 
on P~ebruary 8, 1890, was cause for general 



lUOGRAPHICAT, RF.VIF.W 



>(» 



regret. In politics he was a Republican, and 
in his religions views a Baptist. His wile, 
Iimeline Jack.son, who was born in M<int\ille, 
Me., November 9, 1811, became the mother of 
ten children, as follows: Judson \V. , born 
September 6, 1833; George H. , born June 11, 
1836; Charle.s H., born July 4, 1838; Gilbert 
H. , born February i, 1841 ; Lucy .S. , born 
May 19, 1843; Mary C, born August 16, 
1844; Calvin \V. , the subject of this sketch; 
Eliza J., born ]-"ebruaiy \6, 1850, died No- 
vember, 1850; ]'21iza .\., born November 15, 
1852; and Abner S., born October 25, 1853. 
Of the above-named children those now living 
are: Judson W. , George Jl , Calvin W. , and 
Abner .S. The mother died .Sciitenibei' 24. 
1889. 

Calvin W. .Shaw, the direct subject of this 
article, was educated in the town schools and 
at Hebron Academy. lie assisted in carrying 
on the liomestead farm until reaching man- 
hood. Since beginning life for himself he has 
been engaged in various occupations. He was 
for si.x years employed as travelling agent by 
Brewer & Tileston of New York, .selling 
school books. Subsequent !)■ he became an 
operative in a shoe factory in Boston, where 
he remained four years. Continuing in that 
occupation, he worked in factories at Auburn 
and Norway, Me. In 1868 he purcha.sed his 
present farm, which for a time he carried on 
in connection with shoemaking ; but he has in 
later years devoted the major part 'of his time 
and energies to tilling the soil. He has re- 
sided here permanently for twenty-eight years, 
with the exce[)tion of a short time S])ent in 
caring for his aged parents. His iM0i)erty, 
which consists of two hundred and forty acres 
of fertile land, he devotes to general farming 
with good financial results. 

On November ig, 1870, Mr. Shaw wetlded 
Achsa D. ];)urell, who was boin in Paris, Au- 
gust 23, 1847, daughter of Ira and Ann (Mc- 
Kenney) Durell. Her father was a native of 
Milton, Mass., born October 16, 1810. He 
was a prosperous farmer of this town, continu- 
ing actively engaged until his death, which 
took place September 24, 1834. Mrs. Shaw's 
mother was a native of Cape IClizabeth. Mr. 
and Mrs. Shaw are the parents of si.x children, 
as follows: Ira D., born August 28, 1872; 



Gertrude I"., born Julv 21, 1875; llarr)' 'S\., 
born January 17, 1885; Walter J., born Au- 
gust 26, 1886; lulwaril K., born .August 31, 
1888; and I'"rancis A., who was boiii July 11, 
I 890. 

Mr. Shaw is a member of Mount Mica 
Lodge, No. 44, Inde]K'ndent Order of Odd 
l-'ellows, of South Paris. In politics he suji- 
ports the RejUiblican part)'. lle;ni(l his wife 
are liberal in their religious views. 




I 8 1 9, 
Beal. 



ORACH Bl'.AL, one of the leading 
farmers and oldest residents of A\i>n, 
I'ranklin Count}', was born in San- 
fortl. N'ork County, Me., May 15, 
son of Benjamin and Olive (Hobbs) 
Ml'. Beal's iiaternal grandfather, Zeb- 
ulon Beal,' who was a nati\'e of ()ld \'ork. 
Me., settled in .Sanford, where the gi eater 
part of his life was pas.sed, :uid he died in that 
town. He was a Whig in ])olitics. His chil- 
dren were; Benjaniin, Thomas, Woodman, 
and Olive. 

Beniamin Beal, son of Zebulon, was born in 
Sanford. In young manhood he learned the 
mason's trade, ami thenceforward he followed 
that calling in connection with farming. Of 
the six children b<nn to him and his wife, 
Olive Hobbs, three are now li\'ing, namely: 
Harrison, a resident of A\'ou ; Horace, of San- 
ford, of whom more below; and Benjamin, 
Jr., of Springvale, Me. Mr. Benjamin Beal, 
the father, serx'ed as a soldiei" in the War 
of 1812. He supported the \\'hig jnirty in 
politics, and he was a Deacon of the 15aptisi 
church. He attained the age of eighty-two 
years. 

Horace Beal, the second son, as here named, 
was educated in Sanford, and after lea\'ing 
school he learned the trade of a mason. He 
worked at his calling in Boston, Lowell, and 
Lawrence, Mass., until, on ;iccount of failing 
health, he was obliged to take a rest, and 
returned to his native town. He engaged in 
farming, still working at his trade at inter- 
vals; and he later removed to his present 
farm, where he has since resided. 

Mr. Beal married Phel)e Phunmer, and 
seven children were born to this union, four 
of whom are living, namely: Oetavus A., 



;6. 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



M.D., a physician of St. Paul, Minn.; Sum- 
ner II., wIk) is residing at home; Edwin H., 
a residc-iit oi Hutte, Mont., who is on the staff 
of tlic Inter-Mountain Publishing Company of 
that city; and llowanl \V. , travelling sales- 
man in the north-west fur J. .S. Kirk & Co., 
of Chicago, 111. 

In jiolitics Mr. Heal acts with the Reijubli- 
can |>art\', hut lias never aspired to jiublic 
office. lie is a member of the I-'ree Haptist 
church. 



|LBkII)(;i': STONP:, a sturdy and muscu- 
lar citi/en whose blazing forge and 
ringing anvil are cheery adjuncts to 
the industrial life of Waterford, Me., was born 
in I.imington, \'ork Count)', Me., ()ctolier3, 
18^9. Me is the son of Samuel, Jr., and 
.Sarah (.Sanborn) Stone, both natives of the 
I'inc Tree .State, and is of the third generation 
iif Stones in Limington, his grandfather, Sam- 
uel .Stone, having been a farmer of that town. 

Samuel .Stone, Jr., Elbridge Stone's father, 
was boin in Limington. He learned the 
stone mason's trade, and followed it for a 
number of years in Waterford, also tilling 
a farm. He finally removed to Massachusetts. 
His wife was the daughter of Rufus Sanborn, 
a farmer and lifelong resident of Haldwin, Me. 
l'"our children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
.Samuel Stone, Jr., namel}'; Elbridge, afore- 
mentioned; Aroliiie, wife of Ira Berry, a 
farmer of Scarboro, Me. ; Erancena, wife of 
S. M. Shehan, a paper-mill foreman, living at 
Cumberland Mills, Me. ; and Sarah, who died 
in infancv. 

Pllbriilge Stnne in liis childhood received a 
limited education, attending the district school 
lor a short time. He was ten years of age 
when his parents removed to Massachusetts; 
and he grew to manhood in that .State, learn- 
ing his trade there. When about twenty 
years of age he returned to Maine, Incating 
himself in Waterford, where he established 
a forge of his own in 1861. This forge he 
o[)erated foi- twenty years ; and then, purchas-' 
ing a farm of two hundred and ten acres in the 
adjoining towai of Sweden, Me., he there took 
up his residence, and for fourteen years de- 
voted his energies to agricultural pursuits. 



At the end of that period he returned to 
Waterford Mat and opened a blacksmith shop, 
and at the present time he operates both the 
smithy in Waterford and the farm in .Sweilen. 
An industrious and competent workman, he has 
achieved prosperity bv unceasing labor. 

Mr. Stone's first wife was Caroline Louise, 
daughter of Jabez and .Sallie (Hamlin) Brown, 
both of Waterford. Mr. Brown died in Brain- 
tree, Mass., at the age of eighty-four. His 
wife died in Waterford. They were the ymr- 
ents of twelve children: lunope H. ; Daniel 
Waldo; Angeline; P"annie Hamlin; Mark 
Waldo; Mahala, wife of John J. I-'rench, of 
Hraintree, Mass. ; Angela, widow of Emerson 
Wilkins; Caroline, who died yeuuig; Clara 
Noyes, wife of Edward L. Jackson, a watch 
manufacturer of Waltham, Mass. ; Malinda 
P". , deceased; Caroline Louise, Mrs. Stone; 
and Aneline, who died in infancy. 

The seventh child of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, 
now Mrs. Angela B. Wilkins, is a prominent 
member of society in Waterford P'lat, anil is 
widely known and highly esteemed. She was 



born 



1832, and was married January 30, 



1866, to Panerson Wilkins, who was born in 
Waterford, Me., January 26, 1810. A tanner 
and currier by trade, he was engaged in leather 
dressing in Plarrison, Bridgton, and later in 
Waterford, where he was jjrominent as a busi- 
ness man and a pidilic-spirited. citizen. He 
was an active worker in the Republican jiart}'; 
was Town Treasurer for several years, also 
filled minor offices; and he was a leading 
member of Mount Tir'em Lodge, No. 132, 
A. V. & A. M. Pie died April 8, 1895. 
Mr. Wilkins was a member of the P'irst Con- 
gregational church at Waterford, with which 
his widow is still connected. Mrs. Wilkins 
entertains a great many guests in summer at 
the i:)leasant old Wilkins homestead in Water- 
ford P'lat. Mrs. Caroline Louise .Stone died 
June 14, 1874. 

Mr. .Stone's second wife was Lucy P^, 
daughter of Levi and Elizabeth (Robbins) 
Houghton, all of Waterford. .She ilied in 
March, 1S80. Mr. Stone was united in mar- 
riage May 6, 1886, with Miss p:i]en M. 
Brown, who was born June 17, 1837, in 
Waterford, the daughter of Thaddeus Brown, 
of this town. Bv his first wife Mr. Stone has 



I'.IOC.RAIMIICAI, RFA'IKW 



5 ^'3 



one Sun — I'.dward W'alcin, Imiii l'"ebruary u, 
Mr. Stone has voted the Demoeratic 



iS 



/ J- 



ticket ever since he was t|nalifie(l to east a 
halhit. l^le is a niemhei' of Mount Tir'eni 
Lodj^e, No. \T,2. A. !■'. &A. M., of W'alerford. 




lUGlCNI'. II. ANDRiaV.S, M.D., a 
graduate of Howdoin Universit)' Medi- 
cal -Scliocd, now practising his pro- 
fession with success in Sumner, ().\foi(i 
C'ounty, is a native of I'aris, Me., born July 
_^o, 1S62. lie is a son of the late Alfred 1'. 
and luuiice M. (Hersey) Andrews, the former 
of whom was born in I'aris, September 15, 
I 8^7, and the latter in .Simmer, Jul)' I S, 1.S35. 
Dr. Andrews's greatgrandfather was lulmniid 
Anilrews, and his grandfather was .Sullivan 
.\ndrews. (.A more extended account of the 
family will be found in the sketch of America 
Ancb'cws. ) 

Alfred V. .Andrews was an able Inisiness 
man, who for man)' )ears was engaged in trade 
at North and West I'aris. lie acted in the 
cajiacity of a Justice of the I'eace, was scxeral 
tinies nominated foi' town ofiices, and was 
highly regarded b)' his fellow-townsmen. lie 
died in (iroveton, N.H., June 26. iSSj. His 
religimrs belief was that of the L'niversalists. 
He was three times married. His tirst wile, 
ICimice, who -was a daughter of .Samuel and 
I'ollv (Hradbury) Hersey, of .Sumner, died 
August 25, 1862. His last wife surx'ives him, 
and is now residing at West I'aris. /Mfred I'. 
.Andrews had two sons, namely: Kugene H., 
the subject of this sketch, by his first wife; 
and -Sullivan L., who is li\ing at West Paris, 
by another. 

Kugene H. Andrews acquired his early edu- 
cation in the common schools of Paris and at 
the North Bridgton .Academy. After leaving 
school he took up the study of |uiinting and 
general decorative art, and pursued it for nine 
years. In this period he also taught school 
for a while, and served for several )'ears on the 
School Board of Paris. In i .S90 he began the 
study of medicine with Dr. ( ). K. V'ates. 
Later he attended the Maine General Hospital 
and the Portland School of Medical Instruction 
for two years. He then entered the Medical 
Department of Bowdoin College, from which 



he graduated in June. 181)4. He fust located 
in Paris, where he |)ractised one )'ear. In 
1.S95 he came to .Sumner, where he is fast 
establishing a reputation as a skilful ph)'sician. 
On Sejitember 26, iMSS, iJr. Andrews was 
united in marriage to Annie I-iarllelt Hurgess, 
daughter of Charles ("i. Burgess, ol Hiunswick, 
Mc. The)- have one tiaughter- Ruth liur- 
gess, who was l)orn .Seiitember 20, 1893. In 
|)olitics Dr. Andrews is a Deniocrat. He has 
declinetl sol icitations to ser\'e in town ollices. 
He is a charter member of the O.xfonl County 
Medical .Society, which was recently organ- 
ized; and he is connected with the Masonic 
fraternity, being a mend:)er of (iranite Lodge, 
No. 182, of West I'aris, and of the Chapter, 
Council, and Commander)'. He has alieady 
laid the foundation al' a Ijrilliant fuluie as a 
professional man. 



|2)rON. OTIS HAYFORD, an inlluen- 
[■^-| tial citi/cn of Canton, Me., now a 
meiiiber of the .State lioaid ot .As- 
sessors, w.is boin in this town, Ma\' 
10, 1834. His paicnts, ()tis and AKiia 
(Hayford) Hayfoid, were cousins, his l,ithcr 
being a son of Zeii Ilayford, and iiis mother 
a daughter of Custavus I la) ford, biolhei' ol 
Zeri. These two grandfathers, Zeri and Gus- 
tavus Ilayford, were the first settlers of Caiitoii 
village, coming here in 18 14 or 1815. Tluii" 
father. Captain William li. lla)foi-d, was the 
eighteenth settler of Turner. Me., to which 
place he came fiom Pembroke, Mass. 1 atcr 
on he removed to Hartford, Me., wheie his 
remaiiis lie buried, he having died there at a 
good age. He served in the Revulut ionar)' 
\\'ar, and was a meniber of the Massachusetts 
.State militia. Gustavus Hay ford was a miller 
and built the mills at Canton. Zeri followed 
farming. Both were acti\e and ])idminent 
citizens, and spent the remaindei' of their lives 
in Canton, where they died at about sevent)' 
years of age. 

Reared to habits ot thrift and iiuhrstr)', Otis 
Ilayford, .Sr., son of Zeri, [lassed a useful and 
prosperous life, assisting materially in the 
Iniilding up of the village of Canton, where foi- 
many year.s he was successfully engaged in the 
manufacture of lumber and farmirig imple- 



564 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



nicnts, aiul was the owner aiul manager of an 
iron fouiulry and potash works. He was also 
a merchant, dealing in dry goods and groceries. 
In his early days he was a Whig; and he sup- 
ported the Rejiublican party fioni its forma- 
tion. Ill the thirties he served as a Repie- 
sentative to the Lower House of the State 
legislature, and for a number of years was a 
Justice of the Peace. He died in icS/r, aged 
sixtv-eight _\ears, Alvira, his wife, surviving 
him until 1HS2, and reaching the age of 
SL-veiit\-seven years. In religious belief they 
were Uni\'ersalists. Five children were born 
to them, as follows: Adela F. , Adela I^". , and 
(ieorge O., all three dying in infanc}'; Celes- 
tia, who died at eighteen )ears of age; and 
()tis Hayford, Jr., the subject of this sketch. 

Otis Hayford, the onl\- survixing child, was 
educated in the common schools of Canton, 
Lewiston Academy, and Westbrook Seminary, 
and then went to Portland, where he held a 
l^osition as clerk until twenty years <if age. 
On attaining his majority he started in trade 
for himself in a general variety store in Can- 
ton ; and until iS/cS, or about twenty-five years, 
he did a successful business in this line, having 
for many years several different partners, con 
ducting it alone the rest of the time. During 
those years he was also largely interested in 
buying and selling general farm produce, in- 
cluding also wool and hops. In 187S, in com- 
inny with Ciovernor Washburn, S. C. Andrews, 
a.iul others, he purchased the bonds of the 
Rumford P'alls & Huckfield l-lailroad, and 
rebuilt the road from McFalls to Canton, after 
which he was su]ierintendent of the road four 
years, a Director ten years, and X'ice-President 
several years. 

in 1855 Mr. Hayford married Amanda M. 
I''. Phinnew who was born in I'urner, Me., a 
daughter of Leonard Phinuey. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hayford have three children living, namel)^ : 
Herl^ert V., born in Canton, now Station 
Agent at McFalls, who is married and has 
three children — Percy G., Jessamine A., and 
Jiiseiihine A.; Wilder O. , an accountant for 
the Poland Pa]:)er Company in Canton village, 
who is inaiiied and has four childien — R. 
Mildred, Herbert O. , Dorothy S. , and Celes- 
tia M. ; and Mary K. Havford, who lives at 
the parental home. One daughter, Celestia, 



died at fifteen; and a son, Percy (1., dietl at 
four years of age. 

Hon. (^tis Ha\ford, who is a Republican, 
has always taken a very active interest in 
political matters. He has served as Select- 
man, Town Clerk, Treasurer, and in minor 
offices of his town. During the war he was 
Captain of the militia company of Canton, and 
in iS/i and 1872 was a member of the State 
Senate. Since 1891 he has been on the State 
Board of Assessors. F'raternally, he has been 
a Mason since 1858, when he joined Oriental 
Star Lodge, No. 28, of which he was Master 
a few years later; and at the institution of 
Whitney Lodge, at Canton, he was one of the 
charter members and its first Master. He is 
also charter member and first High Priest of 
Androscoggin Royal Arch Chapter, and a 
member of Lewiston Conimandery, Knights 
Templars. In religious belief Mr. aiul Mrs. 
Havford are Uui\ersalists. 



fOBIAS L. EASTMAN, a well-known 
public man of O.xford County, and the 
|3ro]irietor of the Ivistman Canning fac- 
tory in P^ryeburg, was born in the town of 
Stow, this county, December 30, 1844. His 
parents were Daniel and Rebecca (Smart) 
Eastman, the former of l"r\'eburg, the latter of 
Loyell. Daniel l^astman was engaged for a 
number of years in farming and lumbering and 
conducting a hotel in Lovell; and his death 
occurred in that town, October 25, 1877. He 
was twice married. His first marriage was 
contracted with Miss Lucy Walker, of Fryc- 
burg, who died in Lovell. A|)ril 10, 1835. 
She was the mother of se\en chiklren, all now 
deceased; namely, James W., Abigail W. , 
Hall C. , Horace D. , Horace, Mary Ann, and 
Samuel W. The second wife, Rebecca, after 
her husband's death went to live with her son, 
Tobias L. , and died at his home, December 7, 
1885. She was the mother of si.x children, 
namely: Seth and Tobias L. , deceased; Luc\' 
W. , now residing in Standish, Me., the widow 
of Jere H. Lord; Tobias I., (second), the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Susan S., deceased; and 
Emma K. , the widow of Tobias Lord, and now 
residing in Standish, this State. 

The educational advantages available by 



InOCRAPHICAL RF.VIEW 



s(^s 



Tobias L. l^astman wcic limited tn tiiose 
offcreci by the common sciiools, .Altiioiigh 
but a boy of sixteen when the Rebellion 
began, he, on October i, 1861, of'teied his ser- 
vices lor the war, wishing to enlist in the 
'rwelfth Maine Regiment of N'olniiteer Infan- 
tr\-. He was lefnsed on account of his youth; 
but, being determined to fight for the Union, 
he followed the legiment to New Orleans, and 
there, on i\Ia\' I, 1862, was enrolled in Coni- 
|)an\' 1{, under Colonel (jcorge ]•". Sheple}- and 
Captain Knight. He remained with the regi- 
ment until the last year of the war, participat- 
ing in the engagements at I'onchatoula, La., 
and Irish Bend, La. ; the siege of Port Hud- 
son ; the engagement at Dee|) Hottom ; and, 
under Sheridan, in the battles of Winchester 
and Cedar Creek. \\\ all this time he escaped 
injury; anfl, though he spent two weeks in the 
hospital on account of illness contracted in the 
malarial districts of the South, he was in com- 
paratively good health when, in August, 1865, 
he received his discharge at Hilton Head, S.C. 
Returning home after this he was engaged for 
one year each as clerk in a grocery store of 
Lovell and in a hardware store of East Cam- 
bridge, and for four years in a general mer- 
chandise store at Steep Falls, Me. Subse- 
t|uently, he was railroad Station .Agent at 
Steep Falls for two years, and then he was 
employed in the Lhiited States Mail Service 
on the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad until 
1881. He was ne.xt appointed Postmaster of 
l-'ryeburg, and served four years, until I'ebrLi- 
ary, 1886. After leaving this position he 
established a factory for canning corn at 
Fryeburg. This proved successful, and within 
a short time he took measures to incorjjorate 
the T. L. Eastman Company, which now man- 
ages a factory in Fryeburg village and has an 
extensive business, most of their canned goods 
being shipped to New York City. 

In 1876 Mr. Eastman was iniited in mar- 
riage with Mary M. Hobson, of Standish, Me., 
daughter of the late Rev. P. M. Hobson. She 
died in 1880, leaving two children, namely: 
James \V., who is with his father; and Reba 
M., who makes her home with her aunt in 
Standish, Me. \n May, 1884, Mr. I'.astman 
entered a second marriage, contracted with 
Miss Adelia S. Walker, of Fryeburg. She is 



a daughtei' ol llcnr\' and Caroline (l-'i\'e) 
Walker, residents ol this town. Mi'. Walkci' 
is a well-to-do faiiner. Hv his second union 
Mr. ]{astman has one child, Edna. He is one 
of the leailing Republicans of the district, 
which he re|)rcsentcd in 1891 in the Icgisla- 
tuie. Lie is a pojiular and influential member 
of several social organizations. As a Mason 
he belongs to Pythagorean Lodge, No. 11, (}f 
]'"ryeburg ; Aurora Chajiter, No. 17, of Cor- 
nish, Me. ; Portland Council, of PoitlaiuL and 
Portland Commander)', No. 2, of the sanic cit)'. 
As a Knight of J'ythias he has passed all the 
chairs in Pequawket Lodge, No. t,^, of !'"i\e- 
burg; .'iiid as an Otid I'Ydlow he is a memlier 
of Pecpiawkct Lodge, No. 46, of Hi'ownfield, 
Mc. He belongs to Lovell Colony, No. 6^, 
Pilgrim Fathers of Fryeburg; to Grover Post, 
No. 126, (Iranil Army of the Reiiublic, of the 
same town ; and he is Secretar)- of the West 
Oxford Agricidtural Society. Mr. and Mrs. 
]{astman are niembers of the Congregational 
church at l-'ryeburg. They occupy a handsome 
residence on ALain Street, Fr\'ebure. 




LLAS A. TUCKER is a representative 
citizeii of Sumner, Me., a pros]K'rous 
farmer, and aii old resident of the 
town. He was born in .Sumner, y\|)ril 9, 
1820. He is a grandson of William Tucker, 
who was a soldier in the war of the Re\(ilu- 
tion, anil who died in Burlington, \'t. 

Elias A. Tucker has resided in .Sumner trom 
the time of his birth, and acc[uired his ciluca- 
tion in the schools of this town. His farm, 
which has been in the faniily for many N'cars, 
comprises sixty acres of good hnul ; and he has 
made many im]:)rovements u])on it, electing 
convenient aiul substantial farm buildings. 
He has worked ver\' hard to attain his iirescnt 
prosperity, and has the res])ect of all who 
kriow him. Mr. Tucker was married January 
18, 1852, to Betsey B. Davis, a native of 
Lewiston, Me., born Ma}' j, 1824. .She died 
May 21, 1885. She was the niother of two 
children, one of whoni is with lu-r in the other 
W(n'ld. 'The other, Willie \)., who was born 
January 4, 1857, lives with his father and now 
manages the home farm. lie is a man of 
ability, who keeps in step with the [irogress of 



566 



nioCU APIIICAL RF.VIKW 



tlie times, ami as a farmer has achi(j\'ecl 
marked success. He mairied Miss Richie F. 
Downs, and has a family of five charming chil- 
(hen -Harold K. , Willie E., I':iias E., Alice 
].., and I'hili]) A. He has lost one child, 
jL'nnie. 

Mr. Tucker antl his son vote the Re|Hibli- 
can ticket. The elder man is a member of 
the iJaptist church at luist Sumner. His son 
and wife are liberal in religious matters. 
Willie D. Tucker is prominent in social 
circles, belonging to a number of fraternal 
bodies, including the Mason's Lodge and the 
Olid Fellows Lodge at Huckfield, Me., Both 
father and son are highly esteemed in .Sumner, 
and the\' are well . known throughout the 
local it\'. 




jvERi-:rr hlaxciiaru Norton, a 

member of the School Hoartl of I'arm- 
ington, Me., and one of the trus- 
tees of the village cemetery and the Common 
or Court -Scjuare, is the only son of Sylvanus 
R. and Mar)- (Hutler) Norton. He was born 
in this ])lace in the month of June, 1861, He 
traces his ancestry to Nicholas Norton, who 
was a resident of Duke's Comity, Mass., as 
earl)' as 1 fiCn). 

The line is thus continued; Joseph Norton, 
son (if Nicholas, the father of ]'"benezer Nor- 
ton ; and libenezer and his wife, Deborah 
Mayhew, the parents of Peter Norton, who 
was born in lulgartown, Mass., Se])tember 
I), 171S. He inherited l.irge estates from 
his lather in his native town, and became a 
large farmer there, ant! a man of prominence. 
He married .Sarah Hassett, and leared a famih' 
of thirteen children. 

I'eter Norton's first son was born August 
2Q, 1741, and was named after his grandfather, 
Ebenezer. He married Elizabeth Smith, and 
in 1 791 removed to Farmington township and 



bou-ht J\iver lot No. 



anil a part of No. 



}i. He had ample means of subsisteiice, s( 
that he had not, luckil)' for him iierhajw, con- 
sidering his large family, to depend on what 
he could grind out from a new anil almost un- 
inhabited country. The year before he came 
to Maine he had sent his two elder sons 
ahead to clear some of the land, and to erect 



a dwelling-house and other buildings for the 
family. 

Ebenezer Norton, son of Peter, had, like his 
father, a family of thirteen children. He iie- 
canie a very prominent figure in the town in 
which he had chosen to establish himself and 
his fajiiily, and was one of the wealthiest and 
best-known men here. He served one year as 
a Selectman, and was a Representative to the 
Massachusetts legislature in 1S04. He as- 
sisted in the building of the Centre Church, 
and was the second on the list of original jiew 
owners, paying at the time one hundred dol- 
lars for his pew. He died August 26, 1S05; 
and his wife, Elizabeth, who was born in 1743, 
d i ed in i S i i . 

H'\s .si.xth son was George W. , who was born 
on February 16, 1787. He spent his life on 
the old homestead, making many improve- 
ments on the property, and establishing a rep- 
utation f(n- industr)', sound common sense, and 
ability in more than one direction. Like his 
granilfatlier Peter, who was a brave Revolu- 
tionary soldier, he also served his country well 
in time of need, fighting as a ])rivate soldier 
through the \\'ar of 1S12. He married Ruth, 
the daughter of Richard and Abbie (Rolfe) 
Rice; and they became the parents of six chil- 
dren, namely: Jeremiah R., born September 
k;, 1817; Sylvanus R., who was born October 
7, 1823, and is the father of Everett Blanchard 
Norton; George W. , Jr., born August 6, 1825, 
who died in Wisconsin in 1859; I'hilinda, 
born in 1828; Richaid R., born ]''ebruary 
3, 1833; and Ahirtha L., bom September 
6, 1835. George W. Norton, the father of 
these si.v children, was a Calvinist ]5a]itist in 
his religious belief. He died April 27, 1870; 
and his wife, born in 1791, died in 1872. 

Sylvanus ]\.. Norton, their second son, 
bought the old homestead in Farmington, and, 
later, adding more land, became possessed of 
quite a large estate, which he has always run 
as a faini, living in the plain and simple way 
that his forefathers did. He has devoted a 
part of his time to the lumber business, en- 
gaging in this with considerable profit. In 
i860 he built a new house and barn on the old 
place, where he has resided ever since. It 
was on September 25 of the same year that 
he was married to .Mary C. Putler, who was 



IJIOORA I'H IC AL R KVI K\V 



born luly 25, 1S23, daiigliter of Julward and 
Mchitabel (Norton) HuiIlm-. Three children 
were the fruit of this marriage. ICverett Ulan- 
chard being the only one now living. The 
others were: Isabella H. , born on the Sth of 
May, i<S63, who died on the 15th of the same 
month, 1S91 ; and Helen 15., who was born on 
the loth of May, 1X68, and died Jaiuiary 20, 
iiSGc;. Svlvaiuis R. Norton has been inti- 
mately connectetl with the interests ol the 
town where he has liwil for a long time. He 
is a stanch KeiJublican in pcdities. b'nr thirty 
years previous to 1890 he was one ol the trus- 
tees of the old \-illage cemcterv, and of the 
Common or Court Scpiare. He is at piesent 
enjoying the best of health, although nearly 
seventy-four. 

Everett Blanchard Norton receivetl his edu- 
cation in various institutions, among them 
being the high school of his natix'e town, the 
State Normal School, and Derby Academy. 
After completing his course of study he 
worked on the home farm with his father, but 
at the same time did other things outside. 
He has been a reporter for the Lew 'a^ton /(>///■- 
nal for twenty years, dating from the time he 
left school. He has now lieen on the School 
Board of Farmington for four years. In i8go 
he was appointed one of the twelve Inspectors 
of Revenue, his term expiring on tlie 15th of 
lulv, 1893. Mr. Norton has also held many 
minor offices in the town of l'"ainiington, 
where he is ver\- |iopular. 




fe/T I^l'^-^ll'^-'^l NORWOOD, a well-known 
and lespected resident of Waterlord 
township, and one of its energetic 
and enterprising farmers, was born 
in Hiddeford, York County, August 30, 1852, 
a son of the Lite Albert Norwood. His an- 
cestors lived in Massachusetts. The internal 
grandfather, also named Abraham, who was 
born and reared in Cape Ann, like the ma- 
jority of his neighbors followed the sea for 
a living. In his later years he moved to 
Hiddeford, Me., where he spent his remaining 
days. 

Albert Norwood was born in Hiddeford, 
which he always called home, although he was 
engaged as a fisherman in- a sailor throughout 



the most of his life. When his savings h;ul 
increased sufficiently, he bought a good tarm, 
which his sons managed, and on which his 
widow and some of his chiklren are now liv- 
ing. He was a light-house keeper from 1874 
until liis death, which occurred August 11, 
1S88. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Mary Mitchell, was born in Saco, .Me. The\ 
became the parents of eleven children, as fol- 
lows: (jeorge, now a resident of Hiddeford; 
Al)bie, now deceased; Ida, the wife ol John 
Wentworth, of .Saco, Me.: Abraham, the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Lorenzo, who lives on the 
homestead in Hiddefonl; Nancy, also de- 
ceased; I'"stelle, who is the wife of Captain 
William I'uttle, of Cape Cod, Mass.: Albert, 
who lives on the old homesteatl; James, li\ing' 
in Hiddeford, who marrietl Kate Tarbo.x ; 
Mary, who is also at home; and Nelson, who 
niarried Stella Whitney, and resiiles at Hitlde- 
ford. The mother also resides at the home 
farm. 

Abraham Norwootl received a ]>r;ictital edu- 
cation in the |)ublic schools of his natixe 
town. He remained at home, assisting his 
father in sailing and fishing until he was 
twenty-two years old. Then he was engaged 
in the manufacture of fine cigars in Dover, 
N.H., for two vears. In 1879, shortly after 
his first marriage, Mr. Norwood went to Colo- 
rado, and from there travelled throughout the 
West, engaging in all kinds of business, from 
mail carrying to mining. In the spring of 
1887 he returned to the place of his nativity, 
and was there em[)loyed in the hatter's trade l(n- 
sometime. In 1890 he came to this county, 
settling in the town of Waterford, where he 
bought his jircsent farm, which was the first 
homestead cleared in Waterford, and was long 
known as the McWain farm. Mr. Norw^ood 
owns about one hundretl and thirt\' ;icres ol 
land, on whicii he raises hay, corn, and the 
smaller grains, and also carries on dairying 
and stock growing. In politics he affiliates 
with the Republican party. He is a member 
of the Norway Grange, and is now serving as 
Road Surveyor in Waterford township. 

Mr. Norwood was first married November 
14, 1S74, to Miss Carrie Thistle, who was 
born in Hiddeford. .She was a daughter of 
John and Loi.sa Thistle, of Nova .Scotia, the 



hic)(;r.\I'Hicai> revifav 



former of whom died when she was a little 
girl. On March 8, 1890, he entered a second 
marriage, contracted with Fannie S. Libby, 
who was born October 26, 1846, in the town 
of Scarboro, Me., daughter of Cyrus and Sarah 
(Uver) I>ibby, neither of whom is living. 
The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Norwood is a 
daughter. Ruth, who was born July 6, 1891. 
Mrs. Norwood is a member of the Waterford 
Couirregational Church. 



On December 30, 1883, Mr. Toochaker 
married Rosa G. Hunter, and they have a son 
and a daughter; namely, Howard R. and 
Lizzie S., both at home. The family are at- 
tendants of the Free Will ]5aptist church. 




'R.ANK J. TOOTH AKER, a jMominent 
farmer of Phillips, Me., was born here 
September 30, 1856, his parents being 
William H. and Fmma F. (Hervey) Toothaker, 
the former of whom was a native of Bowdoin- 
ham, Me., and the latter of Phillips. The 
Toothaker family are descended from sturdy 
Scotch stock, and the first settler of the name 
in this country established a home in l^runs- 
wick. Me.: but little, however, is recorded of 
him or his immediate family. Kphraim 
Toothaker, the father of William B., followed 
the vocation of a farmer. He li\ed to be 
nearly a century old. During the struggle for 
independence he was in active service, and 
after his death his widow received a ]5ension. 

William B. Toothaker spent his life in agri- 
cultural pursuits. He was twice married, 
his hrst wife being Abigail Content, who 
bore him five children, the only survivor being 
a son, Morrill. By his second wife, Plmma P. 
Hervey. he had seven children, the five now 
li\ing being Andrew J., Frank J., Alfred 
H., Weston U.. and I. T., all of whom live in 
Phillips. Their father died in 1891, aged 
seventy-six years. 

P'rahk J. Toothaker, the second son, re- 
ceived a practical common-schoiil education, 
after which he took up farming, in which he 
has been very successful. He has a farm of 
somewhat over two hundred acres, about 
seventy of which are under cultivation. He 
raises some live stock. The place is what is 
known as the Smith farm, and, since becom- 
ing its owner, he has made many repairs and 
improvements, remodelling the house and out- 
iiuildiugs, and increasing the productiveness 
of the land. I, ike his father, he is a Repub- 
lican in political affiliation. 



'OHN L. HORNF, a retired tanner uf 
Norway, Oxford County, was born in 
!\Iilton, N.H., November 8, 1824, son 
of Daniel and Jane (Lennon) Home. 
Daniel Home, Sr. , the paternal grandfather, a 
blacksmith by trade, was born on Roger's 
Hill, Rochester, N.H. He bought and 
cleared a farm in Wakefield, N.H., where he 
also carried on his trade, becoming a prosper- 
ous man. He died at the age of eighty, leav- 
ing three children — Daniel, Jr., William, 
and Charity Home. Daniel, Jr., worked at 
the blacksmith trade with his father for a 
time. He then bought a farm, and thereafter 
spent the most of his life in agricultural pur- 
suits. At a later date he purchased a smaller 
farm in Rochester, where he resided until the 
infirmities of age compelled him to retire and 
take up his home with his son Daniel. In 
politics he was a Re]3ublican, and in religion 
he atfiliatetl with the Congregationalists. He 
formed two matrimonial alliances. His first 
wife, Jane, the mother of John F. . died aged 
about forty, leaving five children — Luther, 
John L., Daniel P., Horace, and Jane F. His 
second wife, Hannah Burroughs in maiden- 
hood, had two children — Horace and Page. 
He died at the age of eighty-five years. 

After completing his education in the com- 
mon school, John L. Home started out at 
the age of seventeen to make his fortune. In 
ISerwick, Me., he was apprenticed to Oliver 
Hill, for the purpose of learning the tanning 
trade. Here he worked so faithfully, and 
comprehended the details of the business so 
readily, that, one year prior to the expiration 
of his apprenticeship, Mr. (Miver sent him to 
take charge of a tannery in Rochester. After 
serving one year in this capacity, he bought 
the tannery of his employer, and continued 
the business on his own account for the fol- 
lowing two years. He then ]3urchased another 
plant in Wolfboro. N.H., which he conducted 
in company with Moses Varner for three 



1!1()(;R.\I'HK-AL RKVIKW 



569 



years. In September, 1S52, Mr. IIoiiil- came 
to Norway, and bought the Mark -Smith 
tannery of fifteen pits, built by Mr. Smith in 
1841. lie afterward so improved the concern 
that it became one of the most thorouj;hly 
equipped establishments in the State. Mr. 
Ilorne continued the business here alone until 
1877, when his son, Herman I.., was given an 
interest. The firm name became j. L. lldrne 
& Son. In 18S5 they were succeetled by the 
Norway Tanning Company, of which Mr. 
Home was the superintendent and general 
business manager, until the place was burned 
in 1893. Another enterprise of his was the 
purchase of a large tract of land adjoining the 
tannery. This property he divided into about 
ninety building lots, upon some of which 
he erected twenty houses, that afterward sold 
advantageously. It was largely through hi.s 
influence that B. F. Spinney & Co., of Lynn, 
Mass., established their shoe factory here in 
1873. This has proved a great boon to Nor- 
way, as it has increased the population and 
business, and brought in expert workmen. 
To Mr. Home also Norway is jirincipally in- 
debted for the Branch Railroad from here to 
South Paris. He was Chairman and stuck - 
holder at the time the Norway water-works 
were put in. He was also a promoter and 
stockholder of the National Bank, subse- 
quently becoming one of the Directors; and 
he has been for many years Treasurer of sev- 
eral of our leading institutions. In iiolitics 
Mr. Home is a Republican, lie has been 
identified with Masonic orders since 1864, 
being now a member of O.xford Lodge, Norway 
Chapter, and Portland Commandery. He is 
also an Odd P^ellow of Norway Lodge, and a 
Past Grand Master of the Knights of Pythias. 
Mr. Home has been married three times. 
The first occasion was in 1857, when he 
wedded Hannah K. Wallace, a daughter of 
Linsley Wallace, of North Berwick, Me. She 
died at the age of forty, leaving si.\ children 
— Chester, Herman, Rosalia M., John, 
George, and Charles. Anna Wrizley, who 
became his second wife, lived eight years 
after her marriage, and had one child, Myra, 
who died in early life. Mr. Home's third 
marriage was contracted with Mrs. Abbie L. 
Ham, the widow of Phineas Ham, of New- 



field, Me. Mr. Ham died at the age of thirty- 
si.\, leaving her with two children — P^lizabeth 
and George. Mrs. Home was a daughter of 
Phineas and Llizabeth (.Shara) Howe, of New- 
field. Her father, who was a stone cutter, 
was burned to ilealh. His children were: 
Sarah, Reuben, Abel, Ivlizabeth, and Abbie. 
Mrs. Horne"s grandfather, Phineas Howe, 
served in the Revolutionary War. She died 
at the age of fifty-si.\. Mr. Home formerl\- 
lived on Cottage Street, but afterward moved 
to 40 Main Street, which he has since so im- 
proved that it is now one of the finest dwell- 
ings in Norway. He has been a very active 
member of the Congregational church, donat- 
ing liberally to three edifices, which ha\e been 
successivelv burned down. 



(^tAMP:S M. LAMBERT, a native of the 
^' town of Strong, Me., who owns and oc- 



^1' 

\Xa} eu]3ies a productive farm situated west 
of the village, was bom on January 21, 
1849, son of John and Susannah (Borden) 
Lambert. Mr. Lambert's father was a native 
of Edgecomb, Me., and his mother was born 
in Freeman. 

John Lambert came to .Strong when he was 
ten years old. Later he learned the carpen- 
ter's trade, and followed that occupation in 
connection with farming for the greater part 
of his active life, lie was one of the leading 
men of the town in his day. lie was the 
father of nine children, as follows: Simeon 
W., who married Nancy Davenport, and was a 
prosperous farmer until his death, which took 
place in 1892; Rosetta, wife of N. B. Rowe, 
a farmer and shoemaker of Beans Corner; 
Louisa, wife of Riyal Whitney, who is' now a 
merchant in Texas: Lucinda, wife of Charles 
Kimball, a boot and shoe maker of Lynn, 
Mass.; Washington \V.. who dieil in 1851, 
aged four years; James M., above named, who 
lives on the homestead; Dora E., who died in 
1866; Philanda, wife of Charles Boynton, 
who is now a farmer in Massachusetts; and 
Clara A., who died in 1873, aged si.xteen 
years. 

James M. Lambert, the special suijject of 
this sketch, attended the common schools in 
his boyhood, and at an early age l)egan to as- 



inoCKArillCAI, RKVIF.W 



sisl upon the home farm, where he has always 
resided. He took charge of the place previous 
to reaching liis majority, anil he now has a 
splendid farm rjf two hundred and twentv-five 
acres, which is well located and well taken 
care of. Aside from general farming and 
dairsing. he has acquired a wide reputation 
as a manufacturer of ]jure cider vinegar, anil 
hj also deals ipiite e.\tensi\'el\' in implements 
aiul fertilizers. He is regarded as one of the 
most successful farmers and progressive citi- 
zens of Strong. 

On (_)ctoher 5, 1S70, Mr. Lambert marrieil 
.'\ugusta Iv Wilbur. She was born in 
Phillips, daughter of John L. and Asenath 
(Robbins) Wilbur, both of whom are natives 
of that town, her fathei' being a prosperous 
farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert have one 
daughter. Mertie A., who was born lune 27, 
nSs'i. 

In i-iolitics .Mr. Lambert is independent, 
preferring to vote for the candidates whom he 
considers the most worthy and capable; and, 
although he himself has held some of the 
minor town offices, he has no aspirations for 
])olitical honors. He is connected with the 
Inilependent Order of Odd Fellows: and with 
Marathon Lodge. No. 96, Knights of Pvthias. 



t\ LOREST W. NORTON, one of 
the most enterprising and successful 
^ young business men of Farmington, 
was born in Strong, Me., June 4, 
i.S6(j, .son of Zachariah and Orianna (Taylor) 
Norton. Mr. Norton is a descendant of Zacha- 
riah Norton, a native of Martha's Vineyard, 
wlio about si.N years before the close of the last 
century came with his family to this town, 
where he became one of the sturdy pioneers 
and iirogressixe citizens. He had previously 
ser\ed as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
He was Town Treasurer in 1805, and repre- 
sented Farmington in the Massachusetts legis- 
lature in 1807. He later removed to Madi- 
son, Somerset County, Me., where he tilled 
the soil for the rest of his life. 

Zebulon Norton, son of Zachariah, was 
engaged in farming for a time in North 
Farmingtim, and afterward in Industry and 
Phillips, His declining years were spent in 



the last-named town, where he lived to reach 
the advanced age of ninety-si.\. He served in- 
the War of 181 2. and was elected to various 
town offices. His first wife, whose maiden 
name was Louisa Pratt, died in young woman- 
hood, leaving four daughters — Louisa, Han- 
nah, Huldah, and Lydia. P'or his second 
wife he wedded Abigail Hartford, and of this 
union there were born nine children, as fol- 
lows: Daniel L. : Joshua PL: Abigail: Char- 
lotte: Ichabod ; Zachariah, first, who dietl 
young: .Mary: Caroline: and Zachariah, sec- 
ond. Mr. Nnrton's grandmother lived to be 
seventy-si.\ year old. 

Zachari:di Norton, son of Zebulon, was born 
in Phillips, June 20, 1S43. He grew to man- 
hood upon his father's farm, and in 1862 en- 
listed as a ]3rivate in Company D, Twenty- 
eighth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, for nine 
months' service in the Civil War, during 
which time he participated in the siege and 
capture of Port Hudson. Returning home, 
after completing his term of service, he en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, owning succes- 
sively and residing upon farms in Phillips, 
Freeman, and New Vineyard. He finally be- 
came an employee of the Eastern Railroad 
Company in Lynn, IMass. He worked his 
way forward from a switchman in the yards 
through the various positions to that of con- 
ductor of a train, and continued in that ca- 
pacity until 1880, when he resigned his posi- 
tion. For the succeeding ten \'ears he resided 
in New \'ineyard, Me., and in i Sgo removed 
from there to F"armington, w'here he has since 
lived in retirement. He is one of the well-to- 
do, residents of this ]")rosperous town, owning a 
productive village farm of forty acres, a fine 
residence, and two tenement houses. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican. His wife, Orianna 
Taylor, whom he married September 11, 1864, 
is a daughter of the late Thomas and Harriett 
(Libby) Taylor, of Boston, Mass., and she is 
the ^lother of two children, namel\' : La Forest 
W. , the subject of this sketch; and Arthur 
R., who was born June 24, 1880. 

La Forest W. Norton was educated in 
Lynn, Mass., and acccompanied his parents 
to this town, where he has since resided. 
Having a natural inclination toward mercan- 
tile pursuits, he in 1895 bought the business 



BIOCRAl'IllCAL REVIKW 



571 



formerly carried on by J. H. Pelham & Son, 
■and now conducts a very profitable grocery 
and provision trade in the Drummond Block 
on Broadway. Being a young man of excel- 
lent business capacity, upright and progres- 
sive, he is very popular, and he is now well 
advanced upon the road to prosperity. I'oliti- 
cally, Mr. Norton acts with the Republican 
party, and in his religious views is a Congre- 
trationalist. 



r- 



ROBERT C. TH0:MAS, a much-re- 
spected resident of OxfortI, was born 
l-'ebruary 10, 1843, sou of George 
\V. and Margaret (I^lankenburg) 
Thomas. Holmes Thomas, the father of 
George W., and the grandfather of Robert C, 
was a Massachusetts man by birtii. He came 
to Maine, and became one of the first settlers 
of the town of Oxford, where he was for some 
time a prominent farmer, and discharged the 
duties of Justice of the Peace and some minor 
town offices. Moving subsequently from here, 
he spent the most of his after life in the towns 
of Hebron and Dixfield, and died at the age of 
eighty-three years. His wife, Susanna, died 
at about the same age. Their seven children 
were: Michael, John, Spencer, Susan, Mary, 
Keziah, and George \V. 

George W. Thomas, a native of Dixfield, 
like his father was principally occupied with 
farming. He resided for the most part in the 
town of Oxford, where he was a leading man, 
and owned a farm of one hundred and fifty 
acres of fine farming land. His religious be- 
lief was the Baptist creed. In political belief 
he was a Republican from the foundation of 
the party, having been previously a stanch 
Whig. He married Margaret Blankenburg, a 
native of New Brunswick, who bore him ten 
children, all of whom are still living. They 
are: George W., Simeon P., Cyrus K., Will- 
iam N., Helen M., Mary C., Robert C, John 
v., Adalaine, and Lenora. George \V. , who 
is now a farmer in the town of Oxford, was for 
a time a ship caulker in Boston, Mass. : Sim- 
eon P., who lives in Wrentham, Mass., is also 
a ship caulker and a farmer; Cyrus K., who is 
a Sergeant on the Boston police force, served 
in the late war with Company K, P'irst Massa- 



chusetts Regiment; William N., who also 
served in the war, being a member of Com- 
pany I, Twenty-third Maine Regiment, is a 
physician of the town of Yarniouth ; Helen M. 
is the wife of l-'rank L. Foss, of the United 
States flotel at Portland, Me.; Mary C, the 
twin sister of Robert C, is the wife of S. R. 
Parian, of Paris, I\Ie. ; John V. is a farmer of 
Mechanic Falls, Me. ; Atlalaine is the wife 
of William W. Ripley, of Revere, Mass.; 
Lenora is the widow of .Stephen Parsons, late 
of Pasadena, Cal., where she still resides. 
George W. Thomas, Jr., is a prominent farmer 
of Oxford. The father died at the age of 
seventy-six years, and the mother several 
years later, at the age of seventy-nine. 

Robert C. Thomas grew to manhood in Ox- 
ford, receiving his education in the public 
schools. l'"or a while he worked on the farm 
of his father, but later, in 1866, he purchased 
the farm of one hundred and twenty acres, 
where he now resides. On February 10, 
1867, he married Celia Ann Walker, who was 
born in Sacarappa, Me., November 17, 1S45. 
They have three children, namely: Bertha 
M., born January 3, 1S69, who is the wife of 
George H. McKeen, a farmer of Paris; Will- 
iam H., born September 4, 1871, who is now 
a farmer; and Rosa P. Thomas, born Novem- 
ber 13, 1 88 1, who lives at home. Both par- 
ents are liberal in their religious views. In 
his political belief Mr. Thomas is a strong 
Republican. He has been school agent for 
the town, and has always been greatly inter- 
ested in matters pertaining to eilucation. He 
belongs to the Paris Grange. 

Mr. Thomas is a clever and successful 
farmer. He makes a specialty of fruit grow- 
ing, in which he is very expert. During the 
last two years he has planted one hundred and 
sixty-five fine young apple-trees. 




RANK P. STONE, the proprietor of a 
large drug store located in the Hatha- 
way Block, Norway, Me., was born in 
the town of Jay. Franklin County, June 4, 
1853, son of Moses and Harriet (I'arker) 
Stone. He is a direct descendant of an early 
New England settler, Deacon Simon Stone, 
who embarked from England, April 15, 1635, 



572 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



in the ship "Increase," bound for Massachu- 
setts, and on his arrival settled on the banks 
of the Charles River, his homestead being a 
part of the land now within the present limits 
of Cambridge and Mount Auburn. He was 
Deacon in the l-"irst Church. 

From him the descent is traced as follows: 
Simon Stone, Jr.; Jonathan Stone; Colonel 
Moses Stone; Captain Moses Stone, who 
served in the war for independence, enlisting 
in 1775, when he was made Corporal. At the 
l^attle of Bunker Hill he was i)romoted to the 
rank of Sergeant, and during that engagement 
acted as Captain of his company, taking sev- 
eral prisoners. Being broken down in health 
on account of the exposure of army life, he 
was obliged to leave the army. Although ed- 
ucated for the medical profession, the care of 
his large estate occupied his time to the e.xclu- 
sion'of his practice. He gave his children 
the best educational advantages afforded by 
the schools of the time. 

Moses Stone, son of Captain Moses Stone, 
and the grandfather of Frank P. Stone of this 
sketch, was born in Watertown, Mass., Au- 
gust 10, 1777. He was among the pioneers 
of Jay, h'ranklin County, Me., purchasing a 
large tract of new land in the Androscoggin 
Valle)', clearing it and becoming a prominent 
citizen. He was a member of the State mi- 
litia, and served as Major in the War of 1812. 
In politics he was a Democrat, and served as 
a Representative in the Massachusetts General 
Court in 1S12 and State legislature, holding 
also a number of town offices. He married 
Elizabeth Brown, of Watertown, and both 
lived past the age of eighty years. Three 
sons and three daughters were the fruit of 
their union; namely, I'21iza, Rhoda, Fmily, 
Moses, Aaron, and Cornelius. 

Moses Stone, the eldest son, born October 
4, 1808, was educated in the district school 
and at Kent Hill Seminary. His portion of 
the grant of land left by his father was about 
two hundred acres. Like his father he was 
an enterprising and prosperous citizen, and 
very active in public affairs, holding among 
other offices those of Justice of the Peace, Sur- 
veyor, Selectman, and member of the School 
Committee. He was a Whig until the forma- 
tion of the Republican party, which he after- 



ward supported. His death occurred at the 
age of eighty-two years. Harriet Parker 
Stone, his wife, who was a daughter of Scar- 
borough Parker, was born in 18 10, and died 
in 1 89 1. Her paternal grandfather, Jonathan 
Parker, resided in Roxbury at the time of the 
Revolutionary War. He was an ardent Whig, 
and was not afraid to manifest his indignation 
at measures of the British Parliament against 
the American colonies. He was one of the 
men disguised as Indians, who threw overboard 
the shipload of tea in Boston Harbor, De- 
cember 16, 1773. Moses and Harriet P. 
Stone were the parents of ten children, 
namely: Cyrus; Harriet, who died in child- 
hood; a child that died in infancy; Moses 
C. ; Asaph; Etta C. ; Emma A. ; George W. ; 
Abbie M. ; and Frank P. 

After attending the district schools, Frank 
P. Stone became a student at Kent Hill 
Seminary, and later of the Maine State Col- 
lege, from which he was graduated in 1877. 
He then taught school, following that occupa- 
tion for five years, after which he spent four 
years canvassing for nursery stock. He next 
entered a drug store at Lewiston, Me., where 
he remained three years, or up to 188S, when 
he came to Norway, and purchased the stock 
and trade of Samuel Crockett in the Hatha- 
wa}- Block. He increased the stock, adding a 
variety of stationery and toilet articles, and is 
conducting a large and remunerative business. 

On November 25, 1885, Mr. Stone was 
joined in marriage with Miss Minnie A. 
French, a daughter of Dr. Albert G. I'rench, 
of Lewiston. Three chiklren have blessed 
their union: Albert F., born November 19, 
1886, died at three months old; Carl E. , born 
April 15, 188S; and Beatrice, born October 
II, 1895. Their house on Pike's Hill was 
erected for them, and is a model of beauty and 
convenience, being fitted up with modern im- 
provements, including hot and cold water, 
electric lights, and hot water heating appar- 
atus. There is a fine stable, and the lawn is 
well kept and graded, making it altogether 
one of the most desirable domiciles in the 
town or county. 

In political affiliation Mr. Stone is a Re- 
publican. While a resident of Jay he served 
as superintendent of schools, and since living 



BIOGRAPHICAI, RPA'IIAV 



573 



here has taken much interest in tlie progress 
and improvement of Norway. The family at- 
tend the Methodist ICpiscopal church. 




.L^jUFUS C. STONE, who for the past 
five years has ably filled the position 
of Town Clerk in Jay. is a native 
of this town, and was born October 
4, 1859. His parents, the Rev. Cornelius 
and Frances C. (Sylvester) Stone, were na- 
tives of Jay. Mr. Stone's paternal grand- 
father was the Rev. Moses Stone, who came 
from Watertown, Mass., about the year i.Soo, 
and settled on the farm which is now occupied 
by his grandson. He represented his district 
in the legislature, and resided in Jay until his 
death. 

The late Rev. Cornelius Stone was a Meth- 
odist preacher; and during eighteen years of 
activity as a pastor, he presided over churches 
in Richmond, Brunswick, Kent's Hill, Wil- 
ton, New Sharon, and Strong, Me. His last 
years were passed at the homestead in Jay. 
He took a prominent part in public affairs, 
being for some time a member of the School 
Committee of the town, for four years a Rep- 
resentative to the legislature, and serving also 
as a member of the State Senate. He and his 
wife, formerly F'rances C. Sylvester, were the 
parents of two children — Mary ¥.., who is 
now residing at the homestead; and Rufus C, 
the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Stone, left a 
widow by the death of her first husband, was 
again married to C. K. Haskell, of Jay, by 
whom she had no children. 

Rufus C. Stone was educated in the com- 
mon schools and high school and at the Maine 
Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. At the 
age of twenty years he took charge of the 
homestead property, where he has always re- 
sided, and he also owned another farm in this 
town. At the present time he owns one hun- 
dred and twenty acres of excellent tillage 
land, which contains a large orchard, and hay, 
corn, potatoes, and apples are his principal 
products. 

On June 17, 1896, Mr. Stone married Lizzie 
Garcelon Pettingill. She is a daughter of 
Joseph and Amanda (Garcelon) Pettingill, and 
was born in East Livermore, where her father 



is a prosperous farmer and well-known land 
surveyor. 

In politics Mr. Stone has always favored 
and supported the principles of the Republican 
party. His services to the community are not 
limited to the duties of his office as Town 
Clerk, as he is also an active and valuable 
member of the .School Hoard. He is a practi- 
cal and successful farmer, who applies the 
resources at his command to the best advan- 
tage, and the res]>ect and esteem in which he is 
held by his fellow-townsmen is well placed 
and amply deserved. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 



<-^**-» ■ 




ENJAMIN K. KILGORE is one of 
the prosperous farmers of Waterford, 
"^J owhing some two hundred acres of 
good land. He was born here, Oc- 
tober 27, 1830, son of 13enjamin and l{mma 
(Kimball) Kilgore. His grandfather, also 
named Benjamin, a Massachusetts man, was 
the first of the family to locate in Waterford. 
The second Benjamin Kilgore lived for a few 
years in Massachusetts, but the greater part of 
his life was spent on a farm near Waterford. 
He died July 7, 1874; and his wife, who was 
a native of Bethel, Me., breathed her last 
April 5, 1863. Their nine children were: 
William, deceased: Olive, now in Lynn, 
Mass., the widow of George Waterhouse; Jo- 
seph and Emma, deceased; Benjamin K., the 
subject of this sketch; Thirza, the wife of 
Israel Dudley, of Waterford: Abbie, the wife 
of Louis Brown, of F^ranklin Park, Mass. ; 
Charlotte, a resident of Massachusetts; and 
Zella, the widow of Stephen Petty, and now 
residing in Bridgton, Me. 

Benjamin K. Kilgore obtained his education 
in the common schools. At the age of twenty 
he went to Massachusetts, where he worked at 
shoemaking for five years. Then, returning to 
Maine, he settled near his present farm, and 
devoted himself to agriculture. His estate, 
on which he has made many improvements, is 
one of the best farms in the locality. He now 
leaves its management almost entirely to his 
son Clarence. Mr. Kilgore was married 
April 16, 1857, to Betsey, daughter of Hiram 
and Betsey (Hazelton) Abbott. She was born 



574 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIB* 



in Harrison, j\lc., December 13, 1833. Her 
parents, who belonged to Newfield, Me., set- 
tled in early life in Harrison, where Mr. 
Abbott was engaged in farming up to the time 
of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore have five 
children, namely: Clarence, born May 26, 
i860, wlio lives with his parents, and bears 
most of the responsibility of the farm manage- 
ment ; Jennie, born February 12, 1862, now 
the wife of Frank Gilman, of Bangor, Me. ; 
luigene, born November 17, 1863, who mar- 
ried Gertrude Adams, of this town, has one 
child, Beulah, and resides in Waterford ; 
Charles W., born April 25, 1867, residing in 
Harrison village; and Fred J., born March 
27, 1869, living in East Saugus, Mass. Mr. 
Kilgore is prominent among the Democrats of 
Waterford, and has held several public offices. 
He is a member of the South Waterford 
Grange. Both he and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church in South 
Waterford. He has many friends in Water- 
ford, and is a worthy representative of the 
farming community of this place. 




^ 'AMUEL SEWELL GORDON, a 
respected resident of New Sharon, 
Franklin County, was born there 
on the iith of June, 1833, son of 
Jonathan and .Susan (Clarke) Gordon. Mr. 
Gordon's grandfather, Jonathan Gordon, Sr. , 
took up a tract of one hundred acres of wild 
land, in or near Readfield, Kennebec County. 
Here the grandfather built a log cabin, clear- 
ing a portion of his property, and reared a 
family of five sons and two daughters. His 
wife's name in maidenhood was Miss Savage. 
When he was about seventy -five years old he 
came to New Sharon, where he died at the age 
of eighty-five years. 

Jonathan Gordon, Jr., was born in Readfield 
on the 22d of September, 1796, and there re- 
ceived his early education. When about 
twenty years of age he came to New Sharon, 
and bought a farm about half a mile below the 
place where his son, Samuel S., makes his 
home. It was a piece of wild land containing 
about one hundred acres. Just previous to 
this more important purchase, he had invested 
in sixty or seventy acres of land at about the 



same distance from the present homestead of 
the family, but in a little different direction. 
He was married on the 2d of April, 1823, and 
subsequently became the father of six chil- 
dren. These were: Charles M., Jason C, 
Emily N. and Samuel S. (twins), Harrictte 
B., and Lizzie S. He carried on general 
farming. A hobby of his was a liking for a 
good yoke of matched steers, of which he was 
an excellent judge. His opinion of oxen was 
sought after from all quarters by those who 
had cattle to sell or to buy, and his decision 
was almost invariably adhered to. In politi- 
cal belief he was at first a Whig, and then a 
Republican. His religious belief was that of 
the Free Will Baptist church. He died in 
1869 at the homestead purchased by him from 
John Clarke, his brother-in-law, in 1856. 
His wife's death occurred in 1887, at the age 
of eighty-three years. 

Samuel Sewell Gordon spent his youth on 
the second farm purchased by his father, re- 
ceiving his education at the district school 
and high school of New Sharon. At the age 
of twenty-one he went out to Iowa to engage 
in farming. Subsequently he learned the 
plasterer's trade in Nevada and Iowa. After 
remaining in the West for a period of seven 
years, he returned in 1861 to the old home- 
stead at New Sharon. At his father's death 
he inherited the farm on which the sad event 
occurred, and he has since resided there. 
Since coming into its possession he has en- 
larged it so that it now contains two hundred 
and fifty acres. He also owns a farm of forty- 
five acres in Benton County, la. He taught 
school in Iowa for six terms, and in this dis- 
trict for thirty winters. 

Mr. Gordon was married January 30, 1858, 
to Julianne Schoonover, a daughter of David 
Schoonover, a farmer of Big Grove Township, 
la. She was born in Mexico, Ohio, while her 
parents were en route to Canton in the same 
State. When she was about seventeen years 
old her parents moved to Wisconsin, and 
about two years later to Big Grove, where she 
first met Mr. Gordon. They have one daugh- 
ter, Etta B,, who was born April 7, 1859. 
She received her education at the Farmington 
Normal School and at the Wesleyan .Seminary 
at Kent's Hill, Me. She has taught in more 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



575 




than forty different schools since she was fif- 
teen years of age, and is regarded as one of the 
pioneer teachers in this section. She is now 
in business in Lewiston, Me. In politics Mr. 
Gordon is a stanch Republican, and he has 
voted for every Republican President since 
Abraham Lincoln's election — that is, since 
his majorit}-. In religion he is a Free Will 
Baptist. He was School Commissioner and 
Selectman for three years each. He is now 
serving on the .School Board, this being his 
second term and his third year as a member of 
that body. 



LBKRT B. GRIFFITH, a well-to-do 
farmer of Peru, was born in Liver- 
more, Me., October II, 1857, son of 
Rufus and Hannah (Tripp) Griffith. 
Mr. Griffith's grandfather, Hezekiah Griffith, 
was an early settler and a prosperous farmer 
of Livermore. He passed his last years in 
Peru, and lived tt) a good old age. Rufus 
Griffith was born in Livermore, and for several 
years was there engaged in farming. Subse- 
quently, seeing what he considered a good 
opportunity to serve his own interests in Peru, 
he bought a farm of two hundred and fifty acres 
here. This he conducted very prosperously 
for the rest of his life, and died in 1891. In 
his religious views he was liberal, and in poli- 
tics he supported the Democratic party. His 
wife, Hannah, who was a native of New 
Bedford, Mass., became the mother of three 
children. These are: Charles M., a resident 
of Auburn, Me. ; Albert B. , the subject of this 
sketch; and Mary Louisa, who lives in Port- 
land. Mr. Griffith's mother is now residing 
with her daughter in Portland. 

Albert B. Griffith acquired his education in 
the schools of Livermore. He was quite 
young when his parents tocjk him with them to 
Peru. He assisted on the farm until his 
father's death. At that time he succeeded to 
the property, and has since conducted it with 
success. There are two hundred and fifty 
acres of land, the amount originally purchased 
by his father. He raises superior crops, in- 
cluding hay, oats, and corn, and deals to some 
extent in live stock. 

In August, 1S86, Mr. GriiTith was united in 



marriage to Ida De .Shon. .She was born in 
Peru, daughter of Charles V. and Janette 
(Mitchell) Ue Shon. The father is no longer 
living, and the mother still resides in Peru. 
Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have two children — 
Emily K. and Rufus De Shon. The Griffith 
farm is healthfully and picturesquely situated 
in the Androscoggin \'alley, bordering the 
river, and surrounded b)' beautiful mountain 
scenery. Mr. (iriffith has attained [Mosperity 
by hard work, and is at the present time one of 
the heaviest ta.\-payers of Peru. He is a Dem- 
ocrat in politics; while he has no jjarticular 
preference for any of the religious denomi- 
nations. 




ON. -JOEL WILBUR, of Phillip.s, 
the senior member of the firm Wil- 
ls ^ bur & Co., dealers in general laini 
iroduce, groceries, grain, Hour, etc., 
was born here September 19, 1833, a son 
of Benjamin and Mary (Heath) Wilbur. 
l'2than Wilbur, the father of Benjamin, came 
to Phillips as early as 1801, and the rest of 
his life was spent here in farming. His ten 
children have all passed awa\'. He served in 
the War of 18 12 at Portsmouth, N.H., and 
died in 1857, aged seventy-one years. Benja- 
min Wilbur, who was born in Durham, Me., 
was brought to Phillips by his parents when 
he was but four years old. He was engaged in 
general farming here during his active period, 
dying October 8, 1883, at the age of seventy- 
eight. His wife, Mary, who was a native of 
Strong, Me., died at the home of her son in 
this town on November 23, 1S96, in the 
ninety-third year. She bore him eight chil- 
dren, of whom three are living, namely: San- 
ford K., in Nevada; Mary Octavia, the wife of 
J. A. Badger, of Avon ; and Joel, the subject 
of this sketch. 

Joel Wilbur was educated in the common 
schools and at the L'armington and New 
Hampton academies. He then engaged in 
teaching for seven or eight years. In 1859 he 
opened a general store, which he has success- 
fully conducted since. His son has been in 
partnership with him since 1883. They have 
four large stores — one, eighty-three by forty- 
five feet; another, one hundred by thirty feet; 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



the third, nt Dead River Station, eighty by 
thirty feet; and the fourth, on Main Street, 
twentv-six by sixty feet. For three years 
Mr. Wilbur was superintendent of the Sandy 
River Railroad, and he has been a Director of 
that company for fifteen years. He is also a 
Director of the Phillips & Rangeley Railroad, 
and of the Union National I^ank. 

On March 27, 1S59, Mr. W'ilbui' married 
Miss Laura Louisa Howard, a daughter of 
Darius and Louisa Howard, of Phillips, and 
now has two children — Frank H. and Geor- 
giene \'irginia. The latter lives \vith her par- 
ents. FVank H. Wilbur, born in Phillips, 
September 10, i<S6o, was educated in the com- 
mon and high schools of the town and in the 
Augusta Business College. After completing 
his education he was received into partnership 
by his father, with whom he is still ' associ- 
ated. He was married on .September 29, 
1887, to Evelyn C. Church, of this town, and 
they have one child living — Conrad C. , now 
five years old. Mr. Joel Wilbur and his son 
are both loyal Republicans. While a resident 
of Avon, the father was Chairman of the 
Board of Selectmen for a number of years; and 
he has com]3leted a quarter century of service 
as Town Treasurer of Avon. He was for sev- 
eral years a member of the .School Hoard of 
Phillips. In 1889 and iSgo he was a Repre- 
sentative to the Maine legislature, and during 
the following two years he was a member of 
the Senate. While in the House he ser\ed 
on the Committees on Banks and Banking and 
F'ederal Relations; and while in the Senate he 
was Chairman of the Committee on Banks and 
Banking, a member of the Committees on 
P'isheries and Game and Mercantile Insurance. 
During his second term in the House, the 
Australian ballot bill was passed, and the 
district school system w-as abolished in certain 
towns, including that of Phillips. In 1892 
he was one of the electors-at-large for the 
State of Maine, and a delegate to the Republi- 
can Convention at Minneapolis in May of that 
year. In the previous year he had served as a 
delegate to the Centennial Anniversary cele- 
bration of the inauguration of George Wash- 
ington, which was held in New York. Mr. 
Wilbur is an attendant of the Congregational 
chinch. 



/SHiORGE A. FREDERIC, a progres- 
V i) I sive general farmer of Temple, and a 
veteran of the Civil War, was born 
in Strong, Franklin County, March 9, 1827, 
son of Peter and Claris.sa (Merchant) Fred- 
eric. Mr. Frederic's grandfather, Joseph 
F"rederic, who was a native of Portugal, 
joined the American navy, and served under 
Paul Jones during the Revolutionary War. 
After the close of hostilities he settled in the 
town of Starks, Me., acquired one hundred 
and si.xty acres of new land, and, converting 
it into a good farm, became prosperous. His 
death, in middle age, was the result of a 
serious wound in the hip, which he received 
while serving in the war. He married a Miss 
Pease, who lived to the age of ninety-eight 
years. Their children were: Polly, Hannah, 
Jo.seph, Valentine, Charles, Peter, and 
William. 

Peter Frederic bought a farm in Strong, and 
there resided for a number of years. He then 
went to Oldtown, Penobscot County, where he 
was engaged as an o]3erative in the saw-mills 
until his retirement from active labor. He 
passed his declining years at the home of his 
son, George A., and died at the age of eighty- 
four years. His wife, Clarissa, became the 
mother of eight children, namely: Betsey; 
Sophronia; George A.; Peter; Jane; Will- 
iam ; and tldward and lidwin, who were twins. 
She died at the age of sixty-five years. 

George A. Frederic attended the common 
schools, and was afterward employed in farm- 
ing until 1862. He then enlisted as a private 
in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment, Maine 
Volunteers, with which he ser\ed three years 
in the Civil War, successively under Captain 
Merrill and Captain Green. In the battle of 
Petersburg he sustained a fracture of the skull, 
from the consequences of which he has ne\er 
fully recovered. He was honorably dis- 
charged from the service as a Corpoial. After 
regaining sufificient strength to resume labor, 
he bought the Ellis farm in Temple, which he 
carried on for twenty years. Selling that 
property to Gustavus Staples he purchased the 
Welman farm of two hundred acres, where he 
has since resided. Since taking possession he 
has remodelled and enlarged the buildings, in- 
creased the fertility of the land, set out 



RTOGRAPHTCAI, REVIEW 



S77 



orcliarJs, aiul nthcrwisc inipr(i\'C(l the |)rii|)- 
crty. He carries on general farniint;- and 
dairying, and keeps some excellent cattle and 
sheejj. 

On October 17, 1849, Mr. Freileric weddetl 
Mary McLean, a native of New X'ineyard, 
Me., daughter of Charles and ]?etsey (Mer- 
chant) McLean. The father, who was born in 
Falmouth, Me., first settled in I-"arniington, 
and later in New \^ineyard. Mr. and Mrs. 
Frederic have two children, namely: Julia ( ). , 
wlio was born Februar\' 25, 185 i, and is now 
the wife of Gustavus Staples of this town ; 
and George H., who was born April 7, 1854, 
and is a carpenter b}' trade. Mr. Frederic 
su|)ports the Republican party, and he attends 
the Congregational church. 




I:RMAN L. HORNF, of Norway, 
O.xford County, a manufacturer of 
fine finished lumber, doors, sash, 
blinds, and mouldings, was born in 
Wolfboro, N.H., February 6, 1852, son of 
John L. and IrLmnah K. (Wallace) Home. 
Daniel Home, his great-grandfather, born in 
the town of Rochester, N. H., learned the trade 
of a blacksmith, which he followed for a time. 
Then he purchased a farm in Wakefield, Car- 
roll County, N.H., and there subsequently 
carried on farming as w-ell as blacksmi thing. 
He was a stirring, progressive man, took an 
active interest in local affairs, was a communi- 
cant of the Congregational church, and lived 
to be fourscore years of age. His children 
were: Daniel, William, and Charit}'. Daniel 
Home, Jr., the eldest chiUl, was born in 
Wakefield. As soon as he was old enough he 
began to assist his father on the farm and at 
the forge. On attaining his majority he pur- 
chased a farm in his native town and engaged 
in farming on his own account. A number of 
years later he sold this farm and purchased a 
smaller one in the town of Rochester, N. H., 
where he lived until the infirmities of age led 
him to give up active employment. At this 
time he took iii) his residence with his son, 
John L. Home, with whom he remained until 
iiis death at the age of eighty-five years. His 
first wife, Jane (Lennon) Home, who died 
when about fortv vears of age, bore him five 



cliildien; naniel}', Luther, John L. , Daniel 
P., Horace, and Jane F. Mr. Home then 
married Miss Hannah J^urroughs, who had 
two sons by him — Horace and I'age. In his 
early days he was a Whig; later he became a 
Republican. He was a member of the Con- 
gregational church. 

John L. I Lime, boiii in Milton, X. 11., \o- 
vember <S, 1824, receix'ed his education in the 
district school. When seventeen years old he 
went to work in Oliver Hill's tannery at 
lierwick, Me., and three \'ears later was placet! 
in charge of a branch of the business located at 
Rochester. At the end of a year he jjurchased 
the Rochester tannery, and ran it for himself 
two years. Then he sold it aiul purchased 
another in the same place, forming at that 
time a cop;\rtnershi]) with Moses Varner, with 
whom he ilid business for three years. Sell- 
ing his interest to his jjartner in 1S52 he came 
to Norway and bought the IVhrrk Smith tannery 
which was then doing only a small business. 
In a com|)arativel\' short time, under the able 
management of the new |>roprietor, the busi- 
ness became the leading industry of Norway, 
giving employment to one hundred and twenty- 
five men. In 1877 he took his son, Herman 
L. Hume, into partnershiji, and under the 
style of J. L. Home & Son the}' carried on a 
successful business up to 1885. They were 
then succeeded by the Norwav Tanning Com- 
pany, who conducted the business until the 
entire plant was consumed in the great fire 
that occurred in Norway in 1893. Not only 
did John L. Home build up a successful busi- 
ness of his own, but he has been instrumental 
in bringing a number of industries into the 
place, and in other w-ays has rendered very 
beneficial service to the town. As his busi- 
ness required heavy teaming, it was through 
his efforts that the branch of the Grand Trunk 
Railroad from South Paris to Norway was 
built. Having business connections with 
B. I-". Spinney & Co., shoe manufacturers of 
Lynn, and finding that they were about to 
leave Lynn for some good country site, he 
personally circulated for signatures among the 
residents of Norway a paper inviting the firm 
to come to this town. The invitation was 
accepted, and the large and prosperous busi- 
ness so acquired has been of great benefit to 



578 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



the town. John L. Home was Chairman of 
the liuikling Committee who had charge of the 
erection of the Norway National Bank, and, 
after the organization of the corjxiration, he 
was chosen a director. He was also a director 
of the Water Works Company. At first he 
bought a cottage on Cottage Street, where he 
lived for several years. Then he purchased 
the Henry Russ stand at 40 Main Street, 
which he has made one of the most attractive 
residences in Norway by enlarging, grading, 
putting in granite curbing, and effecting other 
imi^rovements. In 1847 he was married to 
Miss Hannah K. Wallace, daughter of Lind- 
say Wallace, of Berwick, Me. She died aged 
forty years, leaving six children; nameh", 
Chester, Herman L., Rosalie M., John, 
George, and Charles. The father afterward 
married successively Miss Anna M. Wrizley 
and Mrs. Abbie L. Ham. In politics he is a 
Reiniblican. Pie is a Mason of O.xford Lodge 
and Norway Chapter; a Knight Templar of 
Portland Commandery; a Past Grand of Nor- 
way Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows; and a member of the local lodge of 
the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of 
the Congregational church, and one of its most 
active sujiporters, helping to rebuild their 
edifice three times, it having been destroyed 
by fire. 

Herman L. Home was but a few months old 
when brought to Norway by his parents. He 
attended school in this village as a boy, and 
later was a student of South Berwick Acad- 
emy. In 1S74 he was graduated with high 
honors from Dartmouth College, and began 
his business career in the city of Portland. 
Here he opened an ofiRce, and for two years 
made a specialty of insurance, representing a 
number of the leading com|)anies of the 
country, among them the Hartford Life Insur- 
ance Company and the Massachusetts Mutual 
Insurance Company of Springfield. He re- 
turned to Norway in 1877 and entered into 
partnership with his father, under the firm 
name of J. L. Home & Son, continuing a 
member of the firm until it w-as succeeded by 
the Norway Tanning Company. Of this com- 
pany he was a director and treasurer until, as 
already noted, the plant was destroyed by fire. 
Previously he had purchased the old water- 



power at the falls and the paper-mill, and in 
1884 had established an electric light plant 
and formed a company known as the Norway 
Electric Light Company, of which he was 
chosen President. This plant supplies both 
Norway and South Paris. In 1879 Mr. Home 
built a large factory in which building mate- 
rials, including mouldings, sash, doors, and 
blinds are manufactured, and from ten to fif- 
teen men, besides teams, are employed. Mr. 
Home, working hand in hand with his father, 
helped to secure the branch of the Grand 
Trunk Railroad and the establishment of the 
shoe factory. It was largely through his in- 
fluence that the charter was granted for the 
electric railway, and later that surveyors and 
engineers were secured to bring the undertak- 
ing to a successful termination. He is a 
stockholder and Director of the electric rail- 
way, a stockholder in the Opera House Block 
corporation, and a stockholder and the Presi- 
dent of the shoe manufactory. In the 
seventies he was President of the Norway 
Agricultural Society, and during his term of 
office a new track was built and other substan- 
tial improvements made. Of about ninety 
lots of land adjoining the tannery owned by 
him and his father, which were laid out in 
streets, a portion was sold. On the remainder 
they erected about twenty houses, two of which 
were destroyed in the fire of 1893. The 
younger Mr. Home furnished the material 
used in the High School and County Building. 
He is now erecting a three-story block, forty 
by seventy feet, furnished with modem con- 
veniences, having three stores on the street 
floor and offices on the second. He also owns 
an elegant private residence. 

On October 18, 1876, Mr. Home was mar- 
ried to Miss P"anny H. Holmes, a daughter of 
E. Austin and Martha (Haight) Holmes. Mr. 
Holmes was born in Hebron, now Oxford, 
Me., on January 9, 1802, son of Captain James 
Holmes, a native of Plymouth, Mass. Cap- 
tain Holmes, who commanded a company of 
State militia, married Miss Jerusha Rawson, 
and settled soon after in Hebron, where he 
purchased a farm and engaged in agriculture. 
E. Austin Holmes, beginning his business 
career without assistance, became one of the 
largest farmers and cattle dealers in this sec- 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



579 



tioii, actiiiiring a ginHlly conipcteiicc. The 
latter years of his life were s|.ient in retire- 
ment here in Norway, where he erected a hand- 
some residence; and he died in 1866. He 
married successively Sarah E. Benson, Al- 
mena Staples, and Martha Haight. The last 
wife, who was a daughter of George Haight, of 
Gorham, survived him until 1887, when she 
died at the age of sevent}- years. There were 
seven children by the first union, three h)' the 
second, and two — George \V. and Fanny H. 
— by the third. The father was the originator 
of the Holmes note. Mr. Home was at one 
time Captain of the Norway Light Infantry. 
Despite his numerous business cares he is an 
active and influential member of several of the 
leading societies of Norway. 



-I^TOSICA P. BUMP, an agriculturist of 
L^J l^'armington, and a veteran cavalry 
\\s I man of the late war, was born Sep- 

^~^ tember 12, 1837, in the town of 
New Vineyard, this count)-, son of Hosea and 
Sylvia (Whiting) ]5ump. Hosea Bump, who 
was a blacksmith of unusual skill, was en- 
gaged in general iron work in New Vineyard, 
Me., for several years, and then moved to 
Farmington. Here he also followed his trade 
until the weight of years made it advisable for 
him to retire some time before his death, which 
happened in his eighty-second year. Me was 
a stanch Democrat. In religious belief he 
was an Adventist. His wife, who was born 
in 181 I, passed away in i 84 i . They had two 
children, namely: John C, now deceased; 
and Hosea P. 

Beginning in his boyhood, Hosea P. I3ump 
worked at general farming until he was 
twenty-one years of age. In the fall of 1861 
he enlisted in Company L, F'irst Maine 
Cavalry, and served in the war for nearly ft)ur 
years, during which he took part in some of 
the fiercest engagements. On the first of the 
three days' struggle at Gettysburg he was 
wounded in the right wrist, the shot breaking 
some of the bones; but as soon as practicable 
he was in the field again, and finished his 
term of service. His wrist never regained its 
strength, and he is now in receipt of a pen- 
sion. After his return from the war he pur- 



chased the Jacob h'.aton farm, an estate of lilly 
acres in l'"armington, on which he has set out 
a fine orchard, and made many other improve- 
ments. Also, from time to time, he has 
bought outlying land, so that he now owns 
one hundred acres more. He is a progressive 
and thrift\' farmer, and is widely known and 
res|iected. 

Mr. Bump was married Ma\' 5, i8r)7, to 
Mary Paine, who was born March 3, 1840, in 
New Hampshire, daughter of Asel ami Mary 
(Wright) Paine. Mr. Paine, a farmer, who 
kept a dairy and reared shee]), moved to l-'arm- 
ington when his daughter was f|uitc yoimg. In 
her girlhood Mrs. Bump worked in weaving- 
mills. She is the mother of two children — 
I.ubert R., born September 4, 1869, now a 
farmer; aijd John I-'., born May 15, 1874, a 
plumber. The father votes the Republican 

ticket. On religious subjects he holds liberal 
,,;,„„r. T-iJc ,.,;f., ;.■ ., ,^,.^,i,k,.i- ^,f ti,,. i\T,.itiri. 



views. His wife is a member of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, which she joined some 



OSIIUA C. WIHTTP;M0KI':, who was 
for many \ears prominent in the agri- 
cultural conununity of Hebron, was 
l)(un ill this town, November 21, 1834. 
His parents, John and Ruth (Crooker) Whit- 
temore, were natives of this State, born respec- 
tively in Hebron and Minol. John Whitte- 
more, who was an energetic man, resided on 
the farm subsecpiently owned h)' his son, 
chiefly occu]ued in agriculture. In politics he 
was an old-time IX'mocrat. He died Ajiril 7, 
1867. His wife was an exenijilary Christian 
woman, and an attendant of the Congregational 
church. Her death occurred May 22, 1889. 
They had five chiiilren, all of wjiom are like- 
wise deceased. 

Joshua C. Whittemore grew to maiiliood in 
Hebron, acquiring his education in tlie public 
schools. In boyhood he was required to take 
an active part in the farm work, and in man- 
hood he elected to continue in that occupation. 
He succeeded his father as owner of the home 
farm, which is a valuable estate of one hundred 
acres. An industrious and progressive man, 
he made many improvements on the estate. 
Mr. Whittemore, like his father, was a Demo- 



SSo 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



CTLit. On religious matters his views were 
liberal. He died May 31, i<S94. 

Mr. W'hittemore was married November 25, 
1859, to Stella A., daughter of William and 
Stella Harlow. She was born in IMinot, May 
10, 1S41. Mr. Harlow, a nati\'e of Minot, 
who was engaged for years in farming in 
Minot and Turner, died at the age of eighty- 
two. His wife, who was born in Turner, 
passed away in her forty-ninth year. Their 
eleven children were: Stella L., deceased, 
who was the wife of Herbert Mullen, and left 
one child, P^lossie A. ; Marv F. , also de- 
ceased; Annie \\'., who is the wife of Frank 
Ramsdell, of Hebron, and has two children — 
Donald W. and Beulah M. ; Samuel J., a 
farmer on the homestead; Horace K., a clerk, 
employed in Boston, Mass.; and Grace R., 
Nellie E., Sadie A., Verna A., Herbert A., 
and Edith M., all at home. Mrs. W'hittemore 
manages the farm with the assistance of her 
children. She is an esteemed member of the 
Congregational church. 




iHW'IS H. RI'^IlD, a successful lumber- 
man and mill-owner residing in Mex- 
ico, 0-xford County, was born in the 
house that he now occupies on Jan- 
uary 28, 1854. His parents were Lewis and 
Mary Ann (Stockbridge) Read, both of whom 
were natives of Byron. The father remained 
on the home farm until he was a young man, 
when he came to Me.xico to engage in mercan- 
tile pursuits. In 1858, after a prosperous 
business career, he died at the age of forty- 
five. He was a very active Democrat in local 
and State politics; was Selectman for several 
years; held the rank of Colonel in the old 
State militia; and was a member of the 
Universalist church. His wife, Mary Ann, 
bore him four ch'ildren. These were: Flor- 
ence J., now deceased, who married \V. W. 
Bolster, e.\-Mayor of Auburn, Me. ; Olive G., 
a spinster, residing in Pittsburg, Pa.; Mary 
A., who was the wife of the late L. A. 
Thomas, of Pittsburg; and Lewis IL, the 
youngest child, and the subject of this biog- 
raphy. The mother died in 1883, at the age 
of seventy-five. 

After completing the customary period of 



attendance at the common schools, Lewis H. 
Reed, at the age of fifteen, left home to pursue 
a two years' course in the State Normal School 
in Farmington. Having graduated from that 
institution in 1873, he took a four years' 
course at Bowdoin College, w-here he was a 
classmate of e.\-President Pierce. Here he 
giaduated in 1877 as a civil engineer. Dur- 
ing the ensuing two years he taught school in 
different towns of the State. He then came 
to Mexico, and engaged in farming and sur- 
veying, although surveying in the country was 
distasteful to him. In i8go Mr. Reed built 
the Burch & Long lumber-mill in Roxbury, 
which he has since managed, giving emjilo}'- 
ment to fifteen men, in the manufacture of 
spool stock, dowels, and long lumber. He 
owned a part of the land where the village of 
Rumford Falls now stands, but sold it in 
1892. 

On October 26, 1880, he married Miss 
Abbie P. Saunders, of Livermore, who was' 
his classmate in the Normal School at Farm- 
ington. Their children are: Mary L., Martha 
C, Caroline S., and Elmer L., all still under 
the paternal roof. Mr. Reed is a Republican 
in ])olitics, takes quite an active part in the 
politics of the county, and was Town Clerk 
for a few years. He is a member of the Zeta 
Psi Society of I^owdoin College. Ahvays 
courteous and genial, he has many friends. 




tVA)/ ILLIAM COBURN, now living in re- 
tirement in New Sharon, was until 
quite recently a prosperous general 
farmer. He was born in this town, December 
20, 1817, son of Manley and Sally (Bailey) 
Coburn. His grandfather, Jephthah Coburn, 
came here, a pioneer, in 1794 from Dun- 
stable, Mass., making the journey with an ox 
team. Jephthah took up two tracts of land of 
one hundred acres each, and, after clearing a 
portion, erected a ten-room house, which still 
stands in a good state of preservation. He 
served as a soldier during the Revolutionary 
War, afterward receiving a pension from the 
government; and he lived to a good old age. 
During the latter years of his life he lost his 
sight and hearing. He was a hard-working, 
industrious man and a useful citizen; and he 



niOGRAPHKWr, RF.VTKW 



sSi 



reared a large family of children, all imw de- 
ceased. Of the latter, three died young. 
The others were: Jeptha, Manley, Absalom, 
Thaddeus H., Abi, Hosea, and Darius. 

Manley Coburn was born in Dunstable, Jan- 
uary 1 8, 1794- The greater ]iart of his life 
was passed in his native town. At the age of 
eighteen he joined the United States Army, 
and served for six months at ]?ath, Me. Upon 
his discharge he received a warrant for one 
hundred and si.xty acres of land. This he sold 
to his brother, Thaddeus H., after which he 
went West, and settled in Illinois. Besides 
working at the carpenter's trade he was also 
engaged in farming. He was a prosperous and 
highly respected citizen. He supported the 
Democratic party in politics, and in his relig- 
ious belief was a Universal ist. His wife, 
Sally, whom he married in 1816, was born 
May 7, 1790. She bore him four chikh-en — 
William, Asa, Eliza Ann, and Oliver B. 

William Coburn, the sole survivor of his 
parents' children, obtained his education in 
the common schools and at the free high 
school of New Sharon. He afterward assisted 
upon the home farm until 1851, when he 
bought a part of the property, containing one 
hundred acres, and there was successfully en- 
gaged in agriculture for some years. In the 
summer of 1865 the buildings were destroyed 
by fire. He replaced them by new ones. In 
1896 he sold to a good advantage the home- 
stead, which had been his residence for forty- 
five years and that of the family for one hun- 
dred and two years, and has since lived in 
retirement. 

On January 3, 1S51, Mr. Coburn was united 
in marriage to Elizabeth Bailey, a daughter of 
Cummings and Hannah (Parker) Bailey, of 
Farmington, Me. She became the mother of 
two children — Sarah E. and Annie G. Sarah 
E. was born March 20, 1852, and is now 
the wife of John B. Smelledge; Annie G., 
born March 26, 1865, married Ezra L. Part- 
ridge, of Massachusetts, who died in 1890, 
leaving one son, Clarence E. On January 3, 
1896, she entered a second marriage, con- 
tracted with Marshall Saunders, of West 
Farmington. Mr. Coburn's political princi- 
ples are conservative. He taught the district 
school for two vears, and served for several 



years as Highway J^uiveyor. lie lias been a 
tireless worker, has accumulated quite an es- 
tate by his industry, and is now [lassing his 
declining )-ears with his son-in-law. His re- 
ligious faith is that of a P'ree Will Baptist. 



AMh'.S CURTIS, a former emjiloyee of 
the (irand Trunk Railway Company, 
who is now living in retirement in 
.South Paris, Oxford County, Me., was 
born in Wnotlstuck, Me., (Jctober 8, 1819, sun 
of Charles and Jane (Deering) Curtis. Mr. 
Curtis's grandfather, Noah Curtis, was a native 
of Pembroke, I'lymouth County, Mass. ; and 
his boyhood and youth were spent in the old 
Bay State. He married Deborah Luce, of 
Wareham, Mass., and in early manhood settled 
in Woodstock, Me., as a pioneer of that town, 
where he became a prosperous farmer and one 
of the stirring men of his day. 

Charles Curtis, son of Noah, was reared to 
farm life; and in early manhood he bought a 
farm in Woodstock, which he carried on with 
profitable results for some years. Plventually 
selling that property, he removed to Mechanic 
Falls, where he died at the age of seventy 
years, having sijent the latter part of his life 
in retirement from active toil. In politics he 
w-as originally a Democrat, but later acted 
with the Republican jnirty ; and in his relig- 
ious views he was a Universalist. His wife, 
who was before marriage Jane Deering, be- 
came the mother of eight children; namely, 
l{velyn, James, John D., Charles, Mary J., 
Noah, Mark, and liunice. Mrs. Jane D. Cur- 
tis lived to reach the age of eighty-six years. 
James Curtis, the subject of this sketch, 
having acquired his education in the ]iublic 
schools, at the age of twenty-one went to Hal- 
lowell. Me., and for nine years was employed 
in an oil-cloth factory. On account of failing 
health he was then obliged to seek outdoor 
employment; and, as his wife's aged father 
owned a small farm in .South Paris, he pur- 
chased the property and settled here as a 
farmer. He improved the place by enlarging 
and remodelling the buildings, brouglit the 
land up to a high state of cultivation, and 
made good progress as an agriculturist. .Soon 
after his settlement here he was appointed 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



overseer of the section of the Grand Trunk 
Railway passing through this town, a position 
which he filled with such ability as to win 
the confidence of the coniiaany; and three years 
later he was placed in charge of their engine- 
house here. During his long period of service 
he proved himself of great value to the com- 
]-)any as a capable and faithful employee; and 
he continued in charge of the engine-house 
until i<Sg3, when he resigned his position. 
He has since lived in retirement. 

In 1844 Mr. Curtis was united in marriage 
with Lueretia Bridgeham, daughter of George 
I^ridgeham, a prosperous farmer and well- 
known hotel-keeper of South Paris. Mr. and 
Mrs. Curtis have had eight children, as fol- 
lows: Mary E. , who was btirn February 22, 
1846, married G. A. Haskell, and died at the 
age of twenty-one; William W., who died at 
the age of one year; I^ouise A., who was born 
November 19, 1850, married G. F. Lewis, 
and resides in Bethel, Vt. ; Flleii V., who 
was born February 21, 1852, married George 
E. Wilson, and now resides in Fairfield, Me., 
having one daughter, Eva; Willard J., who 
was born June 8, 1854, and is now engaged 
in the corn-canning business at West Paris; 
Anna L. , who was born November 4, 1857, 
and is now the wife of R. J. P>erett, of Po- 
land, Me., having one son, Philip; Carroll G., 
who was born October g, 1859, and is now 
filling his father's old position at the engine- 
house; and Hattie G., who was born May 10, 
1 86 1, and is now the wife of K. D. Selden, 
of Portland, Me. All are well situated in 
life. Carroll G. Curtis is connected with the 
Masonic fraternity and the Order of Red Men. 

In [lolitics Mr. Curtis supjjorts the Repub- 
lican party, and has served with ability as 
a member of the Board of Selectmen. He and 
his wife enjoy cordial social relations with a 
large circle of friends and acquaintances. 
'rhe\' attend the Universal ist church. 



"irXAVID R. H/ 
1 I master of ( 
^_||3/ Bethel, this 



lASTINGS, the Post- 
Gilead, was born in 
county, January ' 24, 
1857, son of Major G. A. Hastings, 
of Bethel, who was born February 18, 1821. 
Major Hastings in earlv manhood learned the 



blacksmith trade, and subsequently followed 
it until he was thirty years old. He then en- 
gaged in the lumber business, and up to the 
present time has followed lumbering and farm- 
ing continuously, excluding two years spent 
on a Georgia cotton plantation, and some time 
in the army. luilisting August S, 1861, as a 
private in Company A, Twelfth Regiment of 
Maine Volunteers, he was commissioned Cap- 
tain on the 15th of October, and on July 31, 
1862, he was commissioned Major. He was 
in many hard-fought battles, and during his 
term of service he won the regard of the men 
under his command. 

David R. Hastings is a graduate of Gould's 
Academy at Bethel. From 1S74 to 1876 he 
was with a surveying party in the White 
Mountains; and he has devoted considerable 
time to teaching school. He presided over a 
district school in Bethel for three terms, and 
taught mathematics and English at Gould's 
Academy four terms. He then engaged in 
the lumber business, logging first in the town 
of Riley, this county. Selling his interest 
there he purchased a half interest in the town- 
ship of Batchelor's Grant, this county, com- 
prising twenty thousand acres of timber land. 
Since making the purchase he has been en- 
gaged in felling timber on this land, and saw- 
ing pulp wood, spruce lumber, and spool 
stock. He has been a resident of Gilead for 
some time, and has taken an active part in 
local politics, as a sound money Democrat. 
For three years he presided as Chairman of 
the Board of Selectmen, and he was Super- 
visor of the Board of PZducation two years. It 
is now his purpose to move to Auburn, Me., 
as soon as his resignation of the office of 
Postmaster is accepted. 

On May 19, 1879, Mr. Hastings was mar- 
ried to Josephine A., daughter of Marshall 
Sanderson, of 15ethel. She died June 5, 
1883, leaving one son, Marshall R., who was 
born August 29, 1882. Mr. Hastings was 
married again November 2, 1886, to Ella J. 
Crawford, of Gilead. By this union he has 
one daughter, Flossie O., born June 2, 1888. 
It is in order to give his children better edu- 
cational opportunities that Mr. Hastings in- 
tends to move to Auburn. In moving he will 
sever man\- pleasant associations, business and 



BIOGRAPHICAL RKVIKW 



583 



social. He is a member of Bethel Lo(lt;-e, 
No. 97, A. F. & A. U., ami belongs to the 
Order of the Golden Cross in Gilead. 



B 



AVID C. AVERILL, who owns a 
desirable farm in the town of Wil- 
ton, and is favorably known b)' the 
numerous fishermen w'ho visit this 
locality, was born in Teni]de, this county, 
December iS, i«>39, son of Moses and Lu- 
cinda (Dowin) Averill. Mr. Averill's grand- 
father, Moses Averill, .Sr., who served as a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War in 1S07, 
came to East Wilton from New Hampshire 
with the early settlers, and acquired a tract of 
land covered with heavy timber. He felled 
and burned the timber, and succeeded in mak- 
ing as good a farm as any in the neighbor- 
hood. This property is now owned and occu- 
pied by Henry Webster. Grandfather Averill 
for many years received a pension for his ser- 
vices in the Revolutionary War. He was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
and he lived to be ninety years old. His wife 
also enjoyed a long life. Their children 
were: Luther, Moses, Virtue, Lucy, Hannah, 
Lucinda, and Alice. 

Moses Averill succeeded to the homestead. 
He continued the improvements, added to its 
acreage by purchasing some adjoining land, 
and resided there for some time. Then sell- 
ing the property, he bought a tract of unim- 
proved land in the town of Temple, where he 
began as a pioneer, living in a log house, 
which, after clearing a farm, he replaced by 
frame buildings. Not being content with the 
result of his fabor, he sold this property, and 
bought back the homestead, where the rest of 
his life was passed. In politics he was suc- 
cessively a Whig and a Republican, and his 
religious faith was that of the Methodist Epis- 
copal denomination. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Lucinda Dowin, became the mother 
of eleven children; namely, James, Eben, 
Washington, Wesley, Louis, Fanny, Mary, 
David C, Lizzie, Charles, and Hannibal. 

David C. Averill acquired the principal 
part of his education in the schools of Wilton. 
He remained at home assisting his father 
until he was twenty-eight years old. He then 



bought the Blancharil farm of one bundled and 
twenty acres. Later he- purchased the S. 
Perry place of one hundred ant! ten acres, on 
which he has since resided. He has made 
various imjirovements on both the i^uildiiigs 
and the land. The estate is in an excellent 
location and the land is very fertile. As a 
general farmer Mr. Averill ranks among the 
best in this section. He has made many 
warm friends among gentlemen who come 
here from the large cities on fishing excur- 
sions. He can always be depended uj^on to 
su|)i.)ly parties with boats, bait, and trustworthy 
guides to conduct them to the best angling 
grounds among the lakes and streams of the 
district. 

On August I, 1857, Mr. Averill wedded 
Rhoda A. Farmer, of Temple. She is a 
daughter of Jacob and Martha (Ladd) I'armer, 
and grand-daughter of Moses Farmer. The 
latter moved from Greenfield, N. II., to 
Temple at an early date in the town's history, 
and cleared a farm upon the north side of the 
pond. The father, who was born in Cireen- 
field, became a prosperous agriculturist of this 
locality, and died here in 1856, aged forty- 
nine years. The mother, who was born July 
21, 1816, is still living, and enjoys good 
health. Mrs. Averill's matern:'! grandfather 
reared twenty-four sons, all of whom acquired 
a college education and became professional 
men. Her parents reared three other chil- 
dren besides herself — P^mily J., Pamelia, and 
Plumer. .Siie has had eight children, as fol- 
lows: IVLartha IClla, who died at the age of five 
years: Myra Adela, who died in infancy; Ida 
Eliza, born August 7, 1863, who became a 
teacher, married Herbert Knapp, of North 
Chestervillc, and has two children — Frankie 
N. and Merton E.: Minnie Belle, a teacher, 
who was born January 25, 1867, and is now 
the wife of Sherman Bean; lulgar Adelbert, 
who is now a machinist; Plumer Morrcll, who 
was born in July, 1S69, and is now engaged 
in agricultural i)ursuits; Myrtle V., who was 
born May 7, 1874; and Mattie L., who was 
born November 18, 1879. I" politics Mr. 
Averill is a Republican. Though frequently 
solicited by his fellow-townsmen to accept 
office, he has always declined. In his relig- 
ious belief he is a Free Will Baptist. 



5S4 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



OHN ATHERTON, a veteran of the 
late war and a prominent farmer of 
W'aterford, was born here, March i, 
1829, son of Oliver and Mary (Wil- 
lard Atherton, both natives of this town. His 
grandfather, John Atherton, who was a Revo- 
lutionary soldier, came from Acton, N.H., to 
W'aterford at an early date, settling on the 
farm now occupied by the present John. 
Oliver Atherton spent his life on this farm, 
deriving from its cultivation an ample income 
for the needs of his family. He died March 
3, 1872. His wife, Mary, made him the 
father of three children, who were: John, the 
subject of this sketch; Charles, who died at 
the age of twenty-one: and Jennie Maria, w'ho 
was the wife of William F. Cilley. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cilley have both passed away. 

John Atherton received a practical common- 
school education. He left home at the age of 
twenty, and worked at lumbering near Ridg- 
way. Elk County, Pa., for two years. Re- 
turning then to the farm in W'aterford, he has 
lived there since for the greater part of the 
time. For a year or two he was employed in 
bakeries at Bangor and Waterville, Me., and 
was farming for two years and a half in Elk 
County, Kansas. He enlisted September if, 
1862, in Company K, Twenty-third Maine 
Regiment, under Colonel William W^ \'irgin 
and Captain Moses N. Stanley. The regi- 
ment was stationed during the most of his 
time on the Potomac River, between W'ashing- 
ton and Harper's Ferry. It arrived at Gettys- 
burg just too late to take part in the battle. 
Mr. Atherton received his discharge at Port- 
land, Me., July 15, 1863. He is totally deaf 
in one ear, the result of a shot fired close to 
his head; and he suffers from chronic rheu- 
matism, contracted in the army. On account 
of these ailments he receives a pension. He 
has made many improvements on his property, 
which covers one hundred and sixty acres. 
He is extensively engaged in general farming, 
stock raising, and dairying, making a specialty 
of cream. 

On December 6, 1854, Mr. Atherton was 
united in marriage with Margaret M., daugh- 
ter of Artemus and Mary (Alden) Brown. 
.She was born in W'aterford, March ig, 1836. 
Her father, also a native of Waterford, Me., 



w-as a carpenter, and worked at his trade in 
that place up to the time of his death, in 
1871. Mrs. Brown, who was born in Au- 
burn, Me., died in 1872. The six children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Atherton are: Mary F., 
Jennie M., Addie B., Orra E., Annie G. , and 
Maud B. Mary F. married Abbott Craig, of 
Farmington, iNIe. : Jennie M. married Rob- 
bins Plummer, a farmer of Waterford; Addie 
B. married James B. Hamlin, both of whom 
reside with her parents; Orra E. married 
Ward Munroe, a machinist of Jersey City, 
N.J.; Annie G. and Maud B. also live with 
their parents. Mr. Atherton is active among 
the Republicans of W^aterford, and has held 
a number of offices. He is not a club man, 
but he attends the meetings of the grange 
at Waterford. Mrs. Atherton is a member 
of the Methodist p;piscopal church at South 
W'aterford. 




LBERT L. HOLMES, one of the most 
able agriculturists of Paris, was born 
in Hartford, Oxford County, Octo- 
ber 18, 1856, son of Sullivan R. 
and Joanna (Parsons) Holmes. His grand- 
father, Jonathan Holmes, who was a native of 
that part of Hebron now included within the 
town of Oxford, spent the greater part of his 
active period in Hartford, Me., where he was 
a prosperous farmer. The grandfather's last 
days were passed in Paris, and he died at the 
venerable age of ninety-five years. In his 
later life he supported the Republican party, 
and he attended the P'ree Will Baptist church. 
He married Mahalia Reed, a native of Hart- 
ford, who died at the age of sixty-eight years. 
Sullivan R. Holmes was born in Hartford, 
June 17, 18 18. His early life was passed in 
his native town, where he followed agricult- 
ural pursuits until 1867. Then he came to 
Paris, and settled upon the farm now occupied 
by his family. On this property, which con- 
tains one hundred and twenty-five acres of ex- 
cellent land, he carried on general farming, 
residing there until his death on April 26, 
1888. He was an energetic and industrious 
farmer, and a good, useful citizen ; and in pol- 
itics he acted with the Republican party. 
His wife, Joanna, who was born in Hartford, 



BIOGRAl'IlICAL Ri:VlE\V 



5S5 



October 25, 1836, had two children, namely: 
Franklin F., who was born September 1 5, 
1S57, ami now resides in Norway, Me.; and 
Albert L. , the subject of this sketch. She 
resides at the homestead in Paris. 

Albert L. Holmes grew to manhood in 
Paris, and his education was acquired in the 
schools of this town. The home farm, which 
became his by inheritance upon his father's 
death, has received his entire attention since 
young manhood. lie has improved it by 
erecting a new set of buildings, thereby 
greatl}' enhancing its value. His crops are 
chiefly hay, grain, and fruit. On March 17, 
1880, Mr. Flolmes wedded Fmma C. King, 
who was born in Paris, April i i, 1856, daugh- 
ter of William O. and Mary Clifford King. 
William King Holmes, the only child of this 
union, was born November i, 18S1. Mr. 
Holmes is a member of the Patrons of Hus- 
bandry, and in politics is a Republican. 
Both he and his wife are liberal in their relig- 
ious opinions. 

The King family was founiled in America 
by John King, who emigrated from England 
in 1636. Philip, a son of John, in 1680 set- 
tled in Raynham, Mass., where he resided for 
the rest of his life. From him the line of 
descent was continued by his son John, and 
John's son, ]5enjaniin, to George King, who 
was Mrs. Holmes's great-grandfather. Cap- 
tain Samuel King, Mrs. Holmes's grand- 
father, was born in Raynham, May iS, 1771. 
In 1791 he came with his brother Cicoi-ge to 
Paris, and in 1797 settled upon the farm which 
has since remained in possession of the fam- 
ily, and is now owned by J. F. King. A 
clearing had been previously made upon the 
property, and, from a partially isrimitive state, 
he improved it into a productixe farm, upon 
which he resided until his death, April 29, 
1856. In politics he was originally a Demo- 
crat or Whig, and he united with the Repub- 
lican party at its formation. He married 
Sally Hall, who was born in Hopkinton, 
Mass., March 2, 1779. She became the 
mother of eleven children, of whom the sur- 
vivors are the Hon. Horatio King and Cyrus 
S. King. The Hon. Horatio King was Post- 
master-general during the administration of 
James Buchanan, and now resides in Washing- 



ton, D.C. The others were : Samuel, Alonzo, 
Sally H., Polly, Joseph II., Betsey S., Maria, 
Jairus K., and William O. Ihe mother, who 
was a member of the Baptist church, died De- 
cember 9, 1862. 

William O. King was born at the home- 
stead in Paris, August 6, 1820. He culti- 
vated the farm inilustriously from earl)' man- 
hood until his death, which happened ^lay 21, 
1892. He voted with the Re])ublican party, 
was connected with the Odd P'ellows and the 
Patrons of Husbandry, and attended the Uni- 
vcrsalist church. His wife. Mar)-, who was 
born in Paris, August 10, 1824, bore him 
eight chiltiren, of whom two others, Jairus 1'. 
and Josephine F., aie living. Those who died 
were: William 11., Cyrus V.., I-'rances I''.., 
Mary A., and Lucy M. Mrs. William O. 
King, who' survives her husband, is residing 
with her daughter, I\Irs. Holmes. 



•AMP:S R. TUCKh:R, the urbane pro- 
prietor of Hotel Kidlon in Mexico, 
Oxford Countv, was born .'\ugust 3, 
1838, in West Sumner, Me., son of 
Amasa and Ruth (Buck) Tucker. 

He attended the common scIkjoIs for the 
usual period. When he was eighteen years of 
age he went to Massachusetts, where he was 
employed for two )'ears. On August 3, 1861, 
the twenty-third anniversary of his birth, he 
enlisted in Com])an)- B, Second Massachusetts 
Battery, for three years. He subsequently 
served for three years and one month, [xutici- 
pating in the engagement at Manslieltl's Cross 
Roads, where his horse was shot from under 
him; in that of Pleasant Hill; in the siege 
of Port Hudson; in the first encounter at 
Vicksburg; and in a great man)- skirmishes. 
Some time after his return from the war he 
went to Ridgeway, Ohio, where he was en- 
gaged in lumbering for a year. The year fol- 
lowing was spent in a shoe factory at W'ey- 
mouth Landing, Mass., from which place ho 
went to Shawmut, Pa., to serve as conductor 
of freight on the Shawmut & Ridgeway Rail- 
road. Here he continued for four and a half 
years, being fireman and engineer lor a part of 
the time. .He next went to Boston, where he 
bought an express wagon and drove it until 



:S6 



BIOGRAPI I ICAL RKVIEW 



1SS9. Then lie sold out in order to engage in 
the hotel business at W'est Paris, j\le. In the 
fall of 1X95 he came to Mexico, assuming the 
lM-oprietorshi]3 of Hotel Ridlon, which lie has 
since successfully conducted. 

On August II, 1865, i\Ir. Tucker married 
Miss Adelia Ik'nson, of North Paris, and has 
now five children, namely: Clara E., who died 
at the age of twenty years; (leorge H., now a 
first-class wood-engraver, living in Portland; 
Ruth, who still lives at home; Annie, who 
died in infancy; and I-'va, who alsa lives at 
home. 

In politics he is a zealous Republican, and 
he has been Deputy Sheriff for six years. He 
is an esteemed member of the IMasonic Lodge, 
of West Paris. 



■ONATHAN R. LONGLI- V, who has 
sjient the greater part of his life in 
Waterford, working at the trade of a 
stone-cutter, was born here October 4, 
1825, son of Jonathan and Lydia (Robbins) 
Longley. The first of the Longley family to 
come to Waterford was Jonathan, a native of 
Stowe, Mass., born SeiJtember 7, 1761, who 
was engaged in farming. He fought for 
American independence in the Revolutionarv 
War, and died here October 4, 1833. 

Jonathan Longley, the father of Jonathan 
R., was also a native of Waterford, born 
March 12, 1794. He spent his life here, 
chiefly occupied in farming and stoiie-cutting, 
and died March 10, 1S57, on the farm now 
owned by his son. His wife, Lydia (Robbins) 
Longley, born in Waterford, March 19, 1799, 
died March 24, 1843, leaving three children 
— James O., Jonathan R., and Nancy G. 
James O., born September 25, 1S22, married 
Miss Ann Elizabeth I'ogg, who died in June, 
1888. He is now engaged in trade in South 
Waterford village. Nancy G., born Eebruary 
17, 1 84 1, married Robert Purnham, who now 
lives in Naples, Cumberland County. She 
died in August, 1869. After the mother's 
death the father formed a second union Janu- 
ary 2, 1844, with Miss Sophia T. Brown, of 
Waterford. She was born in 1804, and died 
in 1876. Louis Jewell, the only cfeild of this 
union, was born May 8, 1845, and died April 



28, 1864. The four children were educated 
in the common schools of Waterford. 

In his younger days Jonathan R. Longley 
worked at the stone-cutter's trade. During 
the year following that of his majority he 
worked out on farms. Then he returned home 
to assist his father on the homestead farm and 
to work at his trade. Since his marriage he 
has made his home on his farm in South 
Waterford. Here he has about sixty-three 
acres of well-improved land, where general 
farming is carried on. Until recent years, 
however, he gave his attention chiefly to his 
trade of stone-cutter. Pie has now practically 
retired; while his son conducts the farm, 
keeping a small dairy and raising some stock. 
A hard-working man throughout his life, I\lr. 
Longley has also been very successful. 

On October 21, 1847, Mr. Longley was 
joined in marriage with Miss Martha Elizabeth 
Munroe, who was born in Waterford, March 3, 
1824, daughter of William and Bet.sy (Ather- 
ton) Munroe. Her father came to Waterford 
when a \oung man, and was there engaged in 
farming until his death on November iS, 
1894, aged ninety-five years, one month, and 
twelve days. Mr. and Mrs. Longley have two 
children: Eugene, born July 14, 1851, who is 
in charge of the home farm; and Lizzie Ada, 
born June 7, 1S55, now the wife of George W. 
Harrington, who is engaged in the wholesale 
iron and steel business in Boston, Mass. In 
politics Mr. Longley is a Democrat, and has 
served acceptably in minor town oflfices. His 
son votes independently of party. Mrs. Long- 
ley is a communicant of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church of .South Waterford. 



M 



EARBORN L. AUSTIN, Selectman 
of Gilead, was born in Shelburne, 
^J N.II., January 15, 1820, son of 
James S. and Sarah (Long) Austin. 
James S. Austin was a native of P'ryeburg, 
this county, and his father also was born in 
that town. His jjarents removed to Shel- 
burne, N. H., when he was four years old; and 
there he spent the rest of his life, engaged 
principally in farming, though for a number 
of years he was in the lumber business. He 
was a loyal member of the Republican party, 



BIOCRAI'IIICAI, KKVIKW 



0S7 



hut would never accept iKimiiiatujn for otifice. 
His death occurred in his eighty-ninth year. 
His wife, who was a native of Wolfhoro, 
\. H., died at the age of eighty-twu. 

Dearborn L. Austin attended the common 
schools of Shelburne and studied for two terms 
at Conway Academy. He remained on the 
home farm until he was twenty-nine iicars of 
age. Then he purchased a farm for himself 
in New Hampshire, on wdiich he resided for 
a number of years. I"or some time thereafter 
he was engaged in develojiing farms and sell- 
ing them at an advance on the purchase piice. 
In 1864 he bought a farm in Gilead, lived on 
it some three years, and then disposed of it. 
He subsequent]}- purchased one near (iorhani, 
N. H., which he sidtl in si.\ months. Return- 
ing to Gilead then he bought another, 011 
which he lived three years. His next purchase 
was near West Bethel, this county, where he 
lived two years. After this he built a store 
in Gilead and engaged in a mercantile busi- 
ness for a while. Finally he sold the store, 
antl purchased the house in Gilead village, 
where he has since made his home, having 
retired from active business. He mnv owns 
about fifty acres of land. 

Mr. Austin was married April J4, 1849, 
to Rose C. Coffin, of Gilead. They have 
reared three adopted children. In politics 
he is a Republican. He has been a member 
of the Gilead Board of Selectmen for si.\ years, 
and Justice of the Peace here for eighteen 
years. While living in Xew Hampshire he 
was Justice of the Peace. He has taken sev- 
eral degrees in Masonry, and belongs to the 
lodge in Gorham, X.H., and the chapter in 
Bethel, Me. A man of ability and good judg- 
ment, he is widely known and respected. 




LBKRT MORROW, one of the best 
known carriage builders of Knowl- 
ton's Corner, was born in Argen- 
teuil. Province of Quebec, November 
22, 1858, son of John and Rebecca (Morrow) 
Morrow. John Morrow, a native of Liverpool, 
PZngland, who emigrated to Canada, followed 
agricultural pursuits there until his death, 
which occurred when he was thirty-five years 
old. His wife, Rebecca, who was a daughter 



of -Andrew M(jrrow, a nati\'e of the north of 
Ireland, became the mother of three children 
— Mary, Maggie, and Albert. Maggie anil 
Albert were twins. The mothci- lived to the 
age of si.\ty-two years. 

Albert Mori'ow resided in Canada until he 
was eleven years old, wdien, his mother, having 
again married, he accom])anied her to Spring- 
held, Mass. .\t the age of thirteen, ha\ing 
attended the common schools for some time, he 
began work as a helper in the shops of the 
.Smith & Wesson Arms Com])any, where he 
remained until he was fifteen. Returning to 
Canada then he was employed in a carriage 
manufactory for four years. At the end of 
tliat time, tlesiring to return to the .States, and 
there being a demantl for workmen in this lo- 
calitw he came to North Chesterville, where 
he was cniplo_\ed as a carriage maker for some 
time. In comjianN' with II. O. Bernard, he 
subsequently bought the wood-working mills 
there, 0]:)erated them for a year and a half, and 
then sold them again. lie ne.xt |)urchased the 
Samuel Knowlton stand, with four acres of 
land, at Knowlton's Corner, where he has 
since carried on a successful business as a 
carriage manufacturer. He turns out a large 
number of light wagons, carriages, and sleighs 
annually, making a specialty of producing fine 
driving vehicles of excellent style and quality, 
and enqdoying the best of skilled workmen. 
He has put in a steam-engine of twenty-two 
horse-]iower, which runs his saws, planers, and 
sewing-machines, all of which are of the most 
inqjroved pattern. 

Mr. Morrow wedded Maliel L. Knowlton, 
daughter of Samuel and Hepsie M. (Mitchell) 
Knowlton, late of this town. Mrs. Morrow's 
grandjiarents were P.benezer and Sally (His- 
cock) Knowlton. I-lbenczer, a carriage-maker 
by trade, built up a good business at Knowl- 
ton's Corner as a manufactiu-er of wagons, and 
owned a large farm here, which he also suc- 
cessfully managed. .Samuel Knowlton, Mrs. 
Morrow-'s father, was born where his daughter 
now resides, December 19, 1821. He suc- 
ceeded to the homestead and the carriage busi- 
ness, and subsequently was very successful in 
conducting the latter. He built the first 
buggy made in this section, on account of 
which fact he received the title of "Buggy 



;8S 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Sam." He was a man of high moral charac- 
ter, and had the respect of his fellow-towns- 
men, lie was identified with the carriage 
l)usiness here until his death, which happened 
in 1.S84. His wife, hesides Mrs. Morrow, 
had three other children; namely, Frank H., 
Dana A., and Walter K. She died in 1.S70. 
Mr. and Mrs. Morrow have four children, as 
follciws: Alhert E., who was born May 24, 
iS,S2; Lena May, who was born April i, 1884; 
(lilbert M., who was burn August 19, 1890; 
and lu'nest, who died in infancy. An able 
and progressive business man, whose success 
in life has been won by his energy and perse- 
verance, he is highly esteemed by the entire 
community. 




|D\VIN C. NORCROSS, a well-known 
resident of Chesterx'ille, who has ac- 
quired a wide reputation as a manu- 
facturer of fine carriages and sleighs, was born 
here October 27, 1853, son of Charles and 
Velzory (Gilbert) Norcross. His father, who 
was for many years engaged in the carriage 
maker's business in Chesterville, and also car- 
ried on general farming, resides with his son, 
having leached the age of seventy-seven years. 
Edwin C. Norcross was educated in the 
common schools of his native town. i\t the 
age of nineteen he began to learn the carriage 
maker's trade. .Subsecjuently, he engaged in 
luisiness for himself, and has since continued 
in it very successfully. He makes a specialty 
of sleighs of a superior i|uality, for which he 
receives man\- orders from lioston, I'ortland, 
and other places. In this particular branch of 
the trade he has gained an enviable reputation 
for style, durability, and excellent finish. 
He has shipped as many as fifteen sleighs in 
one day, and he has a record of putting to- 
gether twenty in the same length of time. 
His carriages are noted for the thorough man- 
ner in which they arc constructed. The oak 
and bass wood used by him are cut in this 
vicinity, and seasoned under his personal su- 
pervision. He also does a good business in 
harnesses, robes, etc. The farm, which was 
deeded to him by his mother some time previ- 
ous to her death, contains one hundred acres 
of intervale land. A portion is in a high state 



of cultivation, and thirty tons of hay are ob- 
tained from the pastures annually. The resi- 
dence, which is comparatively new, contains 
fifteen nicely finished rooms; and the barn, 
besides having storage capacity for forty tons 
of ha\'. is furnished with box stalls where are 
kept four standard bred Jersey cows and two 
fine horses. There is u]5on the premises a 
beautiful picnic grove, covering an acre of 
ground, and the genial owner keeps some 
pleasure boats for the accommodation of his 
friends. Aside from his regular business he 
has for several years attended to the surveying 
of land in this locality. 

In 1 891 Mr. Norcross wedded Laura 
Stephens, a daughter of Albion and Carrie 
(Smith) Stephens, and he now has one daugh- 
ter, Lucy Belle. In religious matters Mr. 
Norcross takes a liberal view, having no pref- 
erence for any particular denomination. Po- 
litically, he acts with the Democratic party. 




ILO MITCHELL, a well-known 
farmer of the town of Mexico, Ox- 



ford Count}-, was born August 28, 
1S63, in the house he now occu- 
pies, son of Jonathan and Hannah E. (Phelps) 
Mitchell. His grandfather, Zebediah Mitch- 
ell, who was a native of Connecticut, came to 
this town among the early settlers, and bought 
the farm which his grandson, Milo, now owns. 
Jonathan Mitcliell was born on the same farm, 
and there spent most of his life. He married 
Hannah E. Phelps, a native of Dixfield, this 
county, and they had four children, namely: 
Mary, the eldest, who married Parks Bardeen, 
of this county; Ida, who is the wife of W'ill- 
ard Fog, of Wisconsin; Milo, the sidjject of 
this sketch; and Viola, now Mrs. Lincoln 
Reed, of Lewiston, Me. The mother died 
some time ago. 

Like other boys in the vicinity. Milo 
Mitchell lived on the home farm, and attended 
the common school. Being an only son, he 
took charge of the farm when he was quite 
young. At the time of his mother's death he 
bought the old homestead settled by his grand- 
father. In politics Mr. Mitchell is a loyal 
Republican, and is now (i8g6) serving the 
town in the office of Selectman. On June 12, 



HI OCR A PHI CM, RF.VIKW 



5«9 



1893,. he was united in marriage to Miss Crea 
E. Edwards, of the town of Koxbury, Me. 




iVMAX R. MARTIN, a well-known 
and respected farmer of (ireenwood, 
this county, was born September 
29, 1.S38, in Andover, Me., son of 
the late Thomas P. Martin. His grandfather, 
Robert Martin, was an early settler of Oxford 
County. Thomas P. Martin, a son of Robert, 
was engaged in agricultural labor throughout 
the most of his life. When a young man he 
removed from Norway to the town of Andover, 
near bv, and was there engaged in milling and 
farming until 1852. He then came to Green- 
wood, where he was successfully emjiloyed in 
tilling the soil until his demise. He married 
Caroline Fiaton, who was born in .Albany, this 
county, daughter of Jacob luiton. She is still 
living, a bright and intelligent w-oman of 
eighty-eight years, and makes her home with 
her son, Lyman R. She bore her husband six 
children, as follows: Gussie, deceased : Eliza, 
who is the wife of Albert W'inslow, a retired 
farmer of South Paris, Me. ; Olive, who mar- 
ried Daniel D. Shaw, of Washington, Me.: 
Lyman R., the subject of this sketch; Jona- 
than, also deceased; and Royal T., who died 
in 1 86 1. 

When about twenty years old Lyman I'i. 
Martin began working on the Grand Trunk 
Railroad at track repairing. After spending 
four vears in this employment at .South Paris, 
he enlisted under Captain John M. Getschel, 
in Company E, Twenty-seventh Maine Vol- 
unteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Went- 
worth, for service in the Civil War. During 
the nine months of his term he was in no en- 
■ gagements, and was honorably discharged July 
17, 1863, at Cape Elizabeth. Mr. Martin 
then purchased his present farm in Green- 
wood, and has since worked industriously to 
bring it to its present fine condition. It con- 
tains two hundred acres of land, on which he 
has been profitably engaged in general agri- 
culture and stock raising. As his health has 
been poor for many years, Mr. Martin's chil- 
dren manage the farm, carrying it on very suc- 
cessfully. Mr. Martin cast his first Presi- 
dential vote for Abraham Lincoln; but he now 



votes indepeiidentl)' ol jjarty restrictions, cast- 
ing his ballot for the man he personally thinks 
best fitted for the office. He has never been 
an aspirant for political favors, but he has 
willingly antl faithfully served in many minor 
town offices. lie is a member of Whitman 
Grand Army Post at Pryant's Pond. 

Mr. Martin was married in i860 to Harriet 
l^llen Ilcrrick, daughter of 15enjamin Herrick, 
who ilied on his farm in Greenwood township 

' some time ago. Her mother resides in the 
adjoining town of Norway. Of the ten chil- 
dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, Cora is 
deceased; Eliza Jane is the wife of lUu't Mor- 
rill, and lives at Richfield, this count)'; Royal 

; T. is living in Greenwood, ha\-ing married 
Miss Lena Yates; P'llen is the wife of Charles 

j Felt, of Portland, Me.; Angle is the wife of 
Decatur Cross, of Lock's Mills, this town- 
ship; and Ross is a painter by trade, and 
lives at home. The others are. Plrnest, 
Lizzie, Lucinda, and Charles Henry. Mrs. 
Martin, who died April 11, 1887, was held in 
high estimation throughout the communitv in 
which she had passed the larger part of her 
wedded life. Her memory is lovingly cher- 
ished by her family, over whom her influence 
still rests like a benediction. 



TANLEY BISBEE, of the firm 
Lander & Bisbee, enterjjrising hard- 
ware merchants of Rumford Falls, 
was born .April 25, 1S67, in Buck- 
field, Oxford County, son of the Hon. George 
D. and Anna (Stanley) Bisbee. The father, 
also a native of this county, was one of the 
most successful attorneys of Rumford Falls, 
and a leader in some of its important business 
enterprises. He was well-known and highly 
respected throughout the State for his learning 
and acumen. Stanley Bisbee's early life was 
spent in his native town, where he received a 
common-school education. Later he took 
courses of instruction at Hebron Academy 
and Colby Classical Institute of Waterville, 
Me., receiving a diploma from the latter insti- 
tution. He then entered the grocery business 
with C. C. Spaulding, of Buckfield, with 
whom he was associated until 1890, when he 
bought out his partner. Three years after- 




59° 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



ward he sold out, and came to this place as 
agent of the American Express Comjjany. In 
April, 1^-95, he left their employ, and entered 
his present business relations with W. C. 
Lander. Mr. Bisbee's political principles 
are Re]niblican. Since 1892 he has officiated 
as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. He 
is a Mason of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30; 
and a member of Penacock Lodge, No. 130, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of this 
village. He does not affiliate with any relig- 
ious denomination, but he contributes liber- 
ally to several churches. On March 12, 1889, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen B. 
Spaulding, of Buckfield. They have two in- 
teresting children — Spaulding and Louise 
Young. Messrs. Lander & Bisbee keep first- 
class goods, do a thriving business, and stand 
well with the commercial world. 




County, 
Fuller. 



NR^■ R. FULLER, a well-known 
resident (if Tem]ile, and a veteran of 
the Ci\il War, was born April 27, 
1S41. in Livermore, Androscoggin 
S(jn of Ira and Abigail S. (Morse) 
Isaac Fuller, his paternal grand- 
father, who was a native of Plymouth, Mass., 
moved to Maine, and first settled at Duck 
Pond, which is now called P'almnuth. Later 
he bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild 
land in Livermore, where he cleared a good 
farm, and erected a set of frame buildings. 
He carried on general agriculture successfully, 
and at his death, which happened when he was 
fifty-five years old, he left to his heirs a valu- 
able farm and a good bank account. He mar- 
ried a Miss Houston, who lived to the age of 
seventy. His children were: Rebecca, Isaiah 
\V., Sarah, Ira, Asa, and Laura. 

Ira Fuller resided with his parents in Liver- 
more until he was twenty years old. He then 
went to Hallowell, Me., where he worked in 
a saw-mill until over-exertion brought on a 
complication of diseases. After recovering 
his health he went to Portland, and, joining 
the police force of that city, remained in the 
service three years. His health again becom- 
ing impaired, under the advice of his physi- 
cian, he returned to Livermore, where he 
bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, 



mostly iniimproved. The labor he underwent 
in clearing the property for cultivation proved 
exceedingly beneficial to his health. He then 
sold the place, and purchased another in Jay, 
where he resided for ten years. Selling this 
property, at the end of that time he bought a 
third farm of one hundred and seventy-five 
acres, situateil near the village in the town ui 
Rangeley, and here he resided the rest of his 
life. He never aspired to prominence in po- 
litical life, but he served acceptably in some 
of the minor town offices. Originally a 
Whig, he later joined the Republican party. 
In religious belief he was a Universalist. His 
wife, Abigail, who was a daughter of Thomas 
and Nancy Morse, reared but one child, Henry 
R., the subject of this sketch. .She is still 
living. 

Having received his education in the com- 
mon schools, Henry R. Fuller learned the 
trade of harness-maker. In 1861 he joined 
the band of the Eighth Regiment of Maine 
Volunteers, as an E-flat cornet player, enlist- 
ing as a first-class musician, and served one 
year in the Civil War under General Sherman, 
receiving injuries from which he has never 
fully recovered. After his discharge he re- 
turned home, where for the succeeding eigh- 
teen nKHiths he was under the care of a physi- 
cian. Then he became a book-keeper for the 
Watertown Iron Company, a position which 
he held for three years. During the next 
three years he was in partnership with Orin 
Parker, under the firm name of Parker & Co., 
furniture manufacturers and dealers at the 
corner of Avenue A and Twentieth Street, 
New York City. The state of his wife's 
health obliged him to abandon this connec- 
tion, and, after disposing of his interest in 
the business, he came to Phillips, Me. Here 
he bought a farm, and opened a harness shop, 
both of which he conducted successfully for 
some years. Then, after selling this farm, he 
purchased another of one hundred and five 
acres, situated on Goff's Hill. This, after 
improving the buildings and dealing in stock 
for some time, he also sold, and moved to 
Phillips village. He then became a guide for 
sportsmen and tourists visiting this region and 
the Rangeley Lakes, an occupation in which 
he became most popular, and made many 



VilOC, R A 1' H r ( \M , K FA' I KW 



59' 




friends. Ho contiiuicil in lliis cniplDvnieiit 
exclusively until iiS8y, when he came to 
Temple, in order to care for the aged parents 
of his wife. 

l-"or his first wife Mr. Fuller wedded Sciphia 
Parker, daughter of Enoch Parker, of Jay. 
Born of this imion are five children — Charles, 
Josephine, Leone, George, and l-'red.x His 
present wife, in maidenhood Ella V. Ilorne, 
is a daughter of Thomas and Cordelia (Hus- 
sey) Home, old and highly esteemed residents 
of Temple. Mrs. Fuller has had one child, 
who died in infancy. In politics Mr. 
Fuller is a Republican. His religious opin- 
ions are liberal, and he is a comrade of Cush- 
man Post, No. Sg, Grand Army of the Re- 
public. 



LMON P. PINGREF, Third Select- 
man of Denmark, and a prominent 
farmer of O.xford County, was born 
here, September 24, 1855, son of 
Edmund P. and Mary (Cutler) Pingree. His 
grandfather, Parker Pingree, who was a native 
of New Hampshire, settled in the southern 
part of Denmark when a young man, being the 
first representative of the family to come to 
Maine. After his marriage Grandfather Pin- 
gree removed to the farm which is now owned 
by his grandson, and resided there for the rest 
of his life. 

Edmund P. Pingree. Mr. Pingree's father, 
was born in Denmark, and was reared ujion 
the home farm. He eventually inherited the 
property, and successfully conducteil it during 
the active period of his life. He died Ajiril 
2. 1894. His wife, Mary, who came from 
Limington, Me., became the mother of three 
children, as follows; Lizzie A., wdio is now 
engaged in educational work in Talladega, 
Ala.; Almo'n P., the subject of this sketch; 
and Cynthia E., a practising physician of 
Chico, Cal. The daughters are graduates of 
prominent colleges, and have alreaily attained 
considerable distinction in their chosen walks 
of life. The mother died October 19, 18S4. 

Almon P. Pingree was educated in the com- 
mon schools of his native town. At the age 
of sixteen he went to Detroit, Mich., where he 
workeil in a shoe manufactory for four years. 



I'roni there he came East to W'orcestei', ALass., 
and was emijloyed in the -State Lunatic Asy- 
liuii for the same length of time. After his 
marriage he settled at the homestead where he 
has since devoted liis attention to farming. 
The estate, which he now owns, contains two 
hundred and fifty acres of good land. He car- 
ries on general agriculture, raising large crops 
of hay, sweet corn, and potatoes, antl keeping 
a well-equipped dairy, with twentv' cows. 

On July 16, 1879, Mr. I'ingree wedded Car- 
rie Chase, who was born in Paxton, Mass., 
August 25, 1855. .She is a daughter of John 
J. and Auu' (Warren) Chase, the former of 
whom is a native of P'all River, ^hlss., and a 
shoemaker by trade. His wife was born in 
Pa.xton, where both are now living. Mr. and 
Mrs. PingTec have one son, Charles 1^., who 
was born November 2, 1880. hi ixditics Mr. 
Pingree is a Democrat, and he has served on 
the Board of Selectmen for the past ten years. 
He is a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 
56, A. V. &. A. M., of Denmark; and of the 
Order of the Eastern Star. The careful judi- 
cious management of his farm has brought him 
the due meed of prosperity. He has also the 
hearty good will of his neighbors. 




centurw 
1S42. 



HTJAM GAMMON, a prominent 
citizen of .Stoneham, Me., which 
has been his home for o\er half a 
was born in this town, l*"ebruary 9, 
His [larents, W'elman and .Sarah R. 
(McAllister) (Jannuon, were both natives of 
the Pine Tree State, the father having been 
born in Harrison, the mother in Stoneham. 
. Welman (ianimon was a farmer, and was 
also engaged for years in the lumber industry, 
making shook. He located in Stoneham when 
about twenty-five years of age, settling near 
where his son now lives, and made many im- 
provements on the farm. He died September 
3, 1884. His wife was the daughter (if Zac- 
cheus McAllister, the original owner of the 
farm now occupied by Mr. (kmimon, and 
known as the old (ianimon homestead. She 



T 



en c 



hil- 



passed away in November, i8Sj 
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gammon: 
Ann, deceased; Zaccheus, of Windham, Me., 
who married Lla Jordan, now deceased ; Will- 



592 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



iam, the subject of this sketch; Benjamin 
(iile, Jane, and Edwin, all t)f whom have 
passed to the world beyond; Daniel M., of 
South Paris village, Me., who married Miss 
Rose Gleason ; Joseph, deceased; Isabel, wife 
of William C. Brooks, residing at Bryant's 
Pond; and Seth A., who died at the age of 
fourteen. 

William Gammon, the second son, attended 
the common schools near his home and the 
Lovell High School. He helped al)out the 
farm in his youth, and eventually took charge 
of it, developing its best resources. In addi- 
tion to cultivating the land, raising general 
crops, he has been engaged to some e.xtent in 
stock raising and dairying, and a fine rich 
cream being one of his products. As a farmer 
he has been very successful; and his real 
estate, which is well improved, now covers 
three hundred and fifty acres. 

He was married May 25, 1869, to Sarah E. 
Barker, of Bridgton, Me., who was born F"eb-- 
ruary 20, i<S48, the daughter of Barber B. 
and Hannah A. (Durgan) Barker. Her father. 
Barber B. Barker, who was a native of Newry, 
Me., was a carpenter and farmer. He spent 
most of his life in Bridgton, dying there at 
an advanced age. His wife, a native of 
Stoneham, is living with her daughter, Mrs. 
Gammon. Mr. and Mrs. Gammon have four 
children, namely: Stella, born September 28, 
1 871, now the wife of Harry McKeen, of 
Albany, Me. ; Bertha A., born September i, 
1876, now the wife of Frank A. Keniston, of 
Lovell, this county; Clinton, born July 2, 
1878, who died September 21, 1880; and Ina 
B. , born April 20, 1882, who is with her 
parents. 

Mr. Gammon cast his first vote in the Dem- 
ocratic ranks, afterward became a Republican, 
and still later joined the Greenback party. 
He was on the Itoard of Selectmen for three or 
four years, was Townshi|i Treasurer thirteen 
years in succession, and has served as .Super- 
visor and in othei' offices. He is actively in- 
terested in the Independent Order of Odd P"el- 
lows, belonging to Crescent Lodge, No. 25, of 
North Lovell. Mrs. Gammon is a member of 
the Christian church. Both are well known 
in this vicinity, and enjoy the esteem and 
good will of a large circle of friends. 




ILIJAM E. CURTIS, a progressive 
and ])rosperous farmer of Paris, 
Me., was born in this town, July 4, 
1843, a son of William and Marcella (.Swift) 
Curtis. 

His grandfather, Noah Curtis, was among 
the early settlers of Woodstock, this State, 
w'here he was engaged in agricultural pursuits 
several years. In 1823 he came to Paris, set- 
tling on a faim in the southern part of the 
town, and there pursuing his peaceful occupa- 
tion until his death, March 23, 1858, at a 
ripe old age. His wife survived him but a 
short time, dying in Jul_v of the same year. 
He was a Republican in politics, and in relig- 
ion both were strong Universalists. Of their 
eight children but one, Kingsbury Curtis, of 
West Paris, is now living. The record of 
their births is as follows : Mrs. Mahala Dud- 
ley, October 10, 1808; William, June 8, 
181 I ; Alonzo, February 7, 1814; Mrs. Co- 
lumbia Crockett, April 19, 1816; Kingsbury, 
August 16, 1818; Amanda, April 14, 1821; 
Augustaj November 23, 1823; and Charles 
H., April 25, 1829. 

William Curtis was born in Woodstock. 
Coming to Paris when he was twelve years old 
he assisted his father in the labors of the farm, 
remaining under the parental roof-tree until 
ready to establish a home of his own. After 
his marriage he bought land in Paris, and from 
that time until his death, June 28, 1865, was 
engaged in general farming. He was iden- 
tified with the Republican party from the time 
of its formation, and in religion was a Univer- 
salist. Marcella Swift, whom he married, 
was a lifelong resident of Paris, the date of 
her birth being May 28, i8i2. They had 
four children, namely: Isabella A., who mar- 
ried Wallace W. Mitchell, of Mexico, Me. ; 
Marietta A., wife of Caleb Fuller, of West 
Paris; William E., the subject of this brief 
sketch; and Alva M., a farmer, residing at 
W'est Peru. 

William I{. Curtis was bred and educated 
in Paris, and, with the exception of a few 
years spent in the Bay State, this town lias 
been his place of residence through life. 
From his youth up he has given his attention 
to agricultural work, and when ready to com- 
mence his career as an independent farmer he 



RIOnRAnilCAI, REVIEW 



503 



bought his present estate, wliich cuntains about 
two hundred acres of good huid. I'rosperitv 
smiled on his efforts so that under liis judi- 
cious management his farm is n<nv well im- 
]M'oved, as regards its culti\-ation, l)uildings, 
and equipments, comparing favoi-abl\' with any 
in this locality. In addition to general farm- 
ing Mr. Curtis has made stock-raising a spe- 
cialty, meeting with good success in this 
branch also. Politically, he is an uncompro- 
mising Republican, and during the years 
1881-83 and 1SS8 he served as .Selectman. 
Fraternally, he is a mendjcr of West Paris 
(jrange, No. 298, Patrons of Husbandry; ;uid 
religiously he is a sound Universal ist. 

Mr. Curtis was married April 30, 1867, to 
Cynthia A. Warner, a nati\'e of Paris, born 
March 2. 1841. She died March ;,, 1SS7, 
leaving three children — Alton I.., George L., 
and William P. Alton I.. Curtis, born Ma}' 
3, 1868, now a resident of the town of Norway, 
married C'ordelia IL Swett, and they have one 
child, John IC. ; George L. , born August 19, 
1870, also li\-ing in Norway, married Nellie 
F. Smith; and William P., born January 1, 
1 88 1, is at home. On November 5, 1889, 
Mr. Curtis married Georgia A. Gage, who was 
born in South Paris, May 13, 1849, a daughter 
of Moses and Huldah (Swett) Gage. Mr. 
Gage was a carpenter and farmer, and a highly 
respected citizen of this town. lie died at 
the advanced age of eighty-two years, and his 
wife at the age of eighty-three. Of their 
eight children but three are living, namely: 
Joseph S. Gage, of California; Lucinda I{. , of 
Paris; and Georgia A., now Mrs. Curtis. 




SGOOD FERRY, a veteran agricult- 
urist of the town of Norway, Me., was 
born on the farm which he now owns 
and occupies Septen)ber 5, 1824, a 
son (if John Perry. His grandfather, Zebedee 
Perry, a native of Massachusetts, lived for 
many years in the town of Paris, this county. 
He married Judith Tucker, a native of Cape 
Ann, Mass., and both died in the early part of 
the present century. He was a natural me- 
chanic, using tools of all kinds with dexter- 
ity; and an old oak chair that he made more 
than a hundred years ago is one of the cher- 



ished possessions ol liis gi'andson, ()sgiHid 
Perry. 

John Perrv was born and reared in Paris, 
from whence, after attaining his majority, he 
came to Norway, settling on the farm now 
owneil by the subject of this sketch. Here 
he worked at the carpenter's trade in his 
\'ounger days, and was likewise engaged in 
general farming, living here until his death, 
May 23, 1869. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Amelia Hartlett, was born, and lived, in 
Plymouth, Penobscot Count v, until seventeen 
years okl, when she came with her |)arents to 
O.vford Count)', making her home in Paris. 
-She attained the ath'anced age of eightv-nine 
years, jiassing away I-'ebruary 13, 1874, on the 
liome farm where her married life had beeii 
spent. .She boi'c her husband fnui' children, 
as foUoxVs: (iran\'ille, who married the late 
P'.liz'abeth Turner, and li\'es in J-!oston, where, 
in [)artncrship with his son, he is engaged in 
the s;ish, door, and blind Imsiness; Osgood, 
the special subject of this sketch ; Luc\' Jane, 
who dit'd at the age of twent\' vears; and 
Merc\' .Amelia, who died when but seven 
\'ears old. 

Osgood j'erry received a common-school 
education, and from his early boyhood da\s 
assisted in the manual labors of the farm. 
After his marriage he continued his residence 
on the homestead, caring for his parents during 
their later years, and after their death suc- 
ceeding to the ownership of the estate. This 
property, consisting of one hundred anfl fifty 
acres of land, is located on Perry's Hill, and 
is faniiliarly known as the old Perr\' farni. 
Mr. Perry has labored with jiersevering en- 
ergy, and has met with well-merited success 
in making the improvenients on his place. 
In addition to general farming he still works 
some at the carpenter's trade, which he 
learned in his youth, having assisted his father 
in both occupations. Ik-sides the homestead he 
OWIIS other land in the townshi]'). In politics 
Mr. Perry uiiiforml\' sujiports the principles 
of the Rei)ublican ])arty. Hoth he and his 
wife are active members of the Congrega- 
tional church, which he has faithfully served 
as Deacon for many years. 

On November 18, 1848, Mr. Perry married 
Miss F.mma M. Frost, who was born June I, 



594 



bio(;raphical review 



1826, in Xorway, a daughter of lulmuncl and 
Anna V. (Lovejin) l-'rost, both of wliom died 
on tiicir farm in tliis township. Mrs. Perry's 
parents were born and reared in Massaclnisetts, 
her mother having been a native of the liistoric 
town of Andm-er, whicii is two hundred and 
fifty years old in this year of 1S96. Mr. and 
Mrs. Perry have four children, the following 
being their record: William O., born March 
3, 1 8; I, married Mary L. Burnham, and is 
engaged in farming near the old homestead; 
Horace S., born May 29, 1S55, married Miss 
Ursula Smith, and lives on the homestead 
farm; Amelia A. J., born October 29, i860, 
is a trained nurse, has worked in a hospital, 
but is now living at home; and Leland J., 
who was born November 14, 1869, died Octo- 
ber 23, 1S79. 



irX AVID McKEEN, of .Stoneham, Ox- 
I I ford County, a well-known farmer 
^_!Sy and lumberman of this place, was 
born here P'ebruary 21, 1832, son of 
David .McKeen. His grandfather, Joel Mc- 
Keen, was the head of one of the old repre- 
sentative families of Stoneham. Joel, who 
was a native of Stoneham, was for several 
years in business here and afterward in Chat- 
ham, N. H. He subsecjuently resided in Lov- 
ell, this county, for a few years, after which 
he removed to Oxford township, where his last 
days were passed. He and his wife were 
blessed in the birth of five children — Julia 
Ann, Roxanna, David, Hiram, and Osina, of 
whom David is the only survivor. The mother 
has also passed away. David McKeen, Sr. , 
remained with his parents until after his mar- 
riage. In iSSo he removed to the farm now 
owned by his son. Here he and his wife still 
reside, both now \-enerable in years. 

David McKeen grew to manhood at the 
home of his parents, receiving his education in 
the district schools. His farm, formerly 
owned by his father, now contains between 
four hundred and fifty and five hundred acres, 
of which a part is wild land. He conducts 
general farming thereon, and is also somewhat 
engagetl in dairying. Being now unable to 
perform much of the farm work, he has jirac- 
lically retired from active occupations, leaving 



the estate to be managed by his sons. He 
and his wife have had ten children — Walter, 
Edward, Everett, Sumner F., Lottie PL, P'red 
F.. Willis P:., Linnie M., Annie M., and Ava 
K. Walter resides at home. Edward is now 
deceased. Everett married Miss Etta Hib- 
bard, and they now reside at Shelburne, N. H. 
Fred F. also lives at Shelburne. Willis p]. is 
still at home. Annie AL and Ava E. still 
live at the old mansion. Sumner, who wedded 
Miss P"]ora Dillingham (now deceased), is a 
resident of Stoneham township. Lottie is the 
wife of O. Locke, of Bridgton, Me., where 
they make their home. Linnie also resides 
at Bridgton, and is the wife of Samuel R. 
Allen of that place. Mr. McKeen takes an 
active interest in the general affairs of the 
town and vicinity, and he has served in sev- 
eral public capacities. He is affiliated with 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being 
a member of the lodge at North Lovell. In 
national politics he has always supported the 
Democratic party. His life of industry has 
received its due meed of prosperity, and he 
has the cordial respect of a large accjuaintance- 
ship throughout the county. 




RNEST E. FIELD, a practical and 
prosperous farmer, and a well-known 
representative of one of the old fam- 
ilies of Paris, Oxford County, was born Janu- 
ary 17, 1861, in North Paris. This part of 
the town was also the birthplace of his par- 
ents, Franklin N. and Sabina J. (Andrews) 
Field. His father was a grandson of Ephraim 
P"ield, who is mentioned in the History of 
Paris as having settled here in 1786. 

Galen Field, son of Ephraim, boin in 1788, 
established his home in North Paris. He was 
a well-educated man, and for many winters 
was engaged in teaching. He was Justice of 
the Peace, and, besides often being employed 
in other public capacities, did much of the 
probate work of this locality. Pie lived to be 
past the age of threescore and ten years. To 
him and his wife, formerly Polly (or Mary) 
Thayer, seven children w^ere born, namely: 
Jane; William: Laura; Franklin, father of 
Ernest E. : Charles; Hiram; and Mar\-. 

P'ranklin N. P'ield spent his entire life in 



BIOr.RAl'llKAL RKVIKW 



595 



his native place, ijcing' numbered airuiii; its 
most cntcr|)rising and active I'armeis. In 
1 87 1 he bought the estate now occupied by his 
son, Ernest E., and was here engaged in gen- 
eral farming until his demise, January 30, 
1892. His wife survived him a very few 
days, (lying on Februar\- 7. They had but 
two children, namely: Lisa !■'.., born August 
1, 1S58, who is the wife of I'rank V.. (lowell, 
of North Paris, and has one child, luuiice; 
and Ernest I-^, the subject of this sketch. 
The parents were liberal in religion, and in 
politics the father was identified with the 
Republican party. 

Ernest I^. Field passed the days of his boy- 
hood and youth in North Paris, attending first 
the district schools and later the high school 
of the town. He subsequently taught school 
four terms, but has been employed the larger 
part of his active life in the prosecution of the 
calling in which he is now^ engaged. He 
owns the okl home farm, containing one 
hundred and ten acres, which he has greatly 
improved. The family residence is com- 
modious and comely; and everything about 
his premises indicates the existence of good 
management, cultivated tastes, and ample 
means. 

On December 2<S, 1S.S6, Air. Field marriet! 
Emily F. Joy, wdio was born May 26, 1865, 
at Prospect Harbor, Me., a daughter of Free- 
man and Georgia (Moore) Joy. Mr. ami Mrs. 
Field have two children — Ora E., born Janu- 
ary 2, 1892: and Keith Joy, born September 
10, 1S93. Politically, Mr. Field is an earn- 
est supporter of the principles of the Republi- 
can party. He is a jarominent member of 
several popular organizations, including Gran- 
ite Lodge, No. !87, A. F. & A. M. ; Paris 
Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd 
p-ellows, of West Paris; and the Patrons of 
Husbandry, No. 29S, of the same place. 
Roth he and Mrs. Field are liberal in their 
religious belief. 



"1-:NRV G. KROWN, a prosperous 
farmer and wide-awake business 
man of Hartford, Me., was bnrn in 
in the town of Rumford, O.xford 
Count v, -Me., November 22, 1829. His par- 




ents were John M. and Maitha (Gibson) 
Brown, the former of whom was a native of 
Rumford and the latter of lirownfield, Me. 
The father of John M. lirown was an early 
settler of Rumford. He cnvneil at one time 
a part of what is nnw the site of Rumfort! 
P'alls village, but subseipiently removed to 
Peru. In religious views he was liberal; in 
political affiliation, a Democrat. Poth he and 
his w'ife lived to a good age. They had nine 
children; but the only one now living is Mis. 
.Sarah .Sta|:iles, of Mexico, Me. 

John M. Prown took uj) farming as an occu- 
pation, and for many years resided in Canton, 
where he died at the age of eighty-five, and 
his wife at the age of ninety-two years. They 
had five children who grew up, and one that 
died in infancy. Only two are now living, 
namely: Henry G. ; and luiiily R., the wdfe 
of Albert Hawes, of Hyde Park, Mass. Mar- 
garet, who married a Air. Soule, dietl at sixty- 
four years of age. The others were ; Martha, 
who married a Air. Prown; and .Sarah, whose 
husband's name was Pierce. In jiolitics their 
father was a Democrat, and in religion a 
Uni versa! ist. 

Henry (i. Prown grew to manhodd in Can- 
ton, and was educated in the schools of that 
town. Starting out for himself at twenty-one 
years of age. he went to Massachusetts and 
secured a position as foreman on a gentleman's 
farm, where he remained for eleven years. 
At the end of that time, in 1870, he returned 
to his native county and purchased the farm in 
ILirtford where he now resides. He is one of 
the largest land owners in the town, his estate 
comprising in all about four hundred and sixtv 
acres. 

Air. Bniwn has been twice married. His first 
wife was Olive A. Waldron, by whom he had 
five children, namely: Charles H. and Alinnie 
A., now deceased;' Adella \'. , the wife of 
Sidney Peach, of Santa Cruz, Cai. ; I'lflfie V., 
wife of Sumner Taylor, of Riverside, Cal. ; 
and Charles H., unmarried, who lives in 
Hartford, Me. Air. Prown married for his 
.second wife Mrs. Alary A. Sam])son, who was 
the widow of Elisha T. Sampson. She was 
horn in Hartford, Ale., July 5, 1S34, a daugh- 
ter of Levi Cobb. Her four children born of 
her first marriage are all living, namely: Ella, 



sofj 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



the wile i>f I<'red Allen, (if liast W'iltnn, Me. ; 
Herbert Al. Sampson, of Canton, Me. ; Lncy 
A., the wife of Preston Barker, of Hartford; 
and l-llisha T. Sampson, who makes his home 
with his mother. Albert \'. , the only child 
born of her union with Mr. Brown, also lives 
at home. 

In politics Mr. l^rown is independent. He 
and I\Irs. Brown are liberal in religious views. 
He is not one of those who await a convenient 
time to achieve a purpose, but one who makes 
his own opportunity; and the result has been 
fruitful of the success which every honest and 
right endeavor merits. 




I'.ORGE W. JOHxNSON, one of the 
leading farmers of Industry and an 
e.x-member of the Maine legislature, 
was born here, July lo, 1821, son of Henry 
and Catherine (Sullivan) Johnson. The pa- 
ternal ancestry of Mr. Johnson were residents 
of Charlcstown and Boston, Mass. His grand- 
father, Zebadiah Johnson, who resided in Bos- 
ton, married Elizabeth Kneeland, of that city, 
daughter of Nathaniel Kneeland. Both par- 
ents died before their son Henry was four 
years old. 

Henry Johnson, George W. Johnson's 
father, was born in Boston. He was brought 
up in Wiscasset, Me., by his maiden aunt, 
.Sarah Kneeland, witii whom he resided until 
he was twenty-one. He learned the trade of 
a block-maker. After his marriage he bought 
the farm in Industry now owned by his son, 
George W. Here he was engaged in farm- 
ing, and worked at his trade tluring the rest 
of his active period; and he died June 24, 
1870. His wife, Catherine, who was a native 
of New Sharon, Me., became the mother of 
fifteen children, named respectively: John 
ItUiott, Henry, Zebediah, Daniel Sullivan, 
George W., Nathan .Smith, Eliza Jane, Cathe- 
rine, Richard Elliott, Elias Hutchins, Mary 
Paul, John Elliott (second), Sarah Abbie, and 
Ann Hutchins. Another child died in in- 
fancy. 

John IClliott Johnson (first), born October 
12, 1812, died December 10, 1835. Henry 
Johnson, born July 14. 18 14, died December 
10, 1842. Zebediah Johnson, deceased, born 



P'ebruary 18, 18 16, married Clarissa T. Swift, 
May 12, 1839; he died Eebruary i, 1892, at 
Appleton, Wis., and is survived by his wife 
and four children. Daniel .Sullivan Johnson, 
born Se]5tember 25, 1819, married Mrs. Mary 
Stanford. Both are deceased. Nathan Smith 
Johnson, deceased, born April 16, 1823, mar- 
ried Mary C. Butler. Eliza Jane Johnson, 
born May 18, 1825, married James Sanford 
Williams, and resides in Hallowell, Me. ; 
Catherine Johnson, born May 7, 1827, who 
married Isaac E. Mitchell, of Gardiner, Me., 
died January 15, 1852. Richard Elliott 
Johnson, who was born in Industry, Me., 
April 14, 1829, married Louise A. Reed, of 
Dresden, Me., October 3, 1854. He and his 
wife had four children — Henry, Harriet IVL, 
Gertrude, and Annie Louise, — whose record 
follows. 

Henry, born June 25, 1855, now Professor 
of Modern Languages in Bowdoin College, re- 
siding in Brunswick, Me., married Eannie 
Robinson, of Thomaston, Me., July 26, i88r. 
Harriet M., born September 3, 1857, married 
George H. Ray, of Gardiner, Me., October 
14, 1880. She and her husband reside in La 
Crosse, Wis. He is President of the .State 
Bank of La Crosse and Director in the Gem 
City Saw-mill Company of Uuincy, III. He 
has been re-elected Assemblyman to the Wis- 
consin legislature for 1897-98. Gertrude, 
born December 6, i860, died May 28, 1862. 
Annie Louise, born November 9, 1863, died 
June 6, 1878. 

Elias Hutchins Johnson, born April 7, 
1831, died October 22, 1883. Mary Paul 
Johnson, born November 10, 1833, succes- 
sively married Harvey Jack and Samuel Will- 
iams, and resides in Litchfield, Me. John 
Elliott Johnson (second), born Eebruary 9, 
1836, successively married Ann J. Roberts 
and Mrs. Sarah Rackcliffe Hall, and resides 
in New .Sharon. .Sarah Abbie Johnson, born 
May 21, 1838, died August 21, 1844. Ann 
Hutchins Johnson, deceased, born November 
5, 1840, married Z. M. Emery, also deceased. 
The mother of the fifteen children above named 
died September 13, 1872. 

George W. Johnson was educated in the 
schools of Industry, and began to assist ujion 
the farm at an early age. In young manhood 



niOCR AIMIICAI, RKVIEW 



=;i7 



he bouj^lU thf homestead property, whieh lie 
has since continued to cultivate. Having 
been successful from the start, he now owns 
one thousand acres of land. He has ini|iroved 
his farm by the erection of new buildings, and 
he follows advanced methods in its cultiva- 
tion. His principal crops are corn, hay, bar- 
ley, anil potatoes. Me also raises cattle and 
sheep, keeping an average of fifty head of the 
former and three hundred of the latter. Be- 
sides these he has fifty hogs and si.\ horses. 
The Johnson farm includes upland pasturage, 
wood, and tillage, and is considered one of 
the most valuable estates in this locality. 
The proprietor and his .son receive further 
income from a large wholesale and retail 
meat business, through which they sui)ply 
both the local and Boston markets. Mr. 
Johnson also deals largely in wool, and has 
been extensively engaged in stock trading for 
many years. 

On May 15, 1856, Mr. Johnson was united 
in marriage with Emily Weston, who was born 
in Madison, .Somerset County, Me., April 12, 
1836. She is a daughter of Nathan and 
Almedia (rooler) Weston, the former of whom 
was a native of Madison, and the latter of 
Bloomfield, Me. Mrs. Johnson's father was 
engaged in farming and lumbering during the 
active period of his life, and both he and his 
wife died in Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
have five children, as follows: Viola, who was 
born April 30, 1857, and is now the wife of 
Charles E. Weston, of Milwaukee, Wis.; Na- 
than Weston, born May 25, 1861, who married 
Inez Watson, resides at the homestead, and 
has one son, George Kneeland, born July i, 
1896; Clara A., who was born November 23, 
1862, and is now an accomplished and success- 
ful teacher in the public schools of Milwau- 
kee; Bertha Emily, who was born June 7, 
1867, and is now the wife of Dr. John W. 
Nichols, of Farmington; and Georgia F., who 
was born July 29, 1870, and is now teaching 
in a kindergarten in Milwaukee. The chil- 
dren are all graduates of the town graded 
schools, two of the Farmington High School, 
two of the State Normal School in Farming- 
ton, and one of the Wisconsin State Normal 
School at Milwaukee. All have talents for 
drawing and painting. 



.Mr. lohnscin lias been long identified with 
the public affairs of Industry. He served as 
Collector for eighteen years, was Selectman 
and Assessor for fifteen years, and in 1880 
was elected to the Maine House of Represent- 
atives. He was an active supporter of th(; 
Democratic party until the present year, when 
he transferred his sujiport to the Republicans. 
He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of 
New Sharon, and is a charter member of the 
lodge of Odd Fellows in North Anson, hav- 
ing had connection with the order for fifty 
years. 




AMUh:i. GOULD CRAIG was 
born on December 16, 1827, in 
I'"armington, where he was a highly 
successful farmer and a lifelong 
resident. He died on May 4, 1895, survived 
by his second wife, .Mrs. Susan J. Weathern 
Craig, and a son and daughter born of his 
first marriage. 

Samuel Gould Craig's great-great-grand- 
father, Andrew Craig, was a Scotsman by 
birth, antl was the first of the name who set- 
tled in America. His grandson, l<:noch 
Craig, son of John Craig, was born in 
Wrentham, Mass., September 11, 1758. lie 
enlisted in the American army in the very 
outset of the struggle for independence, and 
served in its ranks until 1780, in which year 
he came to Hallowell, now Augusta, Me. 
Enoch Craig was one of a party of explorers 
on this occasion, who were investigating the 
regions of Sandy River in quest of a suitable 
spot for a settlement. I'inding what appeared 
to be a desirable situation, he purchased the 
tract known as lot No. 22, cleared a small 
portion of it, and built a cabin of humble di- 
mensions. Returning then to Hallowell, he 
remained there until the following spring, 
when he once more wended his way toward the 
little clearing on Sandy River. He now 
fell to work with renewed energy, cleared 
more land, raised grain, and built a substan- 
tial log house, and was one of the first who 
settled the town of Farmington. His wife, 
Dorothy Starling, whom he married in Feb- 
ruary, 1789, was born in 1763, and died in 
1829. Enoch Craig was a man whose high 



S9S 



HKX^RAPIIICAL REVIEW 



character ami nic)i"al vvoitli wmi fur him not 
only the universal respect and confidence of 
his neiglibors, but a prominent position in the 
town he had helped to create. He was Se- 
lectman for a number of terms, and for four 
years Town Treasurer. Enoth Craig and his 
wife were the parents of ten children, John, 
the father of the late Samuel G. Craig, being 
the first-born. 

His birth occurred November 14, 1789, in 
the log house fashioned in his father's \outh: 
and here he grew up, assisting his father in 
cultivating the land until he was old enough 
to establish himself as a farmer. Soon after 
attaining manhood he bought lot No. 8, which 
he cleared and farmed until his death. John 
Craig married twice. His first wife was 
Drusilla, daughter of Daniel Stanley, of Attle- 
boro, Mass. She was born in 1788, and died 
in 1823, having been the mother of four chil- 
dren. Mr. John Craig formed a second mar- 
riage with his first wife's sister, Charlotte 
Stanley, who was born June 15, 1792; and by 
this union also four children \vere born, 
namely: ClKirles S. ; Samuel Gould, of whom 
this brief memoir is written; Charlotte D. ; 
and Virgil L. John Craig was widely known 
and honored for his integrity and strength of 
character. He died January 22, 1873, and 
was followed to the grave by his wife, Char- 
lotte, July 23, 1874, a year and a half later. 

Samuel Gould Craig received a public 
school education, and remained with his par- 
ents until he was thirty years old. He then, 
having already a large experience in agricult- 
ural arts, bought a farm, which he subse- 
quently exchanged for tlie estate known as the 
Butterfield farm, and at an earlier date called 
the Hiscock place. This tract of land lay on 
the South River Road, and consisted of one 
hundred and twenty-five acres of fertile soil. 
By the purchase of an equal amount of adjoin- 
ing land, his estate was doubled in both extent 
and value, and rendered a most desirable 
]jlace by the remodelling of the buildings and 
other improvements. In 1S72, however, the 
dwelling and out-houses were destroyed by 
fire. This was, of course, a heavy loss; but 
the energetic owner at once set to work, and 
had a handsome house and commodious barns 
and other farm buildings erected. Mr. Craig 



was a Republican in politics. He served the 
town acceptably as Selectman. 

Samuel G. Craig, like his father, was twice 
married. His first wife, with whom he was 
united July 16, 1853, was Ellen K. B. Abbot, 
a daughter of Asa Abbot, the mother of two 
children — Samuel A., born January 26, 1855: 
and Lizzie E, born November 12, 1856. 
Samuel A. Craig married Mary F. Atherton, 
and is the father of four children — John A., 
Harry, Margaret, and Samuel G. Lizzie E. is 
the wife of O. P. Whittier, and the mother of 
four children — Arthur C, Helen A., Earl 
O., and Don. Samuel Gould Craig's second 
marriage was celebrated July 3, 1862, when 
he was united in the bonds of wedlock with 
Susan J. Weathern. 

Mrs. Susan J. W. Craig belongs to a family 
long known and honered in this locality. Ar- 
nold Weathern, her great-grandfather, was the 
son of French emigrants, and a native, it is 
thought, of Newbury, Mass. He came to 
Farmington in the early days of its growth, 
and purchased lot No. 7, on the west side of 
Sandy River, where he built a cabin. Here 
he spent his life, dying, at an advanced age in 
the home of his first-born, Benjamin. His 
children were: Benjamin, Micah, Micah (sec- 
ond), Arnold, David, and Mary. Benjamin 
was really the executive head of the family, as 
his father was an old man when they came to 
Maine, and it was he who cleared the land of 
lot No. 7, and made a home there. The" high 
waters gave warning, however, that they were 
tiangerously near the river, and Benjamin 
found it expedient to move. Accordingly, he 
built a habitation on the tract of land which 
was more elevated, and is the present home 
of the Weatherns. Benjamin Weathern was 
justly popular among his neighbors. He was 
a Universalist in religious belief, but, with 
the broad charity and tolerance that is the 
mark of true Christianity, he opened iiis doors 
to the gospel services of any denomination, 
and it is pleasant to think that within his 
house, which was the first built in tJiis town, 
members of the Congregational faith were 
accustomed to gather together to hold services 
of worship, a beautiful example thus being set 
of a united fellowship in the faitii of a ilivine 
Love and Fatherhood. 



BIOGRAIMIICAL RKVIK.W 



599 



Benjamin W'eathorn died March 12, 1S34, 
leaving a memory honored by all. His wife, 
formerly Susanna Blackstone, who was born 
in 1760, died in 1837, survivini;- him four 
years. Their one son, Benjamin, Jr., was 
born September 4, 1791, and was his father's 
successor. He enlarged the boundaries of the 
farm, and put up more buildings; and, after 
the burning of the barn in 181S, he built a new- 
one. On November 1, 181S, he married 
Susan, daughter of Kliphalet and Jane (I'lum- 
mer) Reed. .Mrs. Weathern was born in 
1797, and died in 1882. l^enjamin Weathern, 
Jr., died in 1846, after a long and useful 
career. He and his wife were the parents of 
nine children — Joel, born March 30, 1820; 
William H., born January 12, 1823; Kliph- 
alet R., born March 11, 1825, now residing 
on the old homestead, who married Augusta 
A. Tufts, and is the father of three children 
— Benjamin F., Harrison P. T., and Jennie 
A.; Benjamin F., born May 30, 1827; Susan 
Jane, Mrs. Craig, born April 11, 1831; 
George D. and a twin infant, born October 28, 
1833; S. Augusta, born July 6, 1S35; and 
Moses L., born February g, 1840. 

Mrs. Susan Weathern Craig is a woman of 
influence in this community, where tor many 
generations her own name, as well as that of 
her late husband, has been widely known and 
uniformly res])ected. 



viJ) F. BARTLKTT, the leading 
^eweller of Rumford Falls, O.xford 
County, was born in this town, Febru- 
ary 12, 1852, son of Jonathan A. and Harriet 
Bartlett, both natives of Rumford Centre. 

Jonathan A. Bartlett has spent his entire 
life in this town, engaged in portrait-painting 
and farming. He is now seventy-nine years 
of age, and is living on a farm near the centre 
of the town, where he has made his home dur- 
ing the past fifty years. Mrs. Bartlett died at 
the age of seventy-five. She was a kind 
friend and obliging neighbor. 

Fred F. Bartlett was educated in the com- 
mon schools of his native town. He remained 
on the home farm until he was twenty years 
of age. He then began to learn the jeweller's 
trade in Lewiston, Me., and he subsequently 




filled a responsible position in a large jewelry 
store in lioston for two years. In 1892 he 
opened a jewelry store in Rumfortl l-'alls, the 
first of the kind in the place, which now has a 
prosperous and growing business. He is es- 
sentially a self-made man. his success being 
attained by his own unaided efforts. He does 
not "believe in failure." He says, "With 
good health and plenty of push, almost any one 
can make a success of life." He is now tak- 
ing a course in an optical college, and will 
soon have "Doctor" prefi.xed to his name. 
At present he is a busy student, and is never 
without a book on some scientific work. A 
large collection of such works is among his 
most valued possessions. He believes the 
field of effort and the possibilities of achieve- 
ment are Jjoundless. 

Mr. Bartlett was married in 1879 to Miss 
Kdna F. Thomas, of East Rumford, Me., who 
died in 1882, leaving one son, Fred F. In 
1888 he entered a second marriage, contracted 
with Miss Sadie Warhurst, of Lewiston, Me. 
Mrs. Bartlett is gifted with a voice of rare 
compass and purity, and sings a great deal in 
public. She is organist of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, being at the same time a 
member of the society. Her union with 
Mr. Bartlett has been blessed with one child, 
Anna M., a beautiful girl, who took the first 
premium contested for by eight hundred chil- 
dren at the Lactated Food competition, the 
selection being made from jmrtraits sent to 
the Food Company. Mr. Bartlett has been 
affiliated with the Masonic order for twenty- 
three vears, belonging to Blazing Star Lodge, 
No. 30, of Rumford Falls. He is also a 
member of Pennacook Lodge, No. 130, Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of the same 
place; of the Good Templars, the Foresters, 
and the Order of the Golden Cross. 




lATHANlEL BUTLER BEAL, the 
leading business man of Phillips, and 
one of the best financiers of Frank- 
lin County, was born in Sanford, 
March 7, 1828, eldest child of Sheldon 
Hobbs Real and Tabatha (Butler) Beal. 
When about three years of age his parents 
purchased in the town of Avon one hundred 



Me. 



6oo 



l;i()(;i<Al'HICAL REVIKW 



and sixty acres of land for a farm, on what is 
now known as the "Mile Square." Here the 
family moved with their two children, Na- 
thaniel antl Wilson, and built for themselves 
a home. 

The primeval forest was in time converted 
into productive acres, and the rocky hillsides 
into pasture lands. When Nathaniel was a 
lad of but ten years he visited a neighboring 
farmer, some four miles distant, and was 
given the apple })omace left from making 
cider. This pomace he took home in a sack, 
slung over his back, carrying it through the 
woods to his home, where he sowed the seed 
thus obtained, and started an apple orchard, 
which in after years proved very productive 
and valuable. 

At the age of twelve Nathaniel went to work 
for a neighbor, John Wilbur, taking the entire 
charge of his farm, and for a year performed 
the work of a man. His education was ob- 
tained in the country schools, which he at- 
tended winters, arising at four o'clock in the 
morning, and doing the chores around the 
house and barn, before walking a mile through 
bleak winds and deep snow to attend school. 
For recreation and amusement an occasional 
attendance at a "muster," a paring-bee, a 
husking, or a barn-raising, sufficed in those 
days. L^pon one occasion, while attending a 
raising in which the whole neighborhood was 
present, including the parson, the ardent 
spirits were freely imbibed by the crowd, both 
old and young, except young Nathaniel, who 
st(nitly refused to partake, ])referring rather 
the criticism of his companions. This trait 
of total abstinence, unusual at that early day, 
has remained a prominent feature of his char- 
acter, he having never partaken of tobacco or 
liquor in any form. 

W-'hen about nineteen years of age he went 
to work for Deacon Orren Robbins, of Phillips 
village, where he preformed the duties of 
miller in the custom grist-mill. When 
twenty-one years old he was married to Miss 
Mary Robbins, daughter of Deacon Orren 
Robbins, his employer, and he soon started in 
business for himself in the village of Phillips 
as a trader in general merchandise. His busi- 
ness was a prosperous one, and for several 
years he continued as a merchant, but failing- 



health finally compelled him to seek a less 
sedentary occupation, and one giving better 
opportunities of open-air exercise. He ac- 
cordingly went into the cattle business, be- 
coming a drover; and during the Civil War, 
and for many years afterward, he helped to 
supply the Boston market with beef. 

The Phillips Savings Bank and the Union 
National Bank of Phillips owe their exist- 
ence to Mr. Beal's energy and enterprise. 
In 1875 ht; became the President of the 
Union National Bank of Phillips, and so re- 
mained until its charter expired in 1895, mak- 
ing a record unsurpassed by any, and equalled 
but by few, the bank during all those years 
having lost but sixty-five dollars. One year 
before the expiration of the charter of the 
Union National Bank, a new bank, known as 
the Phillips National Bank, was organized, 
and Mr. Beal was made its first President in 
1S94, which office he still holds. He was also 
for many years one of the Directors of the 
Savings Bank of Phillips. ' 

In 1879 he was one of the builders of the 
Sandy River Railroad, and one of its first 
Presidents, which position he held until 1892. 
During the latter part of this period he was 
also its suj^erintendent as well as its Presi- 
dent. In the discouraging work of raising 
extra funds for the building of the I'oad and 
placing of the bonds, it was Mr. Beal who led 
the way to a successful conclusion, and the 
unprecedented prosperity of the road is due 
chiefly to him. Before the Civil War he was 
one of the leading town officers, serving not 
only as County Deputy Sheriff, but as First 
Selectman, and as such continuing most of the 
time for thirty years. He has paid more 
money in taxes than any other past or present 
resident of Phillips. He was twice drafted in 
the Civil War, but was unable to pass a satis- 
factory physical examination, being thus de- 
barred from serving his country in the great 
struggle for the preservation of the Union. 

In politics he was always a Democrat, a Pro- 
tectionist, and a sound money man, a leader 
of his party in the northern part of Franklin 
County. He was twice nominated as Repre- 
sentative to the legislature, and once as Sena- 
tor and Judge; but, though he ran far ahead of 
his ticket, the district being strongly Repub- 



BIOGRArilUAl. REVIEW 



60 I 



lican, he was defeated. At one time, duriii!j; 
the clays of the Greenback party, three of the 
brothers were nominated from the same dis- 
trict on as many tickets, Nathaniel being the 
Democratic nominee, Wilson the Republican 
nominee, and Bradford the Greenback nomi- 
nee. The second brother, Wilson, received 
the election. In religious opinions he is in 
sympathy with the Universalists, although a 
constant' attendant at the Union church, and 
one of the strongest supporters of the Free 
Will liaptist church, whose chorister he has 
been for many years, and in the choir of which 
he has sung for more than forty years. 

A thoroughly self-made man, progressive in 
his ideas, kind and generous to the poor, ever 
ready to help in any good cause, eager to pro- 
mote the public welfare, and strictly temper- 
ate, he is honored and respected by all. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beal are to-day living in the 
house they were married in, the one he pur- 
chased of Deacon Orren Robbins, his father- 
in-law, and which has never been owned out- 
side the family. This home has since been 
as thoroughly modernized as could be done 
by preserving some of its original features. 
Therehave been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beal 
three children — Fred Marshall, who died 
when an infant: Minnie Geneva, born May 
20, 1858, married June 28, 1S80, to J. Wat- 
son Smith, now a resident of St. Paul, Minn., 
has two children — Harold Beal and Mary 
Nathalie; and I-'red Nathaniel, born April 
14, -1860, the present superintendent of the 
Sandy River Railroad, who resides in Phillips, 
married March i, 1885, IClla p:sthcr Harvey, 
who died June 15, 1893, and their children 
were: a son who died in infancy. Hermia, 
and Ella Flsther. 

Mr. Beal is a descendant of some of the 
earliest settlers of Massachusetts and Maine, 
and can trace his ancestors back through an 
unbroken line to the time of William the 
Conqueror. 

He is a grandson on the maternal side of 
Nathaniel Butler, who served in the Revolu- 
tionary War when a mere boy, a great-grand- 
son of Thomas Butler, an officer who served in 
the Revolutionary War in Captain Ebenezer 
Sullivan's company, stationed at Cambridge 
and vicinity in 1775 in Colonel Scammon's 



Regiment, a great-great-grandson of Moses 
Butler, of ]5ervvick, who in 1740 was Captain 
of a company, and in 1744 recruited a com- 
pany, which was the Seventh Company of 
the First Massachusetts Regiment, wdiich he 
conuuanded during the remarkable siege and 
cajJture of Louisburg, July 4, 1745. He was 
also at the siege of Quebec, 1754- 

Mr. Beal is the sixth descendant of Thomas 
Butler, who settled in Berwick, Me., about 
1690, and who was the fourth son of the ninth 
Duke of Ormond. The Dukes of Ormond 
were created under Edward HI. of England, 
and placed over the County Palatine of Or- 
mond, Tipperary, Ireland. They were sent 
from luigland to Ireland by Henry II. of Eng- 
land, I 1 72; were also stationed there under 
King |ohu. They originally came to luig- 
land with William the Conqueror, from Glan- 
ville, near Caen, France. (See "American 
Family Genealogy," page 31 ; also "Thomas 
Butler and Descendants," pages 20, 21; also 
volume for 1848, N. E. G. and A. R., page 
355.) Mr. Beal, through his grandmother, 
Mercy Wentworth Butler, is the eighth de- 
scendant of Fdder William Wentworth, who 
came from Alford, Lincoln Comity, FIngland, 
to Exeter, New Hampshire, 1639. lilder 
William Wentworth, the emigrant, was the 
twenty-first descendant of Reginald Went- 
worth, who was the proprietor of the lord- 
ship of Wentworth, of Strafford, in the west 
of Yorkshire, in the parish of Wath-upon- 
Dearn, nine miles from Sheffield and thirteen 
miles from Doncaster. and who was living 
there when William the Coiuineror came to 
F'ngland, 1066. 

Mr. Beal is also a descenilant of Sheldon 
Hobbs, who marched from Kittery when a 
mere lad, in Captain Robert I'ord's Company, 
November 5, 1775, and served during the Rev- 
olutionary War, and later was on the Commit- 
tee of Safety in the War of 181 2. Sheldon 
Hobbs was son of Thomas Hobbs, Jr., and 
Mary (Abbott) Hobbs. Thomas Hobbs was 
also a soldier of the Revolutionary War, a 
town officer of Berwick for many years, and an 
extensive land-owner. He was son of Thomas 
Hobbs, of Dover, who later moved to Berwick, 
and F:iizabcth Morrell Hobbs. 

Tabatha Butler, wife of Sheldon Hobbs 



rjoj 



lOCK AIMIICAL RKVIKW 



]5ea1, was the ninth child of Nathaniel and 
Tahatha ( |ov) Butler. She was born Decem- 
ber 19, i.Sio, in Sanford, Me. Her parents 
were married I'\'brnary 3, 1791. Her father, 
Nathaniel ]^utler, was liorn July 5, 1762, and 
died November 25, 1841. He was son of 
Thomas liutler and l^ridget (Gerrish) Butler, 
and was a merchant in Sanford, Me. 

Thomas Butler was born in Berwick, May 
-7. '733- He married March 10, 1757, Brid- 
get Gerrish. He was a soldier and officer in 
the Revolutionary War, as was also his son 
Nathaniel. 

Thomas ]5utler was the third son of Moses 
and Mercy Wentworth Butler. 

Moses Butler was born in South Berwick, 
July 13, 1702, and married Mercy Wentworth, 
of Dover, N.H. He was second son of 
Thomas and Elizabeth Butler, of Berwick, 
Me., the emigrant who came to Berwick about 
i6go, and who was born in the year 1674 in 
Ireland. He was a fine scholar, and, being 
the only one in Berwick who had a good 
knowledge of Latin, he was appointed by the 
town as teacher. He was elected to office 
more than thirty-five times during his life. 
He was possessed of ample means, owned 
much land, and was owner in the mill in 
Ouamphegan. He was a descendant of the 
ninth Duke of Ormond of Ireland. 

Mrs. Mary (Robbins) Beal, wife of Na- 
thaniel Butler Beal, is also a descendant of 
some of the earliest settlers of New England. 
Her miither, Mrs. Mary (lluntoon) Robbins, 
wdio is now living and in her eiglity-si.vth 
year, is a grand-daughter of Jonathan lluntoon, 
of Wiscassett, Me., who was born in Kings- 
ton, N.H., 1756, and who married Hannah 
Chase, of Edgecomb, Me., July 8, 1781. 

He served all through the Revolutionary 
War, entering the service from New Castle. 
He died in Wiscassett, October 16, 1833. 
He was the son of Samuel and Hannah (Ladd) 
Huntoon. His father, Samuel Huntoon, was 
born in Kingston, June 18, 171 8, and died at 
Nottingham, N.H., May, 1796. Samuel mar- 
ried May 26, 1742, Hannah Ladd, daughter 
of Daniel and Mehitable (Philbrick) Ladd. 
Samuel Huntoon was a soldier in Captain 
l-5ullard"s Com|)any, Colonel James Erey's 
Regiment in 1775. He was a son of John and 



Mary (Rundlet) Huntoon, who were married 
about 1 7 16, and the former of whom died De- 
cember 8, 1778. John Huntoon was a son of 
Philip Huntoon, the emigrant, who married 
Betsey Hall, of Ivveter, N.H., in the year 
1687. He was born about 1660, and died in 
Kingston May 10, 1752. 

Mrs. Beal is also a grand-daughter of Polly 
(Pelton) Huntoon, whose father, Joel Pelton, 
was born November 5, 1753, in Somers, Conn. 
He entered the Revolutionary War at its com- 
mencement, and served until its close. He 
was in Captain Clark's Company, in Colonel 
Obediah Johnson's Regiment of Militia from 
Connecticut, was also in Captain Brigham's 
Company, in the Eifth Regiment Connecticut 
line, under Colonel Isaac .Sherman. He was 
one of the body guard of General Washington, 
spent the winter at Valley Eorge, and was 
present at the surrender of Yorktown. He 
married Anna Cotter, daughter of Timothy 
Cotter, of Whitefield, Me., in 1791, and died 
March 7, 1856, in Madrid, Me., aged one hun- 
dred and three years. He was descendecl 
from John Pelton, the emigrant, who came 
from Englantl to Boston in 1630. 

Mrs. Beal is also a grand-daughter of Mehit- 
able (Ladd) Robbins, who was descended froiTi 
Daniel Ladd, the emigrant, who came from 
London on the ship "Mary and John," Janu- 
ary 30, 1633, and settled first in Ipswich, 
Mass., and later was one of the twelve original 
founders of Haverhill, Mass. The Ladds can 
be traced to the earls of Ladd in Norway, 
A.I). 861. (See Chase's "History of Haver- 
hill."") They married into the royal families 
of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. One of 
them married Estrith, daughter of King 
Sweyn, of Denmark, and came with his 
brother-in-law, the Danish King Canute, to 
England, and there settled in Kent County. 
(See "Pelton Genealogy," "Wentworth Gen- 
ealogy," "Ladd P'amily," "Thomas Butler 
and His Descendants," "Huntoon Genealogy," 
Keary's "History of Norway and the Norwe- 
gians," etc.) 

Sheldon Hobbs Beal, eldest son of Ben- 
jamin and Olive (Hobbs) Beal, was born in 
Sanford, Me., January 13, 1808. His early 
years were spent in Sanford, where he received 
his education. He married Tabatha Butler, 



BIOCRAlMlirAI, KKVIKW 



603 



tlau-htcr of Xathanicl aiul Tabatha (Joy) 
l^utlcr, in 1827; and about 1832, with his 
wife and two young sons, he moved to Nortli 
I'lanklin County, and purchased of the town 
of Avon one hundred and sixty acres of land 
in that part of Avon known as the "Mile 
Square." Here he built a home, and began 
farming, experiencing all the hardships and 
trials commonly endured by pioneer farmers 
in those days. Seven other children were 
born to them in this new home, four sons and 
three daughters. 

The names of their children were as fulKnvs : 
Nathaniel Butler, the special subject of this 
sketch; Wilson Colcord, born in Sanford, 
Me., May 8, 1830; Horace, born in Avon, 
Me., March 13. 1882; Lewis, burn in Avon, 
June 13. 1834; Bradford, born in .Avon, Au- 
gust 4, 1836; Sheldon Hohhs, Jr., born in 
Avon, July 12, 1839, died June 17, 1864; 
Lura, born in Avon, January 5, 1842; Velora, 
horn in Avon. November 8, 1849; b'.ldora, 
bi)rn in Avon, July 9, 1S51. 

Mr. Bea! was a hard working, hcmest larmer, 
and by careful management, industry, and 
thrift, with the aid of his sturdy .sons, he was 
able to amass a considerable fortune. On 
'April 24, 1855, his wife died, and November 
16, 1856, he married Anna Winship, of Phil- 
lips, Me., by whom he had four children, one 
son and three daughters, namely, an inlant 
daughter, born February 14. 1858, died in 
I'ebruary, 1858; Benjamin Franklin, born 
lune 21, 1859; Albana Monteze, born Au- 
gust 23, 1861; Eulalia, born August 6. 1863, 
died May 17, 1889. Mr. Ikal died in .Avon, 
Me., January 10, 1875. 

Benjamin lieal, oldest child of Zebulon and 
Lucy (Boston) Beal, was born in Sanford, Au- 
gust 16, 1783. 

He was educated in Sanford, and lived 
there all his life. August 16, 1807, he was 
married to Olive Hobbs, born April 28. 1788, 
daughter of Sheldon and Ruth (Stilling) 
Hobbs, of Sanford, formerly of Berwick. 
Benjamin l^eal was a farmer and brick mason 
by trade. He served in the War of 181 2. 
There were born to Benjamin and Olive Beal 
si.x children, four sons and two daughters. 
He died in Sanford, Me., February 6, 1866, 
and his wife, July 21, 1858. Their chililren 



were: .Sheldon Hobbs, Susan 1'., Harrison, 
Theodate, Horace, and Benjamin. 

Zebulon Beal was born in Old York, Me., 
July 29, 1754. He married Lucy Boston, Oc- 
tober 20, 1781. h'rom Old York he moved to 
.Sanford, where he [jurclKUsed land, and h^c- 
came a farmer. He had four chiklren, three 
sons and one daughter —Benjamin, Thomas, 
Woodman, and Olive. Zebulon died m San- 
ford, January 26, 1843, aged eighty-eight: 
Lucy, his wife, who was born July 4, 1760, 
died November27, 1841, aged eighty-one years. 



T^AI'TAIN LKTHR PARKER TLFTS, 
I VV Town Treasurer nf l'"armington. Me., 
\% was burn in this town on March 28, 

,1812, son of P'rancis, Jr., and RLary 
(Parker) Tufts. Pie is a grandson of P'rancis 
Tufts, Sr. , and Sarah (Blunt) 'Pufts, and is of 
the si.xth generation in descent from Peter 
Tufts, who was bom in iMigland in 1617, and 
emigrated tn Massachusetts in the year 1638 
or thereabouts. Peter 'Putts married Mary 
Pierce; and their son John, who married Mary 
Putnam, was the father of Benjamin Tufts, the 
third in the line of descent. 

Francis 'Pufts, Sr. , sun uf Benjamin and 
Hannah ('Purner) 'Pufts. was liorn in .Mcdford, 
Mass., on Jidy 21, 1744. In 1775 he moved 
to Nobleboro, Me., with a lew of his neigh- 
bors, and five years later he came to Farming- 
ton, travelling through the woods by means of 
a compass part of the way, and following faint 
trails. Plere he bought lot No. 45 on the east 
side of the Sandy River, in what was then 
called Sandy l^iver 'Pownship, and settled 
down to the long and arduous labor of clearing 
the land and planting crops. In 1783, three 
years after he had himself arrived there, he 
removed his family from Damariscotta, the 
journey taking four days to accomplish. PI is 
children he brought in panniers or baskets on 
horseback. Several years later he went to 
Boston in company with Samuel Pkitterfield, 
and negotiated for the purchase of the 
township. 

He built about this time a saw-mill, the 
first mill in the place, and later sawed out the 
timber to construct for himself a new frame 
dwelling-house, which was ime of the first 



6 04 



BIOGR A !• 1 1 1 C.\ I , R K VI EW 



ci-ectcil in the Idwd. This was built in 1791. 
In the year icSio this progressive farmer estab- 
lished a small brick-)artl on his premises, and 
went to work and built a brick mansion to 
live in. verv naturally also one of the first of 
its kind in the town. He was during the 
latter portion of his life a lay preacher, and 
went about the country expounding the word. 
On one of his trips he came across a negro 
slave, of pure African blood, named Caesar, 
and Mrs. Barns, his owner, gave him to Mr. 
Tufts. Mr. Tufts took him away when he 
went home, and kept him the remainder of his 
life. Me was the only negro in I'^armingtim 
at that time. l-'rancis Tufts, Sr. , was one of 
the ruling l^lders of the l*'ree Will l^aptist 
church, and was universally liked and respected. 
He reared nine children, to whom he left the 
heritage of an honored name. 

His son, Francis, Jr., the father of Captain 
Tufts, was born in Medford, Mass., on May 
5, 1769. At the age of twenty-two he decided 
to settle down on a farm for himself, so he 
bought of Isaac Teague, river lot No. ;^/, 
east side. The farm's first owner, I'^li Hrain- 
ard, had started to clear it, and had built on 
it a log house, which afterward burned down, 
and Mr. Teague had built another. b'rancis 
Tufts, Jr., was a well-known citizen of Farm- 
ingtoii. lidieriting from his father a progres- 
sive spirit and strong will, he achieved suc- 
cess in his line of effoit. lie tiled in very 
good circumstances in 1SJ5, on the 20th of 
January. Ilis wife, Mary Parker, born in 
Dunstable, Mass., December 12, 1771, died 
on the 5th of April, 1S51. Their children 
were: Mary; Sarah; I-"rancis, who died quite 
young; another Francis, who was born after- 
ward and li\'ed ; and Peter Parker, the subject 
of this sketch. 

Peter Parker Tufts was but twelve years old 
when he lost his father. He received a lim- 
ited education in the district school, taking 
care to improve every opportimitv that offered 
itself to him. When he was twenty years old 
he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the State 
militia, and the ne.\t year he was promoted to 
the Captaincy of a company. He received an 
honorable discharge when he was twenty-five. 
For some years he and his brother Francis 
carried on the old home farm together, their 



father having willed the projierty to them, 
making a certain legac\- payable to the twt) 
sisters. In 11X38 they divided the estate. 
Captain Tufts then built on his jiart of the 
farm, and here he has lived ever since. Al- 
though his farm consisted of only scvents'-five 
acres, not very large in comparisou with some 
other farms in the same section, it comjwres 
favorably with an\' in inotluctiveness and gen- 
eral natural beautv. 

Captain Tufts has lieeu married three times. 
His first wife, with whom he was united on 
February 25, 1841, was Angeline, the daugh- 
ter of Abner Ramsdell, born January 21, 
1823. She died Ajiril 16, 1S63, lea\-ing five 
daughters, nameh : Augusta A., born April 
18, 1843, who mairied F. R. W'eathern ; 
F.mily J., born August i, 1845, who married 
first E. K. Richards and second Deacon 
Charles Coburn ; Mahala R., born April 12, 
1848, who married William H. Pearson; Flora 
A., born May 21, 1S50, married to G. A. 
Brooks, who died June 25, 1885; and Leonore 
M., born July 25, 1854, who died July 28, 
1876, the wife of I. C. Richards. Captain 
Tufts' second wife was Abby D. Richards, 
the daughter of John Richards, of Strong, Me. 
The\- were married on the 20th of September, 
1S64. She was born in Phillips, May 25, 
1826, and died Seiitember 8, i86c> She had 
no children. His thirtl wife, Rebecca I,. 
Racklilf, the daughter of Henjamin R. and 
Rachel Olix'er Rackliff, is now li\'ing. She 
was born in Industr)- on the 21st of May, 1834. 

Captain Tufts served as a Selectman of the 
town of Farmington in 1846 and 1S47. In 
1847 he wvas elected Town Treasurer, and, 
with the e.xception of a few years, has filled 
that office ever since, including the last 
twenty-two consecutive years. In politics he 
is a strong Democrat. He was for twenty-five 
years an officer of the Agricultural Society of 
Farmington, and is yet, at the advanced age 
of eighty-four years, an active and successful 
farmer on the finest ri\er farm in the town. 
He is known and admired as a worthy and pro- 
gressive citizen and one of the most faithful 
officers the town has ever had, and his long 
tenure of office is a proof of the perfect confi- 
dence his fellow-citizens have in his integrity 
and abilitv. 



BIOGRAPHKAI, RK.VIKW 



J'^-\MI-;L IIOI.'I", a retired larmcr of 
— I Norway, Oxford County, was born 
S7 in this town, April 7, 1H23, and 
conies of early Colonial ancestry. 
His grandfather, Uarius Holt. .Sr. , a native 
of Andover, Mass., migrated to Norway, Me., 
a few years after the Revolution, in which he 
had served, being with General Wayne at 
-Stony Point. He .settled on the Hiick farm, 
which was then in its original wildness, and, 
having cleared a homestead, resided here until 
his death, in August, 1854, aged ninety-one 
vears. He and his wife, whose maiden name 
was Chloe Holt, had fourteen children, none of 
whom are now living. 

Darius Holt, Jr., one of this large family, 
was a lifelong farmer in Norway, his n.itive 
town, engaging in his occujxition first at the 
Centre, then at Swift's Corner, Init finally set- 
tling not far from the home of liis son Daniel, 
residing there for the remainder of his life. 
He was a natural mechanic, and in addition to 
farming worked considerably at the carpenter's 
trade. He married Miss .Sarah Manson, a 
native of Kittery, Me., and they were the 
parents of seven children, as follows: Sophia, 
deceased; Daniel, the special subject of this 
biographical sketch ; Jonathan, the first, who 
died in infancy; Jonathan, second, now over- 
seer in the car shops at Aurora, 111. ; Darius, 
third, deceased; Ann, the wife of Cyrus (iood, 
of Yarmouth, Me. ; and William, a soldier in 
the late Civil War, was killed at the battle of 
15aton Rouge. Mrs. Sarah M. Holt died some 
years after her husband. 

Daniel Holt obtained his education m the 
district school, trudging two miles each morn- 
ing through the intervening woods, and on the 
home farm received a practical knowledge of 
pioneer farming. When twenty years of age, 
desirous of trying some new employment, he 
went to Somerville, Mass., where he worked 
six months in a brick yard. Coming back to 
the parental homestead, during the next year 
he assisted his father in clearing a portion of 
the land. The succeeding year Mr. Holt spent 
in Medfield, Mass., working about eight 
months on a farm, and some four months in 
Mr. Partridge's shop, making rakes and other 
farming tools. Finding no occupation more 
congenial than farming, he returned to Norway, 



antl soon aftei' was maiaied and settled with his 
young wife on the homestead which they now 
occupy. 

In November, i<S6i, Mr. Holt enlisted in 
his country's service in C'ompany G, P'onr- 
teenth Maine \'olunteei- Infantiy, tnider Cap- 
tain (Cheney and Colonel Nicholson; but, un- 
able to endure the hardships and privations of 
armv life, he was discharged on account of 
physical disability, May 16, 1.S62. Resuming 
the task of clearing his land, Mr. Holt worked 
with persistent industry, and in due course of 
time redeemed a well-impro\'ed homestead 
from the dense forest which he had inu'chased. 
He has one hundred and fifty acres of land, 
devoted to general farming, dairying, stock- 
raising, and fruit-growing, the farm being ni)W 
managed by his son and son-in-law. 

On April 6, i.SsO, Mr. Holt married Louisa 
1). Hill, who was born October 2, 1824, in 
Yarmouth, this State, a daughter of Jacob and 
Phcebe (Manson) Hill. Mr. Hill, who fol- 
lowed the sea tluring his actix'e life, being for 
many years Captain of a vessel, was born in 
Yarmouth, and there died. Mrs. Hill was a 
native of Kittery, Me., but spent her last 
\'ears in \armouth. Mr. and Mrs. Holt have 
five children — Amanda S. , Rufus Henry, 
Samuel G., Jennie Ella, and Minnie. Amanda 
S. Holt married Alexander I.afarier, and both 
died, leaving two children, namely: Ida M., 
born November 2^, 1871, now the wife of 
Manley McP'arland ; and h'.lla Louise, born 
August 17, 1873, who is at present teaching 
in Norway. Rufus Henry Holt, a resident of 
Aurora, 111., is married and has two children: 
Loui.sa, born October 24, 1886; and Daniel, 
born January i, 1892. Samuel G. Holt assists 
in the management of the home farm. Jennie 
I'll la Holt married Walter Huck, a farmer in 
Norway, and they have seven children — Oli- 
ver C. , Albion Leroy. Lucia Ella, Walter 
Sidney, I-llsic Minerva, Lena May, and Clif- 
ford M. Minnie, who, with her husband, 
Henry N. l^rown, lives on the homestead, has 
two children: George Leroy, born March 4, 
1886; and Ida Estella, born I'ebruary 11, 
1894. Politically, Mr. Holt is a steadfast 
Republican, and has held several of the minor 
offices of the town and county. He is a mem- 
ber of the Harry Rust Post, No. 54, Grand 



6o6 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



Army o( the Republic, of Norway village, and 
formerly belonged to the Norway Grange, 
I'atrons of Husbandry, but has withdrawn his 
niembershi[) from that organization. l^oth he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Kpiscopal church. 




Il.ARLES T. HODGKINS, an enter- 
prising merchant and lumber manu- 
factiuer of Temple, Me., was born 
in this town, .August 20, 1864, son 
of William and Mary (Locklin) Hodgkins. 

The family is one of the oldest in Temple, 
Joseph Hoilgkins. Charles T. Hodgkins's great- 
grandfather, having come here from Rlinot, 
Me., when the region was mostly a wilderness. 
The farm which he cleared anrl improved in 
the northern part of the town is now occupied 
by George Hodgkins. He tcujk uij a tract of 
one hundred and si.xty acres, part of wliich he 
brought to a state of cultivation ; and, after fol- 
lowing the shoemaker's trade here in connec- 
tion with farming for several years, he sold 
his propeity, and, removing to Douglass, 
Mass., took charge of one of the departments 
in a cloth-mill. He married Rhoda Hodgkins, 
and both he and his wife lived to reach an ad- 
vanced age. 

Al]iheus Hodgkins, son of Joseph, was born 
in Minot, .Me., .September 27, 1813, and came 
with his parents to Temple at the age of nine- 
teen. When a young man he bought a farm in 
the neighborhood of his father's ])roperty ; but, 
after clearing off some eighty acres he sold it 
to his son William and went to A\on, Me., 
where he purchased another farm, and resided 
there for a few years, l^'rom Avon he removed 
to a farm situated upon Sandy River, and re- 
sided there until his death. He married for 
his first wife Caroline Wyman, who was born 
in Temple, October 12, 1S12, and died in 
1S50. I?y this union there were bnrn nine 
children, 'as follows: William, Mr. C. T. 
Hodgkins's father; Rufus, who was born 
March 8, 1836; Alpheus, who was born June 
II, 1837; Elizabeth, who was born .September 
23, 1838; Emma, who was born May 3, 1S40; 
Martha, who was born October 17, 1841 ; 
Beulah, who was born March 13, 1843; Julia 
L., who was liorn June 13, 1845; and Rhoda 



E., who was born January 26, 1849. Alpheus 
Hodgkins wedded a second wife, and she bore 
him five children, namely: Aaron, who was 
horn June 3, 1853; Jessie V., who was born 
March 25, 1854; Sarah C. , who was born June 
II, 1856; Mary, who was born June 8, 1861 ; 
and Elbridge G. , who was born January 25, 
1862. 

William Hodgkins, eldest son of Alpheus, 
w-as b(n-n in Temjjle, Me., November 22, 1S34. 
In voung manhood he engaged in lossing, 
which occupation he followed for five years; 
and he then bought the tract of two hundred 
acres which was being cleared by his father. 
After improving the farm and carrying it on 
for fourteen years he sold sixty acres of it, still 
owning the balance of one hundred and forty 
acres, and from there moved to the Z. Smith 
farm of one hundred and forty acres, where he 
now resides. He successfully conducts gen- 
eral farming, having a well-equip])ed dairy and 
keeping an average of one hundred and fifty 
sheep. In politics he is a Republican, and has 
served the town with ability as a member of 
the l^oard of Selectmen for five v'ears. In his 
religious views he is a Baptist. His first wife 
was Mary Locklin, daughter of Josiah and Ab- 
igail (Carley) Locklin. She became the 
mothei- of nine children, as follows: William 
E., who was born August 22, 1S57; Abbie 
L., who was born October •17, 1859; Mary 
L., who was born March 27, 1861 ; Eddie I., 
who was born July 10, 1863; Charles T., the 
subject of this sketch; .Sheridan G. ; Rufus; 
Mattie; and Clarence. Mrs. Mary L. Hodg- 
kins died at the age of fifty-six year.s. Will- 
iam Hodgkins's present wife was before their 
marriage Mrs. Frances Wood, widow of Will- 
iam Wood. 

Charles T. Hodgkins was the fifth child born 
to his parents. He began his education in the 
di.strict schools, and, after finishing his studies 
at the Wilton Academy, when he was seven- 
teen years -old, he taught school four years. 
He then bought the H. and J. Russell Mills 
in Temple village, where he engaged in gen- 
eral sawing and the planing business and the 
manufacture of excelsior; and, taking his 
brother, Sheridan G. Hodgkins, into jjartner- 
ship hiter, he bought the E. Thurston Mills. 
This firm has rebuilt the dam, put in entirely 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



607 



new (jtiiiipmciits for sawing luul planing, to- 
gether with improved machinery tor making 
laths, shingles, and spool stock, and arc doing 
an extensive and exceedingly profitable busi- 
ness. They have purchased seven hundred 
acres of woodland, the clearing of which re- 
quires the services of a large crew of men and 
several teams ; and the manufactured products 
are sold at home and shipped to Portland and 
Boston. In 1895 the Hodgkins Brothers 
bought the general mercantile business of 
W. \V. Small, which is the only store in town; 
and they carry a large stock, including gro- 
ceries, hardware, paints, oils, tlry goods, 
ready-made clothing, and other merchandise. 
The mercantile branch of the business is under 
the immediate supervision of Charles T. Hodg- 
kins; while Sheridan G. has charge of the 
mills, and the entire enterprise is thoroughly 
organized and conducted upon a sound basis. 

On August 22, 1885, Charles T. Hodgkiijs 
was married to Belle Sylvester, daughter of 
John and Jennie (Vinning) Sylvester, of Avon, 
Me. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgkins have three chil- 
dren, namely: Hattie, who was born October 
10, 1885; Paul, who was born September 20, 
1894; and one younger, as yet unnamed. 

Mr. Hodgkins is an able, ambitious and 
exceedingly alert business man, and, having 
succeeded in establishing himself upon a firhi 
footing, 'is now well advanced upon the road 
to competence. *Since reaching his majority 
he has acted with the Republican party in pol- 
itics, and for six years has served with ability 
as Supervisor of Schools. He occupies the 
E. Thurston residence, which is situated in 
close proximity to his business and has been 
remodelled and improved since coming into his 
possession. In his religious views he is liberal. 




^W/ ILLIAM G. MORTON, one of the 
most prominent business men of 
Woodstock, Oxford County, Me., 
was born in Needham, Mass., August 25, 
1S64, son of William H. and Mary A. (Teb- 
betts) Morton. His paternal grandfather was 
Cornelius B. Morton, who was born in Middle- 
boro, Mass. He moved to Winthrop, Me., 
where his son, William H., was born. Will- 
iam H. Morton was a carpenter and builder. 



He moved to luist Boston, and subsecpiently 
to Needham, Mass. He was a member of the 
Forty-fifth Regiment, Massachusetts \'ohm- 
teer Infantry. His wife, Mary, was a native 
of Boston. 

William (i. Morton, the special subject of 
this sketch, was very young when his father 
died, and his mother was left a widow with 
several children and very little to live on 
except what they could make for themselves. 
]?ut Mrs. Morton was dctciiiiincd that her chil- 
dren should have education; and by dint ot 
hard labor she managed to keep them in school, 
even though she was at last obliged to sacrifice 
her home for the ]iuri50se. 

After leaving the Needham High School 
William Morton went to work in the office of 
the Needham Chrouiclc, where he remained 
for a year," and then he went to Boston to get a 
better position. In that city he found a chance 
to work for the Bcacoti Press, and kept at this 
for three year.s. During these years he also 
did composition work for the Boston Siaiday 
Mail, thereby earning a little extra money. 
After leaving the Ih-acoii Pnss, young Morton 
went to work for W. B. Mendum & Co., who 
were wholesale and retail grocers in Boston. 
He began his business career with them as 
cashier at their South Boston store. In this 
position he remaiiu'd for a year, after that time 
going to their Washington Street store, where, 
after serving as book-keeper and salesman, he 
was given charge of the store. He then went 
out on the road in the interests of the firm for 
a couple of years more, thus making his term 
of employment with them about four years 
in all. 

When he was twenty-one, at the expiration 
of these four years of exiierience in the grocery 
business, he started in for himself, buying a 
little corner grocery at the corner of Cam- 
bridge and West Cedar Streets in Boston. 
After conducting his business for a year, and 
very successfully for so small an enterprise, he 
bought a creamery to run in connection there- 
with. But the former owner had, as subse- 
quently was proved, grossly misrepresented 
the "Vermont Creamery," so called; and, as 
an investment, it proved for the time being 
almost fatal, Mr. Morton losing about five 
hundred dollars bv the transaction. In buying 



('>oS 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



the creanicrv he hail gone into debt, and in 
consequence had tu sell his whole business out 
in order to free himself fnini this encum- 
brance. After jjayini; his bills with the pro- 
ceeds of the sale, he took a ])Ieasure trip to 
Maine in order to get a little rest and recuper- 
ation from the worry that his business troubles 
had bi'ought up(jn him. 

In the town of Woodstock he met an old. 
friend, who told him that the hotel at Bryant's 
fond was for rent, and suggested that he 
should take it for the ne.\t season. Favorably 
impressed with the place on further investiga- 
tion, Mr. Morton leased the hotel and ran it 
very succes.sfully for a year. He then sold out 
his interest and engaged in the general mer- 
chandise business with Ansel Dudley, for 
whom he worked two years in the capacity of 
clerk and book-kee|)er. Shortly after that, 
Mr. Morton, with his usual energy, started up 
another business for himself as a dealer in fur- 
niture, crockery, and glassware, making a 
great success of it. At first his stock was 
quite small, and he ventured onl\- with a stock 
of holiday goods; but he has been increasing it 
year by year, making large additions and gain- 
ing in every way, until now he is one of the 
leading and best known business men of 
Woodstock. 

Fruitful in expedients Mr. Morton makes 
his place as attractive and striking as possible 
in every way. lie was the originator of the 
Bryant's Pond sou\'enirs, reproductions on 
crockery and spoons of local scenes. Mr. 
Morton's patrons come from various distances, 
some from twenty-five miles away; for he car- 
ries the most complete stock of general house- 
hold goods in this part of the .State of Maine. 
At the present time he has o\er five thousand 
dollars' worth of goods in his store. He has 
made quite a little money, and is the owner of 
a little peninsula that stretches out into Lake 
Christopher, containing about two and a half 
acres of ground, and commanding a beau- 
tiful view of the lake and the surrounding 
scenery, where he jiroposes to erect a summer 
cottage. He does- a thri\-ing business in boat- 
letting summers, this |>lace being a favorite 
resort for the lovers of nature. 

Mr. Morton is an active worker in the cause 
of temperance, being an enthusiastic member 



of the .Supreme Lodge of Good Temjilars of 
O.xford County, and having filled all the 
offices from the lowest to the highest in the 
Bryant's Pond Lodge and the Oxford County 
J)istrict Lodge, a worthy branch of this asso- 
ciation. He is a member of the Christopher 
Lake Lodge of the C (). G. C. , a charter 
member of Bryant's Pond Camp of the .Sons of 
Veterans, and likewise an earnest member of 
the School ]-!oard. While in Boston he be- 
longed to the local Young Men's Christian 
Association for three years previous to his 
coming to Maine. He is a Republican in 
p(ditics, and a Congregationalist in religious 
l:)elief. 

While Mr. Alorton is a self-made man of the 
real stamp, and is justly a little proud of the 
fact, lie attributes all the good that is in him 
and all that he has done for himself and others 
to the teachings and love of his mother, who 
made such a sacrifice to give to him and his 
brothers and sisters an education in order to fit 
them for the work of life. Mrs. Morton is 
now, at si.xty-three years of age, living in 
Fverett, Mass., enjoying good health and com- 
fort, besides the pleasure she takes in the con- 
templation of the success of her children. 




AMU1-:L PLUMMKR, an enterpris- 
ing farmer of Sweden, O.xford 
County, and a representative of a 
prominent family of this town, was 
born here, Februar_\- 14, 1S17, son of Samuel 
and Abigail (Porter) Plummer. Mr. Plum- 
mer's father, who was a native of Farmington, 
N. IL. in his younger daxs was engaged in the 
butchering business in Portsmouth, N.H. 
.Soon after his marriage he settled u|Don a 
farm in Sweden, and was prosperously engaged 
in tilling the soil during the rest of his active 
period. He died April 12, 1868. His wife 
Abigail, who was born in Conway, N.H., was 
a daughter of Nathaniel Porter, one of the 
first settlers of Conway. She became the 
UKither of seven children, as follows: John, at 
present a resident of Sweden, Me., who mar- 
ried Sarah Holden, now deceased; Samuel; 
Sally, who is no longer living; George, who 
married Jane Holden, and resides in Bridgton, 
Me. ; Martha, who died November 10, 1842, 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



.09 



;it the :igc of twenty-one yeais ; Maiy, who 
(lietl Januai)- 8, iiS46, at the age of nineteen; 
and Abby, the wife of James (.)sg()oil, a iironi- 
inent resident of l-'ryeburg. !\Ir. I'luinnici's 
mother died Febrnary 24, 1853. 

Samuel Plummor was educated in tlie com- 
mon schools, and resided at home until reacii- 
ing the age of tw^enty-one. He then woiked 
upon farms in the neighborhood for two years, 
and was employed for one year at a stone 
quarry at Cape Ann, Mass. L'pnii his return 
to Sw^eden he resumed farming at the home- 
stead, where he remained until iSf)-. He 
then settled Ujxm the John Hamlin farm, upon 
which he has since resided. He has followed 
both farming and hnnbering with success, and 
now owns about five hundred acres of \'aluahle 
land. This property, which was originally 
cleared by his second wife's father, he has 
greatly improved, and it is considered one of 
the best homesteads in Sweden. It is now in 
charge of his youngest son, S. L}man I'lum- 
nier, who has managed the propert}' of late in 
order to relieve his father from care during his 
declining years. He carries on general farm- 
ing, dairying, and stock-raising with cneigx' 
and success. 

In 1843 Mr. Plummer wedded Esther E. 
Nevers, w^ho was born in Sweden, Me., March 
5, 1 82 1, daughter of William and Hannah 
(Holden) Nevers. Her parents were pros]ier- 
ous farming people of this town. William 
Nevers died July 22, 1865, and his wife, 
Hannah, on March 3, 1857. Mr. Plummer's 
first wife died September 22, 1852. On 
March 21, 1854, Mr. Plummer married for his 
second wife Mary E. Hamlin, who was born in 
.Sweden, January 31, 1838, daughter of John 
and Mary (ICvans) Hamlin. Her father was 
born in Waterford, Me., and for many years 
resided upon the farm in Sweden where his 
(hiughter and son-in-law now live. He died 
in Harrison, Me. Mrs. Plummer's mother, 
who was a native of Fryeburg, died in Sweden, 
Me. li_\' Mr. I'lummer's first union there 
were four children, namely: Lyman, who 
died January 15, 1850, at the age of five years; 
J. Felman, who married Annie Marshall, and 
lives in .South Paris, Me. ; Mary Ann, who 
was born January 3, 1848, and now resides 
with her father at the homestead ; and S. Ly- 



man, who was born March 1, 1830, and is now 
a prominent resident of this town. The last 
named, on .March 17, 1877, marrieil (/arrie M. 
.Stone, of .Sweden, Me., dauglUer of James 
.Stone, of .Sweilcn, and Maria Wilcomb, of 
Hethlehem, X. 11., aiul has had foui' childreri, 
namely: Alice C, born April 8, 1882; ITossie, 
born September 6, 1885, who died at the age 
of two years and tour months; Gracie L., born 
November 6, 1887; and James Samuel, born 
May 9, 1893. 

Mi-. Plummer is a stajich sujjportei' of the 
Re|nihlic;iii part}', and he has served with abil- 
it}' as a niember of the l^oard of .Selectmen and 
as Road Surve}'or for several tei'ms. He is 
known as a genial, kind-hearted and hospit;ible 
gentleman, who is alwa\'s glad of an op]5ortun- 
ity to entertain his friends and acquaintances 
at his crimfortable home. He and his famil}- 
are members of the Congregational church. 




ORACE C. OXNARD, a i)niminent 
and ]H'ogressive agricultui'ist of Nor- 

IQ I way, ( ).\'ford Count\', was born Au- 

gust 4, 1840, in the city of Port- 
land, son of John and Catherine (Stuart) 
0.\nard, who were also natives of Portland. 
He is of Elnglish descent on the paternal side, 
his grandfather, John O.xnard, .Sr. , h;iving 
emigrated to America from Englantl in the 
early part of this century. Grandfather O.x- 
nard was a general merchant in Portland, 
where he suhsequentl}' died. His wife, who 
was of Scotch origin, bore him five children — 
William, Edw-ard, John, Lucy (Mrs. I'o.x), 
and Mary Ann (Mrs. Moseley), none of whom 
are now living. 

John Oxnard, father of Horace C., was well 
known in the business circles of Portland for 
many years. He was cashier of the old Port- 
land bank, and afterward occupied the same 
position in the Merchants' Bank, which was 
the former institution reorganized. After the 
great fire of Portland in 1866, which laid a 
large part of the city in ashes, he spent a few- 
years in Norway township; but he returned to 
his former home prioi' to his death, which 
occurred in December, 1887, at the age of 
ninety-two years, eight months, and eighteen 
da}s. His wife died while living in this 



r.io 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



town, at the ago of fifty-seven years. They 
had five children, namely: George A., a 
banker, and the L'nited States Consul at 
Cjueliili, Out., Canada, who married Louie 
Scobel ; John !•;. . the [jurchasing agent of the 
Michigan Central Railway, residing in De- 
troit, Mich., who married Miss Maria I'ome- 
rov, of I'ortland ; Horace C, the subject of 
this sketch; l^'rank A., now deceased, who 
married Alice Tucker, now a resident of Nor- 
way village; and Mary K. , the wife of K. ]'. 
.Staples, a member of the firm of Bolster, 
Snow & t'o. , wholesale drv-goods dealers in 
I'ortland, Me. 

Horace C. O.xnard was educated in his 
native city, completing his studies in the 
Portland High School. At the age of seven- 
teen \ears he went to Minneapolis, Minn., 
where he had two brothers living, and for 
a year was there engaged in the grain busi- 
ness. He subsequently clerked a year for 
J. A. Merrill & Co., wholesale and retail jew- 
ellers, of Portland, and then came to Norwa_\', 
where he has since been engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits. On July 12, i860, Mr. O.Nuard 
bought his present farm. It contains one hun- 
dred and sevent\-five acres of land. The ex- 
tensive iniprox'ements made on it since then 
entitle it to rank among the best-equipped 
estates in this part of the county. Mr. O.x- 
nard carries on general agriculture, including 
dairving and stock-raising to some extent, 
lie is a man of influence in his town and 
county, and has served to the satisfaction of 
his constituents as .Selectman of Norwa)' for 
several terms. In piolitics he is a fiini sup- 
porter of the principles of the Republican 
[.)arty. He is a member of Norway Lodge, 
No. 16, Inde|_)endent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and of the Grange at Norway. ^Ir. Oxnard 
attends the Congregational church, of which 
Mrs. O.xnard is a member. 

Mr. O.xnard has been twice married. Py 
the first marriage, performed November 28, 
1S60, he was united with Miss Nancy Lunt, 
who was born in Portland, daughter of Charles 
II. Lunt, a carpenter of that city. She died 
May 4, 1874, leaving two children — iMank A. 
and Lena G. P^rank A., who is a milk dealer 
in West Medford, Mass., married Alma Lover- 
ing. Lena G. is the wife of J. Wesley Sav- 



age, an e.xpressman, of West Medford. The 
second marriage was contracted April 19, 
1S75, with Miss Mary A. Shedd, daughter of 
James P. and Mary Ann (Proctor) Shedd, 
formerly of Norway, now deceased. Born of 
this unicju Mr. and Mrs. Oxnard have one 
child, Hattie C. 




i.AURICK G. P"ULL1-:R, an enter- 
prising general merchant and ex- 
tensive fruit-gi'ower of Last Di.x- 
field. Me., was born in the 
neighboring town of Wilton, December 18, 
1867, son of Charles II. and Mary A. (Stone) 
P'uller. He is a great-grandson of Thomas 
Fuller, a native of Newton, Mass., who was 
the first ancestor of the family to settle in 
Maine. 

In young manho<id Thomas Fuller bought 
a tract of wild land in the town of Winthrop, 
Kennebec County, where he cleared a farm, 
upon which he resided foi' a time; but later he 
sold that, and, purchasing another tract in Ja)', 
brought it to a high state of cultivation and 
erected a good set of buildings. He li\cd to 
reach the advanced age of ninety years. His 
first wife, who was before marriage Flizabcth 
Bond, died at the age of thirty-si.x. The chil- 
dren by this union were: Thomas, Nathan A., 
Charles, Henry, Betsey, and Salome. For his 
second wife he wedded Martha Sterns, who 
lived to be eighty years old, and was the 
mother of seven children; namely, John, 
Washington, Isaac, Salome, Malance, Maria, 
and Catherine. 

Nathan A. Fuller, Mr. Fuller's grandfather, 
was born in 1790, and when a young man he 
learned the trade of a tanner. The products 
of his tannery in the town of North Jay, where 
he established himself in business, acquired a 
high re[nitation for their excellent quality and 
din'ability, and were much sought for in the 
leather market. He owned a fine residence 
in North Jay, and was a prominent citizen 
there for many years. Later he removed to 
East Dixfield, and continued in business. He 
died here in 1875. His wife, formerly Mi- 
nerva t^ustis Cutler, lived to reach the age of 
seventy years. Their children were: Cyrus; 
John; Henry; Nathan; Darius; Elizabeth; 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



6 1 



Rosaliiia ; and Charles II., the lather n\ the 
special subject nf this sketch. 

Charles II. l-"iiller was born in Jay, Ajiril 
30, 1836. At the age of seventeen he began 
to teach school, and a year later he went to 
]3oston, where he was employed as cleik in a 
grocery store. From Boston he went to Cali- 
fiirnia, remaining upon the I'acific Coast seven 
vears, during which time he was engaged in 
tcaciiing school and sur\eying inmber; and 
after his return to Maine he engaged in mer- 
cantile business at ICast Di.xlield in cnmpaiiv' 
with John Reed. This firm carried on what 
was known as the "White .Store" for a year, 
when Mr. Reed sold his interest in the busi- 
ness to his partner's brother, and a short time 
later Charles H. Fuller became the sole pro- 
prietor. He continued to conduct a first-class 
country store, carrying a large stock of staple 
merchandise; and, having been a[)pointed 
Postmaster in 1885, he served in that capacity 
until liis death, which took place in 1888. 
He was a conscientious, upright, and exceed- 
ingly prosperous business man, who possessed 
the hearty good-will of his neighbors and 
fellow-townsmen. He was a charter member 
of Wilton Lodge, A. I'. & A. .M. He is sur- 
vived by his wife, Mrs. Mary .A. .Stone b'uller, 
who is a daughter of Thomas 15. Stone, of 
ni-xfield, and Maurice G. I-'uller, the subject 
of this sketch, who is her only child. 

Maurice G. F"u]]er began his education in 
the public schools, and comi)leted his course 
of study at the W'ilton Academy. When very 
young he commenced to assist his father, and, 
having succeeded to the business, is now con- 
ducting one of the largest general stores in this 
vicinity. In 1881 Charles H. Fuller pur- 
chased a farm in Di.xfield, which he converted 
into a fruit farm, setting out four thousand 
apple trees of several varieties ; and this farm 
is at the present time under the supervision 
of his son, Maurice G. lie makes a specialty 
of raising fine grafted fruit, of which he sf)ld 
one hundred and seventy barrels in 1894; and 
he expects this years' crop (1896) will amount 
to three hundred barrels. 

On September 30, 1891, Mr. l'\iller married 
Jeannette M. Ellis, daughter of Isaac A. Ellis, 
of Canton, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have 
had one child, who died in infancy. Mr. 



I''ullcr is now ser\ing as Lostmasler at luist 
Dixfielcl. As an energetic and progressive 
young man, he is \-ery popular in business and 
social circles. lie is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, being connected with the 
Blue Lodge in Wilton; anil in i^ilitics he is 
a Democrat. 



"|r^ANIJ':L (;Rb:b;X, who was a highly 
I =^ respected citizen of Norway village, 
^TSy was born June 19, 1820, in South 
^'^^"^ Paris, Me., son of Nathaniel W. 
and Polly (Willis) (ircen. Nathaniel W. 
Green, a native of O.xford Count)', was a shoe- 
maker and taiuier. The latter [)art of his life 
was spent in Otisfield and Paris engaged in 
farming. , His wife was a daughter of John 
and Patience (Jackso'n) Willis. Mr. Willis 
was a preacher of Plymouth, Mass., and one 
of the first settlers of Paris. Nathaniel W. 
Green and his wife reared three children — 
P^dwin W. , IJaniel, and Charles. P^dwin W. 
became a regular ph)'sician, receiving his de- 
gree from Bowdoin College, and practiced in 
Milan, N. II., and in the towns of Woodstock 
and Sumner-of this State. His death occiuaed 
in Otisfield, Me., in 1890. He married Par- 
melia Campbell, of Milan, who is now living 
in Otisfield, and reared foiu' sons — Parker C, 
Daniel, I'^dward G., and Nathaniel W. 
Charles Green, who was a farmer, married 
Marinda Perkins, of Paris, and died in Norway. 
His wife also breathed her last in this town. 

Daniel Green received but a limited school- 
ing, education being considered of less impor- 
tance then, by a great majority of people, than 
it is now. Pie remained with his parents till 
the year of his majority, when he purchased 
fifty-two acres of improved farming land in the 
western part of Norway. Tlicre he made his 
home for the ensuing thirteen years. Then, 
selling the jjroperty, he purchased a farm in 
Otisfield, and conducted it until the fall of 
1895, when he came to the village of Norway. 
Here he spent his last days in retirement, and 
died September 15, 1896. Mr. Green won the 
measure of prosperity that cheered his old age 
by hard work. In politics he was a stanch 
Democrat. f^otli he and his wife joined the 
P^red Roby Grange, No. 307, of Otisfield. 



6l2 



BinORAPTIICAL REVIEW 



Mr. (irecn was niniricd in his twenty-first 
3-eai- til Miss Susan P. Haskell, a native of 
(Jtisfiekl, Me., and a daughter of Captain 
Joseph Haskell. She died January i, 1872, 
and Mr. Green contracted a second marriaeie 



October 26, 1S72, 



with Miss Anna P. 



Knightly, a native of Ireland, who died in 
Portland, Mc. , in i S90. 15\- a third marriage, 
performed I-'ebruary 24, i S94, he was united 
with Mrs. Edwin Da\', who was born in 
Bethel, Me., April 17, 1S68. Her parents, 
Samuel and Katie (Hapgood) Grove, both 
natives of Bethel and respectable farming 
people, are now living in Stoneham, this 
.State. Mrs. Green's grandfather on the pater- 
nal side wa.s John Grove, a farmer of Albany, 
]Me. Her mother's parents, William and Re- 
becca (Mason) Hapgood, died in Stratford, 
Me. Her .sister, Mnrf V.., is the wife of 
William J. Colbert, a fireman in a mill of 
North Stafford, Me., and the mother of two 
children — Percy W. and Maggie. The other 
children of Mrs. Green's parents were : Will- 
iam, John, Charles, Arthur, Frank, Albert, 
Clarence, and .Alton. 




ILBUR L. I'ARRAR, the present 



}S\I Postmaster of .South Paris, was born 
in Paris, Me., on PY-bruary 24, 
1858, son of Bela W. and Mary Ann (Mayhew) 
P'arrar. His father was born in Paris, Me., 
May 30, 1S34; and his mother was born on 
Ajiril 24, 1837, and died Ma)' g, 1895. IVda 
Farrar, father of Bela W. , was born in Ikick- 
field, Me., December 27, 1797; and the birth 
of Lydia Thayer P\irrar, his wife, occurred 
July 3, 1799. The parents of Bela P^arrar 
were David Farrar and his wife Judith. 

In 18S0 Wilbur L. P'arrar, then twenty-two 
years of age, began at Paris the manufacture of 
l)icture frames, in which he was there engaged 
for three years. Then, in company with F. L. 
Miller, he came to South I'aris and carried on 
the same line of business for another year. 
Selling out to his partner at the end of that 
period, Mr. P'arrar purchased an interest with 
G. A. Briggs in the meat and provision busi- 
ness and the shipping of stock to the Brighton 
market. Seven years later, during which 
time thev had carried on an extensive business. 



he sold his interest to his brother, W. W. 
Farrar. Willjur L. P'arrar received his ap- 
pointment as Postmaster at South Paris in 
January, 1894, and by his uniform courtesy 
and the faithful performance of all the duties 
connected therewith he has iiroved himself a 
very capable official. 

On May i, 1881, Mr. l-arrar was joined in 
marriage with Miss Lizzie M. Double, a 
daughter of James I*", and Sophronia (Heath) 
Double. Two sons have been born to them : 
Clyde, who on])' lived a year and a half; and 
Guy W., whose birth was on October 21, 
1888. The family reside at 4 High Street, 
in what is known as the Lombard house, 
which he has remodelled and enlarged. In 
politics he is a Democrat. He is prominent 
in fraternal circles, being a member of Mount 
Mica Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows; the Rebekah Lodge; also Paris 
Lodge, No. 194, A. ¥. & A. M., and the 
United Order of the Golden Cross. 




|ALVIN HAMLIN, a highly esteemed 
resident of Waterford, was born here 
May 18, 1 8 16, son of Luther and 
Hannah (Kimball) Hamlin, both 
also natives of W'aterford. His grandfather, 
America Hamlin, who came from Massachu- 
setts, was the first of the family in this sec- 
tion. The grandfather settled on a farm in 
South Waterford, and devoted his life to the 
pursuit of agriculture. Luther Hamlin was 
a farmer likewise. Having resided all his 
lifetime in Waterford, he died in 1854. His 
wife had passed away a few years before. 
Their children were: George, Calvin, Luther, 
Mary, and Prescott. Mary lived but four 
years. The subject of this sketch is the only 
one living to-day. 

Calvin Hamlin received a common-school 
education, giving much of his time when a 
boy to farm work. Until 1857 he conducted 
a farm situated about a half mile from his 
])resent place, which he then purchased. This 
farm has been his home now for nearly forty 
years. His property in all comprises some 
two hundred acres of valuable tillage and pas- 
ture land. He is extensively engaged in gen- 
eral farminii, in which he has been verv sue- 







OCTAVIUS K. YATES. 



P.IOC.RArillCAL RF.VIEW 



'I? 



cessful ; hiis a clinice (lair_\', a\'crai;iii^ about 
twenty head of cattle; and lie furnishes cream 
to the South Waterford Creamery. The 
greater jiart of Mr. Hamlin's long life has 
been devoted to hard and persevering labor, 
and he has well earned the prosperity he now 
enjoys. 

He was married in 1S55 to Xancy Maria 
Hrown, who was born in Waterford, daughter of 
Malberry and Nancy (.Scripter) Brown. ]5oth 
her parents were natives of Waterford. While 
Mr. Brown was a blacksmith by trade, he 
devoted most of his time to agricultural pur- 
suits. J^oth are now deceased, and are buried 
in Waterford. Mrs. Hamlin passed away Oc- 
tober 2g, 1876. She was the mother of three 
children, of whom two were twins, who died in 
infancy. Her son, Charles S. , who lives with 
his father and attends to the management of 
the farm, is a prominent member of the Grange 
at Waterford. He was married May 17, 11^77, 
to Ella A., daughter of Oliver and Frances 
(Barker) Kneeland, who was born in Water- 
ford, May 6, 1857. Her father, a native of 
Harrison, Me., spent the most of his life in 
Waterford. Both he and his wife are now 
deceased. Charles Hamlin and wife ha\'c 
been blessed with si.\ children — Annie M., 
Luther (deceased), Helen F., Mary M., Carl 
S. , and Dana Calvin. Mr. Hamlin and his 
son Charles are actively interested in politics, 
voting the Republican ticket. The whole 
family attend the Congregational church at 
Waterford. Father and son are well known in 
the \icinit\' anil have man\' friends. 




CTAVIUS K. YATES, M.D., a 

well-known physician and surgeon of 
( ).\ford County, and one of the oldest 
medical practitioners in West Paris, 
Me., was born in Greenwood, Me., September 
25, 1833, son of James and Emma (Cole) 
Yates. The family is of Scotch origin, and 
was founded in America by William Yates, 
grandfather of the generation of which the 
Doctor is a representative. 

William Yates emigrated from Scotland, 
landing at Plymouth, Mass.; and some time 
after his arrival he penetrated the then wilder- 
ness of Maine, becoming one of the pioneer 



settlers of (jrccnwood. His first residence 
was a log house, which, after he had cleared 
up a good farm, was replaced by a suitable 
frame building. As the settlers increased in 
numbers he officiated as the local Methodist 
preacher. He was a man of strong character, 
possessing the faculty of being able to adapt 
himself to any situation which might arise. 
As an example of his ability to mete out jus- 
tice to offenders, it is related of him that 
upon one occasion, while preaching in the 
local school-house, mischievous boys placed 
some prickly burrs beneath his saddle. Con- 
sequently, when Parson Yates mounted his 
usually quiet horse, the animal reared and 
plunged, finally throwing its rider, and 
galloped off homeward, leaving him to return 
as best 'he could. The Parson made no stir 
about the matter; but, quietly ascertaining for 
a certainty who the culprits were, after preach- 
ing as usual the following Sunday, he singled 
them out, and to each of them he administered 
a sound flogging; then took them into the 
meeting-house and prayed for them. On an- 
other occasion he went to preach in one of 
the rural districts of Norway, where the people 
had been for several weeks excited over cer- 
tain slanderous reports, etc. Mr. Yates took 
as his text "Damnable Heresay," and gave 
his audience an able and earnest sermon on 
that subject. At the close of the meeting a 
good brother approached the speaker and said: 
"Brother ^'ates, your Scri|iturc text was mis- 
quoted; it reads damnable heresy." "Well, 
well, Brother B., it applied, did it not'.'"" was 
the answer. Needless to say the whole 
trouble was investigated and satisfactorily 
settled before the veteran jireacher left the 
neighborhood. In those days thev preached 
without pecuniar\- reward. In his absence 
from home Mr. Yates left his wife and small 
children in their log-cabin home, their only 
door being made from hewn or split lumber 
and held together by wooden pins. It was 
not an uncommon thing in those days for 
them to see bears and other wild animals 
come into their clearing and even into the yard 
surrounding their cabin. He was strong and 
active, both physically and mentally, retaining 
control of his faculties until the last, having 
been known to walk two miles to attend a 



GiG 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



funeral when he was ninety-seven years old ; and 
he lived to attain the unusually advanced age 
of ninety-nine. He married Martha Morgan, a 
native of Gloucester, Me., also of Scotch an- 
cestry, who lived to be nearly as old as her 
husband, her death occurring at the age of 
ninety-eight. Of their children, the only sur- 
vivor is Sylvester Yates, a resident of Green- 
wood. 

James Yates, Dr. Yates's father, was born 
in Greenwood, August i, 1799. The greater 
part of his life was spent in his native town, 
where he owned a small piece of land, which 
he farmed, besides operating a mill. In his 
later years he voted with the Republican 
party, and in his religious views was a Meth- 
odist. His last years were passed at the home 
of his son, where he died at the age of nearly 
eighty. His wife, Emma Cole, who was born 
in Greenwood, August 25, i<Soi, became the 
mother of four children, of whom Octavius 
K. , the subject of this sketch, is the only one 
who lived to grow up, the others having died 
in infancy. Mrs. limma C. Yates lived to 
be eighty-seven years old. .She attended the 
Methodist church. 

Octavius K. Yates attended the various 
schools in Greenwooil and vicinity, and was 
graduated from the Bethel High School. 
While pursuing his studies in Bethel, he for 
a time was obliged to walk the distance of five 
miles to and from the school; but later he 
went to board with Dr. John Grover at 
]5ethel Hill. He at this time conceived an 
inclination for the medical profession, which, 
owing to his limited means, he could not 
gratify until later; and, after completing his 
elementary studies, he worked at different me- 
chanical employments, being for a time en- 
gaged in a furniture and bedstead factory. 
While in the employ of the Grand Trunk 
Railway Company as a section hand, he found 
the pay ina<.iequate for the amount of labor de- 
manded, and by drawing up and presenting a 
petition to the officials he succeeded in jjrocur- 
ing an advance of wages for the entire force. 
Prior to the late Civil War he was engaged 
for several years in trade in Auburn, Me. At 
the breaking out of the Rebellion he was the 
second man to enlist in the Auburn Artillery, 
in answer to the first call of Abraham Lincoln 



for seventy-five thousand of three months' 
volunteers. Later the Auburn Artillery was 
changed to an infantry company, and was one 
of the companies that joined and went to the 
front with the P'irst Regiment of Maine Vol- 
unteers. Our subject, however, did not join 
the new organization, but was soon after ap- 
pointed a recruiting officer anti detective, in 
which cajjacity he served until the close of 
the war. While on duty in Washington he 
was present at P\ird"s Theatre on that memo- 
rable night of April 14, 1865, at the assassi- 
nation of President Lincoln, and was an eye 
witness of that sad tragedy. At the close of 
the war he engaged in the oil business in that 
w'ild section of country known as Bothwell and 
Petroia of Canada West, where he remained 
several years. He was also engaged in sell- 
ing real estate and oil shares for some three 
years: and being compelled, in order to do 
business, to become a subject of Great Brit- 
ain, he was elected to various offices in Both- 
well. Having accumulated sufificient means 
to realize his ambition to enter the medical 
profession, he closed up his business affairs 
in Canada, and, returning to the United 
States, began the study of medicine with 
Dr. S. H. Tewkesbury, of Portland, Me. 
Graduating from the Maine Medical School 
at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me., with 
the class of 1870, he, on October i of that 
year, located for professional work in West 
Paris, where he has since resided. He has 
built up an extensive practice, which covers 
a wide circuit in this region, and is now 
not only one of the oldest but also one of the 
most successful physicians and surgeons here. 
On July 25, 1852, Dr. Yates was united in 
marriage with Elizabeth D. Felt, who was 
born in Greenwood, January 24, 1835, daugh- 
ter of Artemas and Desire (Stevens) Felt. 
Artemas J'elt was born in Woodstock, Me., 
August 25, iSoo; and the active period of his 
life was jiassed as an industrious tiller of the 
soil in his native town and in Greenwood, 
where he died at the age of eighty-four years. 
In politics he supported the Republican party, 
and in his religious faith was a Methodist. 
He married Desire Stevens, who was born in 
Plymouth, Mass., January 23, 1798, and of 
the eight children born to this union, five are 



BIOCKAI'HICAL RKVl KAV 



r.i: 



living, namely: Desire; Jesse S. ; Lucy S., 
who is now Mrs. Libby; ICli/.al^eth I)., now 
Mrs. Yates; and Samuel S. The others were: 
Albina, who became Mrs. Welcii; l''.li/,a, Mrs. 
Ste^-ens; and Artemas, Jr. Mrs. Yates's 
mother lived to reach the age of seventy-one 
years. Dr. and Afrs. Yates have had four 
children, as follows: Myrtle D. , who was 
born July 29, 1S75, and is now the wife of 
the Rev. Fred F.. Wheeler, pastor of the First 
Universalist Church at Mechanic I-'alls, Me.; 
James L., who died at the age of twenty-three; 
Alton J., who died aged nearly two years: 
and Edgar L., who died in infancy. 

Exxeedingly strong and able, Dr. Yates is 
one of the" most stirring and active men to be 
found in any locality. He has always main- 
tained regular and temperate habits, and has 
never been addicted to the use of stimulants 
or to!)acco. He still responds promptly to all 
calls for his professional services, no matter 
from what distance; and in 1891 he was ap- 
j5ointed division surgeon for the Grand Trunk 
Railway. He is a member of the Maine 
Medical Society, is connected with (iranite 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of West l^aris. and 
in politics is a Democrat. He is liberal in 
his religious views, and Mrs. Yates is a Uni- 
versalist. 



T^HARLES L. HATHAWAY, one of 
I v-^ Norway's most enterprising business 

yjis men, being a wholesale and retail 

dealer in building materials, was 
born here, September 6, 1S39, son of Lorenzo 
and Lydia F. (Jones) Hathaway, and grandson 
of Lazarus FLathaway, Jr., and Lucy (Cole) 
Hathaway. His great-grandfather, Lazarus 
Hatha\va\', who was born in Halifax, in 1774 
married Miss Olive Pratt. Not long after, 
they removed to Bridgewater, Mass., and 
thence in 1S02 to Paris, Me., settling in that 
liart of the town known as the Swift neighbor- 
hood, where he purchased land and cleared a 
good farm. He served as a private in the 
Revolutionary War. He was progressive and 
enterprising, and both he and his wife lived 
to a good age. They had ten children — 
Patty, Elsie, Polly, John, Lazarus, Nathan, 
Olive, Lovice, Susan, and Rachel. Lazarus 



Hathaway, Jr., was born in liridgewater. 
Coming to Paiis with his parents, he soon 
after purciiaseil a farm on the south bank ot 
the river, about two and a halt miles trom 
South I'aris. He acc|uired a good property, 
and was frequently chosen for town office, 
serving at one time as a Re])resentative to the 
-State legislature. In religious belief he was 
a LTniversalist. His wife, Lucy, was a 
daughter of P'leazer Cole, one of the early 
settlers of the town of Paris. P'ive sons and 
five daughters were born to them: namely, 
Milo, Lorenzo, Hannah, Mahala, John, Lucy, 
Nathan, Almena, John, and M;iry. 

Lorenzo Hathaway, who was born in Paris, 
May 29, iSoS, learned the trade of a carpen- 
ter, and became a contractor. In 1838 he 
came to -Norway, and purchased a large builil- 
ing on Main Street, in which he made exten- 
sive alterations, and which has since been 
known as the Hathaway Block. On the sec- 
ond floor is the first public hall used in Nor- 
wav. Later on he purchased a loft, and built 
the house now owned by C. W. Home. In 
]3olitics he was a Republican ; in religion be 
was a Congregationalist. His wife, Lydia, 
was a daughter of Charles M. and Deborah 
(Foster) Jones. Her father served as a pri- 
vate in the Revolutionary War. She died in 
1S46, leaving two children —Charles L. and 
Julia E. The latter was born February 11, 
1S44. Their father afterward successively 
married Miss Alvice Jones and Mrs. Matilda 
Lindsay. 

Charles L. Hathaway attended the schoids 
of Norway until fifteen years of age. He then 
went to work with his father at carpentry, 
which he followed up to 1862, when he en- 
listed in Company H, Twenty-third Maine 
Regiment, and served nine months in the 
Civil War. Returning home at the end of 
that time, he soon after went to New Haven, 
where for two years he worketl at his trade. 
After his marriage he came to Norway, and 
took up contract work, building several 
houses, and remodelling the Hathaway Block, 
a part of which he raised to three stories. 
He next went into the lumber business, and 
fitted up a yard for it on Whitman Street. 
After the railroad was built he ]nirchased 
land, antl erected on it a large building, 



6iS 



lilOCKAlillCAL KKVIKAV 



when' he keeps constantly on hand a large 
line of all kinds of building timber, sashes, 
doors, paints, and oils, in a worxl, all kinds of 
supplies for building purposes. He was a 
stockholder and director of the branch rail- 
road to Norway; a stockholder in the water- 
works and shoe factory: a member of the 
()pera House Building Committee, and its 
manager since; and he was one of the prin- 
cijial supporters of the movement that led to 
the establishment of the banks. He is the 
owner of a fine residence on IMaine Street — 
what was formerly known as the Denison 
house, but which has since been greatly 
altered and improved. He also owns a tene- 
ment house on Pleasant Street. 

On March 5, 1S64, Mr. Hathaway was 
joined in marriage with Miss Clara H. Dun- 
ham, who was born August 28, icSjS, daughter 
of Bartimeus and Matilda (Briggs) Dunham, 
and a grand-daughter of James and Mary 
(Ransom) Dunham, of Hebron. Mrs. Hatha- 
way has one brother, James P. Dunham. The 
fraternal organizations of which Mr. Hatha- 
way is a member are: 0.\ford Lodge, No. 18, 
A. F. & A. M. ; Union Chapter, Royal Arch 
Masons; Oxford Council, Royal and Select 
Masters; Portland Commandery, Knights 
Templars; Lewiston Kora Temple, Mystic 
.Shrine; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; 
the Knights of Pythias, in which he is Past 
Chancellor; and Harry Rust Post, Grand 
Army of the Republic. 




LBKRT WITHAM, a well-known 
farmer of the town of O.xford, O.xford 
County, was born May 2, 1S43, 
in New Gloucester, Cumberland 
County, son oi Parsons and Abigail W'itham. 
His father, who was a miller of that town, 
(lied when Albert was five years old. His 
mother married again while he was still a 
mere boy. Some time after, owing to troubles 
with his ste]Dfather, he left home and went to 
li\e with his father's brother, John \Vitham. 
He remained with liis uncle, and was treated 
with great kindness, receiving a good education 
;it the district schools until he reached the age 
(it nineteen, when he began to work for his 
living. This w:is soon after his uncle had 



moved to the town of Paris. He engaged in 
various employments, often changing his resi- 
dence in the search for them. Having saved 
his earnings for a long time, he was at last 
able to buy some ]5roperty in the town of 
Paris. About the year 1S71 he ])urchased a 
farm in the town of O.xford, where he has 
since resided. The estate contains about one 
hundred and twenty-five acres of good farming 
land. t;.\cepting the residence, the buildings 
and outhouses, which are all modern, were 
erected by Mr. Witham. Here he carries on 
general farming with remarkable success. 

Mr. Withain was married Jime 24, 1871, to 
Hattie (Thomas) De Coster, the widow of Mr. 
De Coster, and the sister of William Newell 
Thomas, a well-known and successful farmer 
and land-owner of Oxford. Mr. Witham has 
one son — Albert Chester, who was born P"eb- 
ruary 2, 1874. He is liberal in his religions 
views. In politics he is a stanch Republican. 
He has fully earned the measure of prosperity 
he now enjoys and the warm esteem and good 
will of his neighbors. 



RED A. HOLT, Selectman of Frye- 
burg, was born here, April 18, 1857, 
son of Thomas K. and Parthenia R. 
(Johnson) Holt. His grandfather was Will- 
iam Holt, who came to Fryeburg from An- 
dover, Mass., at an early date in the town's 
history, and settled upon a farm in the neigh- 
borhood of his grandson's property. 

Thomas K. Holt, who was a native of Frye- 
burg, in his younger days followed the trade 
of a tinsmith in the village. He subse- 
quently engaged in agriculture, and, after oc- 
cupying one farm for a time, he, in 1865, 
bought the property now owned by his son. 
His death occurred September 25, 1888. He 
was first married to Eliza Brickett, who died 
April 7, 1854. Her children by him were: 
Sarah A., Harriet N., and Thomas K., who 
are no longer living; \\'illiani F., now resid- 
ing in Bridgton, Me.; James G., of Charles- 
town; Mary E., the wife of Horace Hadley, 
of Worcester, Mass.; Caroline K., the wife of 
R. P. Griffin, of Charlestown; and Benjamin 
v., who resides in Providence, R.I. The 
father by a second marriage was wedded to 



BlOdRAI'lllCAL RKVIKW 



6ig 



Parthcnia K. Johnson, a native of Hrownlield, 
Me., whose offspring were: Addie M., i)orn 
May 6, 1855, who died Se[)tember 31, 1875; 
Fred A., the subject of this sketch; l'"anny 
A., born March 10, 1861, who died Auj^ust 
10, 1863; Thomas K., born November 8, 
i86^ who now resides at the horiiestead : 
b'anny A., second, born June 15, [866, who 
died September 23, 1872; and Augusta 15., 
born March 14, i868, who tiied October 7, 
1878. The mother is still living, and resides 
at the homestead. 

Fred A. Holt obtained his education in the 
common schools. When old enough he began 
to make himself useful upon the farm. After 
his father's death he took charge of the farm, 
which he has since carried on in company with 
his brother. The estate contains two hun- 
dred acres of valuable land, devoted to general 
farming. On June i, 1885, Mr. Holt wedded 
Estelle S. Mclntire, of Fryeburg, daughter of 
Thomas S. and Angelia Mclntire. Her father 
resides at Fryeburg Centre. Her mother died 
some time ago. Mr. and Mrs. Holt have one 
son, Harry M., who was born July 2, 1893. 

P'or two years Mr. Holt was Third Select- 
man of the town, and he is now serving as 
Second Selectman. Me always voted with 
the Democratic party until 1896, when the 
free silver plank in the party's platform de- 
cided him to vote with the Republicans. He 
is a member of I'ythagorean Lodge, A. \' . & 
A. M.: of Fryeburg Lodge, Independent 
Order of Oild Fellows; and of the Patrons of 
Husbandry. His brother, Thomas K., is also 
connected with the Odd Fellows and the 
Grange. His many admirable traits of ch^- 
acter have won for Mr. Holt the general es^- 
teem of the community. 




L. TF15BETS, Esq., senior member 
of the enterprising firm of E. L. Teb- 
bets & Co., manufacturers of thread 
and silk spools, variety turnings and dowels 
at Locke's Mills, O.xford County, Me., was 
born in Lisbon, Androscoggin County, this 
State, June 6. 1849, a son of John G. and 
Clara A. (Ruckman) Tebbets. 

His grandfather, Paul C. Tebbets, was an 
early settler in Lisbon, and for many years a 



prosperous trader. John (i. Tebbets was en- 
gaged in mercantile ])ursuits in Lisbon, his 
native town, during the larger portion of his 
life, and alvvavs kept his home there. He 
bought the Locke's Mills spool manufactory 
in 1867, and he operated it until his death, 
which occurred in May, 1892. lie is survived 
by his wife, formerlv Clara A. Buckman, a 
native of Lisbon, and by three of their four 
children, namely: E. L., the special subject 
of this biographical notice; Leila, now living 
with her mother on the old homestead in Lis- 
bon ; and Nora, widow of the late C. li. B. 
Libby, residing at Auburn, Me. The other 
child, a son named Ralph, died in infancy. 

E. L. Tebbets was educated at the Edward 
Little Institute^ in Auburn, Me., and the 
Massachu.setts Institute of Technology in Bos- 
ton. Afterward he was engaged in civil en- 
gineering in Lewiston, this State, until 1870, 
when he began working for the Maine Central 
Railway Company, being rodman in the con- 
struction department one year, assistant en- 
gineer for five years, and subscquentl)' general 
accountant in the Treasury office at Portland 
for six years. On severing his connection 
with that road, Mr. Tebbets made a trip to 
California, and spent si.x months as a civil 
engineer in the eastern part of that State. In 
November, 1882, he came to Greenwood, and 
at Locke's Mill, where the water power is un- 
surpassed, he engaged with his father i^n run- 
ning a grist mill until i8gi, when they sokl 
out to the American Bobbin .Spooling and 
Shuttle Company. Afterward they bought 
back the water i)ower, and leased the spool- 
mill. Mr. Tebbets is here doing an immense 
business, being known as one ol the most en- 
terprising and successful manufacturers in 
this part of Oxford County. Assiduous in his 
application to his own affairs, he is also a 
public-spirited man, actively interested in 
promoting the common weal, and occupying 
a foremost position among the citizens of the 
town of Greenwood. In ];olitics he affiliates 
with the Democratic party. For several 
years he served efficiently as Town Treasurer 
and Selectman, and is now Justice of the 
Peace. 

On September 4, 1873, Mr. Tebbets mar- 
ried Miss Lizzie C. Morttm, who was born in 



620 



BIOGRAl'llKAL RKVIKW 



.Augusta, iMc, the city in which her parents, 
the late llallett \V. and Laxinia Morton, spent 
their entire lives. I\Ir. and Mrs. Tebbets 
JKue four children — Charles B., Lawrence, 
]'>. L., Jr., and a babe unnamed. Mrs. Teb- 
bets is a member of the Congregational church 
of Augusta, and takes an active part in church 
work. 




IIARLES L. TOOTHAKER, M.D., 

is the principal medical practitioner 
of Phillips, Me., and before his pa- 
tients here required so much of his 
time, also had a large practice in Rangeley 
and adjoining towns. He was born in 
Phillips, Ajjril 20, 1847, a son of George and 
Eliza (Staples) Toothaker, being on his 
father's side of Scotch, and on his mother's 
side, of Irish ancestry. 

Ephraim Toothaker, the father of (ieorge, 
spent the active years of his life in l^owdoin- 
hani, Me., whence he -came to Phillips, where 
he was living, aged nearly one hundred years 
at the time of his death. He was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary Wai", and his widow was 
granted a pension. In politics he was a 
Democrat. 

George Toothaker has resided in Phillips 
all his life, and has successfully engaged in 
farming. Although now past eighty years of 
age, he still enjoys good health. Four of the 
seven childi"en born to him and liliza Sta]j]es 
Toothaker, his wife, are now living, namely: 
George 1)., in .Southern California; Lillian, 
the wife of L. L. Balkam, of Kansas City; 
Frank -S., in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Charles 
L. Hattie M., the eldest child, who married 
Dr. W. Hunter, of Hampton, died at about 
fifty years of age; and liphraim died in the 
army, aged about twenty-one years. He was 
in the Heavy Artillery, Eleventh Vermont 
Volunteers. In politics Mr. Toothaker is a 
Democrat, but has never held public office. 

Charles L. Toothaker, the youngest living 
child and the special subject of this sketch, 
recei\'ed his preliminary education in the 
common schools of Strong and the Farmington 
High School, after which he entered the t'ni 
versity of Michigan at Ann .Arbor. In i<S7i 
he was graduated from the Medical .School I'f 



Maine at Howiloin College, Brunswick, Me., 
and immediately after began practising in 
Auburn, where he remained two years, coming 
to Phillips in 1S73, where he has since re- 
mained. P'or a number of years he has been 
a member of the Board of Health, also on the 
Examining Board of Pensions In political 
affiliation he is a Democrat. 

In the fall of 1893 Dr. Toothaker married 
Miss Eva J. New-man, a daughter of Eben 
Newman, of Weld, Me. They have had two 
children, both now living, namely: Charles 
E., two years old; and Lillian B., younger. 
Dr. and Mrs. Toothaker attend the Congres:a- 
tional church. 




ORENZO D. EDGCOMB, who was 
born in Hartford, Oxford County, 
Me., .September 3, 1820, has profit- 
abl}' engaged in farming at different 
places in the county, but is at jiresent residing 
with his son in Norway, Me. His parents, 
James and Olive Edgcomb, were natives of 
Saco, Oxford County. 

James Eidgcomb engaged in farming prin- 
cipally, but was at one time the keeper of a 
public house, and served as Deputy Sheriff of 
Cumberland County, The larger part of his 
life was spent in Oxford and Cumbeiland 
Counties, where he was known as an industri- 
ous and successful man. He died in Andros- 
coggin County, at seventy years of age. His 
wife lived to be but fifty-five. They had 
seven children, three sons and four daughters, 
and three are now living, namely: Lorenzo 
D. ; Miss Olive Edgcomb, of Jay, Me.; and 
Mary, wife of Henry Emery, also residing in 
Jay. The deceased are: Orrin, Jane, Lorcn, 
and .Sophia. 

Lorenzo D. Edgcomb, the eldest lix'ing 
child, grew to manhood in Poland, Andros- 
coggin County, and was educated in the 
schools of Poland and Hartford. He began 
the work of life as a farmer, and has engaged 
in agriculture at intervals e\'er since. For 
twenty-seven years, however, he travelled 
through the country selling nursery stock, and 
in this met with good success. He resided in 
Poland on an excellent farm, which he owned 
there until about three years ago, when he re- 



lUOCRAlMIlCAI. RKVIKW 



621 



moved to North Paris. Later he came to Nor- 
way, where, as already stated, he is now mak- 
ing his home with his son. He owns a good 
farm in Paris, but expects to make Norway his 
home. For many years he was a member of 
the State militia, and some seven years was 
Ca])tain of Company D. When the Civil War 
was in progress, he had charge of the muster 
in Poland, being commander of the nine com- 
panies of which it was composed. He also 
assisted in raising two companies foi' the ser- 
vice. 

At twent)--four years of age Mr. luigcomb 
was married to Miss Octavia 1?. Waterhouse, 
who was born in Poland, a daughter of Timo- 
thy and Peggy Waterhouse. They have 
three children living: Charles R., a paper 
maker in Mechanic Falls; Orrin, a shoemaker 
in Norway; and Clara Hazeltine, residing in 
North Paris. Clara died at two years of age. 
Olive, who married Sidney Tobey, and Ella, 
also the wife of a Mr. Tobey, are both de- 
ceased. 

In politics Mr. Edgcomb is independent. 
Fraternally, he is connected with Tyrian 
Lodge, No. 73, A. F. & A. M., at Poland, 
being to-day the oldest member of the lodge. 
He and his wife are communicants of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 




DECOSTER, a retired contractor an^i 
a veteran of the Civil War, who is now 
residing upon a fruit farm in Hiick- 
ficld, was born here January 14, 1S31, son of 
Henry and Abigail (L-ish) Decoster. His 
father, a native and a lifelong resident of 
Jkickfield, worked at his trade of carpentry 
and was engaged in general farniing until 
his death, which occurred wlnen he was 
si.\ty-si.\ years old. He was known and re- 
spected as a worthy, upright man and a useful 
citizen. His wife, Abigail, who was a native 
of Hartford, Me., became by him the mother 
of ten children. Four of these are living; 
namely, James H., Joseph F., Fallen B., and 
E. Decoster. The mother lived to be eighty 
years old. 

After receiving his education in the schools 
of Buckfield and Turner, the subject of this 
sketch engaged in teaching for several terms. 



While still a young man he became a con- 
tractor for the construction of railroads and 
other public works. lie was eniiilo}cd h\ the 
New Jersev Water Works Comjiany for twenty- 
five years. He assisted in building the Kan- 
sas & Pacific Railroad and the Portland & 
Rumford Falls Railroad. He was also en- 
gaged in the construction of pidjlic works in 
Portland, Me., Concord, \.H., Concord, 
Mass., and in New ^'ork .State, having iiad 
charge of as many as five hundred men at one 
time. He retired some time ago upon a com- 
fortable comiK'tency, and is now engaged in 
genera! farming and fruit-growing, owning a 
pleasantly located piece of propert\' containing 
one hundred acres. In i<S'62 he enlisted as a 
private in Com])any C, Twentieth Regiment, 
Maine \^dunteers, with which he subsequently 
participated in the battles of I-'redericksbnrg 
and Antietam. He was woundetl in the last 
named engagement, and he was honorably 
discharged in 18C3. 

In 1858 Mr. Decoster wedded Mary Anna 
Stowe, a native of Newr\', Me., by whom he 
is the father of iouv sons. These are : Hanv 
A., who lives in Little P'alls. N.Y. ; h'ledcr- 
ick, a farmer and bee raiser, who resides at 
home; lulward, a carpenter and blacksmith, 
who is also engaged in farming at home; and 
Lester H., who follows the trades of a car[)en- 
ter and blacksmith in Buckfield. In jxilitics 
Mr. Decoster supports the Republican party. 
He is a comrade of Fessenden Post, No. 43, 
(irand Army of the Republic, of Buckfield. 
Both he and Mrs. Decoster attend the Uni- 
versalist church. 



/ '^^Tko [<(]]•: D. GR0S1-: is one ot the 
I '*) I foremost members of the farming 
^— "^ community of Sumner, Me., enter- 
prising and progressive in his methods. He 
was born in Hingham, Mass., P\'bruar\' 10, 
1859, son of Dexter and Kate (Whiting) 
Grose, and is of English descent. His 
father, who is now Postmaster at North 
Abington, Mass., was born in Hanover, 
Mass., his mother in Hingham. 

George D. Grose was reared and educated in 
Abington, Mass. He worked for some time 
in the employ of his father, who was manu- 



622 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



facturing shoes; and in 1890 he settled in 
Sumner, Me., purchasing the Hiram Heath 
place. This estate, which comprises three 
hundred acres, is one of the best farms in the 
locality, and under its present owner is giving 
more profitable results every year. Mr. Grose 
makes dairying his main industry, keeping 
from ten to twenty-five head of cattle, besides 
a number of horses. Though but a compara- 
tively short time in the town, he is looked 
upon as one of the representative farmers and 
is a prominent member of Union Grange, 
Patrons of Husbandry, of East Sumner. 

Mr. Grose was married November 23, 1885, 
to Esther G. Crockett, a native of Hartford, 
Me., daughter of Samuel I. Crockett. Her 
grandparents, John and Cynthia Crockett, were 
among the first settlers of Sumner. John 
Crockett, who was a native of Cumberland 
County, this State, was a hard-working and 
successful farmer. He located in .Sumner 
when the place was sparsely settled, and deer, 
moose, bears, and smaller game abounded and 
resided here for a number of years becoming 
e.xpert as a trapper. The latter part of his 
life was passed in Hartford, Me., where he 
died at the advanced age of ninety-one. In 
politics he was a Democrat. He was twice 
married, and was the father of eleven children, 
his first wife, -Sally, being the mother of si.\. 
His second wife, Cynthia, who was the widow 
of a Mr. Irish at the time of her marriage to 
him, lived to be eighty-six years of age. 
John and Cynthia Crockett were members of 
the Universalist church. Of his family of 
eleven children three are living: William; 
Samuel I. ; and Cynthia, Mrs. Glover, all in 
Hartford, Me. 

Samuel I. Crockett, Mrs. Grose's father, 
was born in Hartford, July 7, 1829, and was 
educated in Hartford and Sumner. He left 
home at the age of twenty-one and worked in 
shoe factories in Massachusetts for twelve 
years. He then bought land in Sumner, on 
which he resided for a while, eventually sell- 
ing it and removing to Hartford. In 1881 he 
purchased his present homestead in that town, 
and he now owns about eight hundred acres of 
farm land in Hartford and Peru. He is ex- 
tensively engaged in general farming and 
dairying, and keeps some valuable live stock, 



including cows, o.xen, sheep, and horses. Mr. 
Crockett, who is a self-made man, is one of 
the leading farmers of this part of the county. 
He is a Democrat in politics, and has served 
as Selectman and in other offices in the town. 
He is a member of the Grange of Patrons of 
Husbandry at Sumner. In religious belief he 
is a Universalist. His first wife, whose 
maiden name was Lydia Harding, was a 
native of Sumner. She died at the age of 
thirty-four. There were no children by this 
union. His second wife was Ruth B. Gam- 
mon, a native of Hartford, Me., daughter of 
Madison Gammon. Hy this union he has two 
children: Esther G., Mrs. Grose; and Abel 
W., both born in Haitford. Abel \V. Crock- 
ett is a member of the Masonic Order. He 
was married in 1893 to Lillian, daughter of 
Benjamin Irish, of Buckfield, and has one 
son — Horace B. , born February 3, 1893. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Grose has been 
blessed by two children : Esther Dorothy, who 
is with them; and Ruth W., who lived but 
two years and a half. Mr. Grose takes an 
active interest in politics, and was a delegate 
to the Republican County Convention not 
long since. He belongs to Evening Star 
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Buckfield. He and 
and his wife are memlDcrs of the Universalist 
church. 



M 



ANIEL E. MILLS, an enterprising 
farmer and respected citizen of 
Mason, was born in the town of 
Bethel, O.xford County, Me., March 
30, 1847, son of Daniel B. and Mary E. (Gor- 
don) Mills. Daniel B. Mills was a native of 
Bethel, and spent the greater part of his life 
in that town. When twenty-eight years old he 
was accidentally killed in the woods but a few 
days before the birth of his son, Daniel E. 
His widow subsequently became the wife of 
his brother, Nathan G. Mills, of whom a 
sketch appears elsewhere in this work. 

Daniel E. Mills remained with his mother 
until reaching his majority. After obtaining 
his education in the common schools he engaged 
in farming. He now resides upon the farm 
which he inherited, and which was purchased 
by his grandfather, and contains about one 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIKW 



62^ 



hundred acres. Here he carries on mixed 
farming very successfully. On March 29, 
1S74, Mr. Mills was joined in marriage with 
Miss Sarah A. Morrill, who was born Febru- 
ary 3, 1853, daughter of Thomas and Belinda 
(Shurtleff) Morrill, of Albany, Me. Her 
father, who was a native of the jjlace now 
known as Windham, Me., removed to Albany 
about 1859, and died there at the age of about 
seventy-six )'ears. He was a jirosperous 
farmer and lumberman. Mrs. Morrill was 
born in Raymond, Me. She died at forty- 
eight years of age. Both were members of the 
Advent Church. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have an 
interesting family of five children; namely, 
Sabra O., Vibert R., Ercel V., Dora B., and 
Frank E. , all living at home. Their second 
child, Bernal D., died at seventeen years of 
age. Mr. Mills has served as Selectman sev- 
eral terms, also as Town Clerk and C<illector. 
He is a Democrat, politically. 




M^|ICHARD L. COLE, a prominent and 
well-to-do agriculturist of Greenwood, 
Oxford County, is a worthy repre- 
sentative of the native-born resi- 
dents of this township. He was born Decem- 
ber 9, 1824, son of Cyperin and Lavisa 
(Perrin) Cole, and a descendant of one of the 
pioneer settlers of Oxford County. His pa- 
ternal grandfather, Eleazer Cole, in the latter 
part of the last century, migrated from Bridge - 
water, Mass., to the town of Paris, where he 
cleared a farm. Eleazer subsequently came to 
Greenwood, and there spent his last days. 

Cyperin Cole, born in the township of 
Paris, moved with his parents to Greenwood, 
where he died November 17, 1861, aged 
seventy years. He was engaged in agricult- 
ure throughout the greater part of his life. 
His first wife, whose maiden name was Lavisa 
Perrin, was born in Woodstock, and died in 
Greenwood. His second wife, Martha (Tuell) 
Cole, who was a native of Paris, died May 
23, 1868. Born of his first union were eight 
children, of whom Richard L. is the only sur- 
vivor. The others were: Martha, Loranson, 
Ann G., Lavisa, Minerva, and two that died 
in infancy. His second wife bore him several 
children, of whom the following record is 



given: Caroline is the wife of Aliiert MoUnt- 
ford, of Bryant Pond village. Me. ; l-'rancis, a 
hardware dealer at the same village, married a 
Miss Bryant; Laura died some time ago; 
Lorenza is the widow of the late Mr. Mount- 
ford, and lives at ]-5ryant Pond; Lucy is the 
wife of Cyrus Berry, of South Paris; Angclia 
married Horace Berry, of l^ryant" s Pond, this 
county; Givesten resides at Mechanic P'alls, 
Me.; and Henry lives in Massachusetts. 

As soon as he attained his majority, Rich- 
ard L. Cole began the battle of life, starting 
out poor in pocket, but rich in energy, courage 
and ambition. Going to Massachusetts, he 
worked out as a farm laborer, spending the 
first year in Woodland, and the following two 
years in South Reading, now Wakefield. 
After wQrking in Lawrence, Mass., as a team- 
ster for a year, he returned to his native 
county, and for four years worked in the town 
of Paris, being employed on different farms. 
Having saved some money by this time, he 
bought a farm, and settled on it with his 
bride, whom he had wooed and won while in 
Paris. Mr. Cole has since both enlarged and 
improved this property, so that now he has 
one of the best managed estates in this section 
of the county. With the assistance of his 
son Harry, who is a skilful farmer, he carries 
on general farming on an extensive scale, 
besides paying some attention to dairying. 
Mr. Cole has ever taken a genuine interest in 
town matters, lending his influence to forward 
all beneficial enterprises. He has served with 
fidelity in almost every office within the gift 
of his fellow-townsmen, including those of 
Selectman, Town Collector, and Town Treas- 
urer. Both he and his son are stanch sup- 
porters of the Republican party; and both, 
with their wives, are members of the local 
Grange, and of the Baptist church at Bryant's 
Pond. 

Mr. Cole married Miss Sarah Jane I3avis, of 
Paris, on December 27, 1851. Mrs. Cole was 
born December 18, 1835, daughter of the late 
Henry W. and Sarah (Torrey) Davis, the 
former of whom was born in Oxford, Mass., 
and the latter in Dixfield, Me. The father 
was a blacksmith by trade, and both he and 
his wife spent the most of their lives after 
marriage in Paris. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have 



624 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



had nine children, of whom Cora, Alberto, 
Perley, and an infant are deceased. The 
others are: F"rank P., living at Woodstock, 
Me., who married Alice Bryant; Elmer N., a 
resident of Lynn, Mass., who married Lizzie 
Bond; Herbert E., also residing at Lynn, who 
married Lizzie Young; Harry D. . who lives 
on the home farm; and Mattie S., who is the 
wife of Edgar Estes, of Lynn, Mass. Harry 
D. Cole, with the exxeption of a few years 
spent at the plumber's trade in Lynn, Mass., 
has remained on the home farm, where his 
help is indispensable to his father. He mar- 
ried Miss Jennie Houten, daughter of Charles 
Houten, of Canton, Me., and they have two 
children — Guy and Bessie Lucelia. 




'ENRY L. DAY, who is one of the 
most conspicuously prominent busi- 
ness men of New Sharon, Franklin 
County, Me., where he now lives, 
was born in New York City, February 18, i8i8. 

His great-grandfather, Samuel Day, an 
Englishman by birth and a carpenter by voca- 
tion, was the first man in these parts who ever 
framed a building by square rule. In the 
rural districts where Samuel Day located, his 
careful work was considered unnecessary, and 
he was very generally called a fool. While 
Samuel Day and his wife were on board the 
sailing vessel upon which they had taken 
passage for America, a son was born to them, 
whom they called after the father, Samuel. 

This second Samuel, who claimed the broad 
Atlantic as his birthjilace, grew up and be- 
came a mechanic b\' trade. He purchased the 
half of a tract of land in Mercer, his share 
consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. 
He married Sarah Day, and was the father of 
nine children — Asa, Daniel, Samuel, Jacob, 
Solomon, John C. , Hannah, Betsey, and Polly. 
Samuel Day, second, lived to extreme old age, 
his life extending over the period of exactly 
one hundred years, the latter part of it being 
spent in the home of his grandson. Henry L. 
Day. His wife, Sarah, attained aluKJst as 
great an age. 

Daniel Day, the second son of .Samuel and 
Sarah Day, was a native of Jamaica Point, 
Me. He went to New York in 1817, a year 



before the birth of his son, Henry L. , and 
remained there three years, returning to Mer- 
cer at the end of that time, and bought some 
land, which he partialh' cleared, also building 
a house. I-'inally, buying a farm in New 
Sharon, and settling here, he remained until 
his death. Having inherited a strong consti- 
tution from his parents, he was active always 
and worked industriously up to the very end of 
his life. iJaniel Day married first Miss Susan 
Taylor, who died at the age of thirty-seven 
years, having been the mother of six children; 
namely, Elmira, Henr\- L., Thomas, Betsey, 
Julia Ann, and Susan. He married second 
Miss Sarah Boyington, of Mercer, and the}- 
became the parents of four children — Daniel, 
Fannie, Henrietta, and lumice. The father of 
this family was a stanch Democrat and a faith- 
ful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Henry L. Day, son of Daniel and Susan 
(Taylor) Day, was sent to the public schools 
of Mercer in his early childhood, and at the 
age of twelve years he went to live with Joshua 
Young, for whom he worked six years. When 
his term with Mr. Young expired he was just 
eighteen. years of age, and he immediately went 
into the wooded swamps of Maine, where he 
chopped wood during the winter months to 
supply the demands of the lumber trade. Dur- 
ing the summer he went on board the fishing 
schooner "Caroline" under William Willis, 
and for four years followed a seafaring life in 
summer and bore the rigor of the long northern 
winters in a Maine lumber camp. Not an easy 
life, certainly, but productive of health and 
energy. While braving the elements one 
summer in search of cod, provisions ran short, 
and for three weeks he was compelled to sub- 
sist upon a diet of rice and molasses, which 
was rather a monotonous bill of fare. 

After four years of this hardy life he came 
to New Sharon, where he built a comfortable 
residence for his father at Sandy River. For 
thirteen years he occupied the short seasons of 
warm weather in this way, returning to the 
logging swamjjs when winter set in. Mean- 
while, he was becoming successful, reaping 
the results of his labors. He had bought the 
saw-mills at New Sharon, j^aying one thousand 
seven hundred dollars for the projierty ; and for 
fourteen years he conducted a flourishing busi- 



BIOCxRAPHICAL REVIEW 



c>^s 



ncss here in that line. As his means in- 
creased he enlarged his enterprise, and ]nir- 
chasing one thousand three hunched acres of 
timbered land in Madrid, he o])erated a mill 
in New Sharon, using timber from his Madrid 
tract, for three winters. The mill at Madrid 
was then swept away by a freshet, and Mr. 
Day sold his land ami bought a hotel, which 
was called the Sandy River House, and was 
the first erected in New Sharon. The Sandy 
River House was destroyed by fire July 29, 
1886, and in the following year he built the 
hotel in which he now- resides anil which he 
conducts satisfactorily to the travelling public 
and with profit to himself. Mr. Day has pur- 
chased a farm of about twenty-two acres of 
laud situated a half mile down the river, and 
uses the hay cut from the fields for his stables. 
Since he came to New Sharon he has become 
one of its most j^rominent as well as prosper- 
ous business men, and is a stockholder in the 
water-works of the town, which forms an im- 
portant part of the bLisiness interests of the 
place. 

Henry I.. Day married Miss Judith Pome- 
roy, a daughter of Benjamin and Betsey (Boy- 
ington) Pomeroy, of Starks. The following 
children have been born to them, namely: two 
now^ deceased ; George, who is a coat maker, 
and resides at Norridgewock ; lulgar, who 
married Miss Dora Waugh, a daughter of 
William Waugh, and lives at home; and Effie, 
who died at seventeen years of age, just in the 
d;iwn of womanhood. 

Henry L. Day is a Republican in political 
princi[)les, and a Coiigregationalist in religious 
faith. He has won his measure of worldly 
success by steady industry, honest effort, and 
the exercise of sound judgment, and few men 
have a more just claim upon the respect and 
esteem of his fellow-citizens than he. 



AMES DANFORTII, a prominent citi- 
zen of Norway, Me., was born here on 
October 10. 1839, son of Dr. Asa and 
Abigail C. (Reed) Danforth. He is a 
lineal descendant of Jonathan Danforth, Sr., 
the noted land surveyor of liillerica, Mass., 
whose son, Jonathan Danforth, Jr., married 
Miss Rebecca Parker. 



Their son, the iic\l representat i\e in this 
branch, was the Hon. Samuel ]3anforth. His 
son, Lieutenant Joseph Danforth, who was 
born in Dunstable, Mass., in the year 1720, 
married Miss Mary Richardson. Josiah Dan- 
forth, son of Lieutenant Joseph, married Sarah 
Blodgett, and lived in I'yngsboro, Mass. 

Asa Danforth, son of Josiah, was born v\u- 
gust 18, 1795. Having mastered the common 
P'nglish branches in the district schools, he 
went into the office of Dr. Thomas, of Tyngs- 
boro, under whom he studied medicine, at- 
tending also medical lectures at Dartmouth 
and Harvard Colleges. On July 20, 1820, he 
was granted by the censors of the Massachu- 
setts Medical Society a certificate authorizing 
him to practise medicine and surgery; and the 
following year he started out to find a desir- 
able place for settlement, travelling on horse- 
back, and taking with him a well furnished 
set of saddle-bags. On reaching Portlaiul, he 
bought an interview with Dr. Cummings, and 
was advised by him to come to Norway, as 
even then the town had won a reputation for 
thrift and progressiveness. At first he 
boarded, but it was not long before he mar- 
ried one of the daughters of Norway, and 
shortly erected the brick house which is still 
standing at the corner of Main and Danforth 
Streets, the brick used in its construction hav- 
ing been made in the meadow back of the 
village. 

Dr. Danforth always lived there, and no 
man was e\-er more deservedly respected. The 
first, and for many years the only physician in 
the town, none since lias been more successful 
or more endeared in the hearts of the people 
than this pioneer. Many of his patients lived 
at a considerable distance, so that he was 
obliged to take long and wearisome rides; 
and, as it was difificult to turn produce into 
money, the Doctor's fee was not unfrequently 
paid in such commodities as oats, corn, beans, 
potatoes, or firewood. He was, however, 
always ready to assist the poor: and he inter- 
ested himself in the material progress of the 
community, building a paper manufactory at 
the lower falls, and becoming a stockholder in 
the South Paris woollen-mills. In religion 
he was a Universalist, antl he was a member 
of the committee that erected the church edi- 



626 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIF.W 



fice. In politics he was a Whig in his earlier 
(.lays, and later a Republican, serving one 
term in tlie Maine legislature. Dr. Danforth 
married Miss Abigail C. Reed, a daughter of 
William Reed, of Norway. Seven sons and 
a daughter were born to them, namely: Will- 
iam R., Josiah, Joseph H., Sarah, Frank A., 
John, James, Asa, Jr. Dr. Danforth \s vk'ife 
died in 1872, and he died June 16, 1SS3. 

James Danforth remained with his parents. 
After obtaining his education, as a young man 
he took charge of the land owned by his father 
in and near Norway and on Pike Hill. For a 
few years he was a travelling salesman for 
T. H. Huston, a manufacturer of crackers and 
confectionery at Auburn, Me., also for F. A. 
Kennedy, of Cambridgeport, Mass. He then 
purchased a farm in Oxford, but sold it a 
little later, and eventually settled in Norway, 
inheriting the farming land owned by his 
father. In 1862 Mr. Danforth enlisted in 
Company H of the Twenty-third Maine Regi- 
ment, with which he served nine months, the 
larger part of the time being on the mail ser- 
vice and taking care of horses. He has since 
been a sufferer from rheumatism brought on 
by the exposure. The home in which the 
family now live was inherited by Mrs. Dan- 
forth. It was formerly the Clark Whitney 
Hotel, but was entirely rebuilt by Mr. Has- 
kell, and has since been enlarged so that they 
have a tenement to rent. Mr. Danforth has 
purchased land on Pike Hill, and a cottage, 
where they spend the summer months. 

Mr. Danforth married Miss Mary F. Has- 
kell, a daughter of Charles H. Haskell, of 
Norway village. They have two sons and 
two daughters; namely, Charles H., Anna L., 
Sarah G., and Asa. In politics Mr. Danforth 
is a Republican. He is a member of Oxford 
Lodge. No. 18, A. F. & A. M. ; Union Chap- 
ter, No. 36, Royal Arch Masons; and is a 
charter member of Norway Lodge, Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows. 



'NSEL DUDLP:Y, an esteemed and in- 
hiential citizen of Oxford County, 
Maine, residing at Bryant's Pond, 
was born on the i ith of April, 
1844, in Woodstock, Me., the son of Perrin 




ami Paulina (Felt) Dudley, of the same 
town. 

David Dudley, Mr. Dudley's grandfather, 
was a native of Sudbury, Mass., and in early 
manhood came to Hebron. Afterward he re- 
moved to Paris, and in 1820 to Woodstock, 
exchanging farms with Noah Curtis. His 
first wife was Rebecca Buckram, who bore him 
five children. After her death he married 
Charity Tuell, of Paris. By his second mar- 
riage he became the father of eleven children, 
but of all his large family only three children 
are still living: Perrin, born P"ebruary 3, 
1803; Arvilla M., who married Elijah Bryant, 
and lives on the old county road in Wood- 
stock, quite near her father's homestead; and 
Ansel, born February 25, 1825, who married 
Augusta Curtis, and resides in Paris. 

Perrin Dudley has lived in Woodstock for 
the last seventy-six years, and has always re- 
sided on the old homestead. He is held in 
the greatest esteem by his fellow-citizens, 
having proved his worth and his faithfulness 
to the interests of the town by the efficiency 
and zeal with which he has discharged the 
duties of various public offices. 

As a military man he has showed great 
ability, and has served successively as Major, 
Lieutenant-colonel, and Colonel in the Na- 
tional Guard of Maine. When the late war 
of the Rebellion broke out, although too old 
to enter into active service, yet, in order to do 
for his country what he could, he organizetl 
and drilled a volunteer company at Bryant's 
Pond, and, as a matter of fact, nearly every 
member of this company subsequently went 
to the front. 

Perrin Dudley was married on May 30, 
1828, to Paulina Felt, the daughter of Joshua 
P"elt, of Woodstock. From this union eleven 
children sprung: Otis S., born January 25, 
1830, who died May 2, 1832; Jairus, born 
October 7, 1831, who married July 3, i860, 
Amanda M. Clark, the daughter of Norman 
Clark, of Bethel, Me., and died in Bethel 
in 1S81, his wife still living; Angelina, 
born July 20, 1833, married July 4, 1853, 
Alvin P. Bowker, of Woodstock, where they 
still reside; Clementine, born May 8, 1835, 
who died August 15, 1838; Margaret, born 
June 2, 1837, who died Julv 15. 1839: Otis 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



S., second, born Ai)ril ii, 1S39, who niarricd 
June 21, 1862, Mahala Curtis, now deceased, 
of Woodstock; Adelia, born March 29, 1S41, 
married, December 26, i86r, Jeremiah Curtis, 
of Woodstock, he being now ileceased; Ansel 
D., of Bryant's Pond ; Amanda M., born March 
31, 1846, who married, January i, 1868, James 
Sheram, now deceased ; Evelyn O., born De- 
cember 20, 1849, who married on November 7, 
1869, F"reeland Young, and resides in Norway, 
Me. ; and Perrin A., born December 14, 1853, 
who died on September 16, 1855. Perrin 
Dudley is still living at his old home, hale 
and hearty, though ninety-three years old. 
His wife has been dead some years. 

Ansel Dudley, their eighth child, spent his 
early youth on his father's old homestead, re- 
ceiving his education in the public schools 
of his native town, and at the South Paris 
Academy. In the spring of 1868 he went to 
Boston, and learned there the trade of moving 
buildings. Returning to Woodstock in the 
fall of 1871, he immediately started in upon 
a prosperous business as a contractor of lum- 
ber. For twenty years he supplied the Yar- 
mouth, Me., Forest Paper Company with all 
the immense quantity of poplar that they 
needed. 

He was married on March 4, 1868, to Jo- 
sephine Childs, the daughter of Joseph Childs, 
a wealthy farmer of North Paris, Me. They 
have two children — Olivia D. and Carl C. 
Olivia D. Dudley, born November 16, 1875, 
who is now living at home, received her edu- 
cation at Westbrook Seminary, Deering, Me., 
and at Goddard Seminary, Barre, Vt., gradu- 
ating from the latter institution in the spring 
of 1894. She then went to Boston, where she 
attended the Berlitz School of Languages, and 
also Chauncy Hall School. Carl C. Dudley, 
born May 15, 1878, spent his early life at 
home attending the public schools of Wood- 
stock, and in the winter term of 1894 entered 
Goddard Seminary in Barre, Vt., where he 
will graduate in 1897. 

Resides his contracting business Mr. Dudley 
keeps a general store at Bryant's Pond, where 
he is one of the leading merchants, and he is 
one of the most prominent men of the entire 
district, both in a business way and socially. 
His political belief is stanchly Republican. 



He and his family are active members ol the 
Universalist church. He is an Odd Fellow, 
belonging both to Jefferson Lodge, No. too, 
and to West Paris Lodge, No. 15, Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows. 



OHN D. FURNEL, an enterprising 
furniture dealer of Wilton, Me., and 
the leading undertaker in this section 
of I'Vanklin County, was born in Wil- 
ton, May 10, 1837, son of Dimond and Mary 
(Bennett) F'urnel. The family name, which 
was originally F"ernald, has been changed to 
I'urnel by the present generation. Mr. 1^'ur- 
nel's grandfather, David I'Y'rnald, was a jiros- 
perous farmer of Loudon, N.II. F"urther 
particulars concerning him and his posterity 
will be found in a sketch of Captain George 
R. I'ernald, which appears elsewdiere in this 
work. 

Dimond Furnel, son of David, was born in 
Loudon. He acquired a district-school eiluca- 
tion, and when a young man he learned the 
cloth-dresser's trade, which he followed as a 
journeyman in Warren, Me., for seven years. 
He then came to Wilton, where he bought the 
Colonel Hodgman carding-mills. Carding 
the wool into rolls, and having it spun and 
woven by women at their homes, lie then 
fulled and dressed it; and after carrying on 
business in this manner for some time he 
added a shearing machine and dyeing facili- 
ties, and became the first regular woollen man- 
ufacturer in this region. He later engaged in 
the mauLifacture of yarn, producing a superior 
quality, which acquired a wide reputation up 
to 1862, the Wilton yarns being standard 
goods in the New England market, where they 
found ready sale at the highest prices. P2rect- 
ing a large mill, he engaged in the manufact- 
ure of woollen cloth upon an extensive scale; 
but his plant had been in operation only three 
months when he was stricken with pneumonia, 
and died at the age of seventy-five years. 

His business ability and progressive ten- 
dencies were of great value to the town in de- 
veloping its industrial resources, and he did 
much toward increasing its importance in this 
direction, as well as furnishing many of its 
inhabitants with steady employment. Pre- 



628 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



vious to his death he erected a new residence 
in the new neighborhood of the factory, also 
lemndelling the stable and other outbuildings. 
Tills property is now owned and the business 
carried on by G. F. Goodspeed. Mr. Dimond 
Furne! gave the land for the erection of the 
Methodist F|)iscopal chiirch to the building- 
fund, of which he donated one thousand 
dollars, besides assisting otherwise in its com- 
pletion, and he acted as a Deacon anil class 
leader for many years. He was a Royal Arch 
Mason, and in i)olitics he acted with the Re- 
publican party. His wife, who was before 
marriage Mary Kennett, became the mother of 
three children, namely: William C.; Al- 
bert -S. ; and John D., the subject of this 
sketch. Mrs. Mary 13. Furnel lived to reach 
the age of si,\ty-two years. 

John D. I'urnel began his education in the 
public schools, and completed his studies at 
the I-'o.\croft Academy. In young manhood he 
became his father's travelling representative, 
selling the Wilton yarns upon the road, not 
only making direct sales to customers, but 
also taking large orders, and he sold as high 
as five thousand dollars worth at a time to one 
firm. When his father began the erection of 
the cloth manufactory, Mr. Furnel went to 
Braintrce, Mass., where for a short time he 
had charge of a yarn mill. Returning to 
Wilton, he bought the mill formerly operated 
by his father, and in company with G. S. Fer- 
nald engaged in the house furnishing business 
and the manufacture of office furniture. His 
partner having retired a year later, he has 
since carried on the business alone, and has 
enlarged his factory to its present capacity. 
He manufactures furniture and caskets, and 
has a repair and finishing shop. He also does 
a large business as an undertaker, and his 
warerooms contain the most varied stock of 
goods in this line carried bv an\- rlealer in 
this part of the count}'. 

Mr. Furnel married Fmma h^airbanks, 
daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Fairbanks, a 
Methodist preacher of the Maine Conference, 
and by this union is the father of four chil- 
dren; namely, Guy G., Carl B., Roy G., and 
Evangeline E. Guy G. Furnel, who is a 
graduate of Dartmouth College, and possesses 
much ability, was for three \'ears jirincipal at 



the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts 
School for the Blind in South Boston, later 
becoming a teacher in the Friends' School in 
Providence, R.I., and is connected with the 
Masonic fraternity. Carl B. Furnel was grad- 
uated at the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy 
in 1893, and is now in the drug business at 
Rumford Falls, Me. He is a member of 
Blazing Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Roy G. 
Furnel is a graduate of Wilton Academy, and 
of an embalming school, and has charge of the 
undertaking department of his father's busi- 
ness. Evangeline E. Furnel is a graduate of 
the Boston School of Oratory, and is now a 
teacher of elocution. 

Mr. Furnel was made a Mason in Maine 
Lodge at Farmington in 1864; and, taking 
his demit some time later, he was instru- 
mental in founding the Blue Lodge in Wil- 
ton, of which he is still a member. In yiaW- 
tics he is independent. He has acted as a 
Justice of the Peace for ten years. A few 
years ago he bought the Matthews place for 
a residence, and this property he has greatly 
improved by enlarging and remodelling the 
buildings. In business and social circles he 
occupies a prominent position. Both he and 
his family attend the Congregational church. 




I.LEN G. ABBOTT is one of the old- 
est residents of Sumner, and belongs 
to one of the first families of the 
town. He was born here August 
28, 18 1 3, son of Daniel and Sally (Tripp) 
Abbott. His great-grandfather, Andrew 
Abbott, who was a Revolutionary soldier, 
came with the pioneer settlers of Sumner, 
which was then called the Butterfield Planta- 
tion, and died here at an ach-anced age. 
George Abbott, the grandfather, was born in 
Massachusetts, and spent much of his life in 
Cumberland County. He was a sturdy and 
hard-working farmer, a leader among his con- 
temporaries; and he died in Falmouth after a 
long life. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Tabitha Sawyer, also lived to be quite old. 
The\' reared si.x children — Daniel, Amos, 
William, George, Levi, and Hannah. Levi 
is yet living, and resides in New Hampshire. 
Daniel Abbott was born in Falmouth in 



B 1 0(; R A P H I C A L R FA^ I E\V 



629 



1792. He resiclcil (or a number of )'cars in 
Sumner, industriously oceupied in agriculture, 
at which he was quite successful. Mi-. Abbott 
was a loyal Republican from the time of the 
formation of the party, and a tlevoted member 
of the Free Will Baptist church. He died at 
the age of eighty-two. His wife, who was 
born in Yarmouth, Cumberland County, 1791, 
worketl as industriously as her husband, and 
lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven. 
They were the parents of four sons and three 
daughters. Of these four are living, namely: 
y\llen G., the subject of this sketch; Marian, 
now Mrs. Rowe, of Sumner; Alpheus A., vc- 
siding on Franklin Plantation; and James J. 
The others were: Andrew, Lucy, and Mar- 
garet. Lucy was the wife of a Mr. Campbell. 
Allen G. Abbott was educated in the 
.schools of Sumner, and while attending school 
aided about the home farm. He now owns a 
farm of seventy-five acres of good land, where 
for years he has been successfully engaged in 
raising general crops. He was married March 
6, 1834, to Anna Govvell, who was born in 
the town of Sumner, December 16, 1816, 
daughter of Joseph and Hannah Gowell. Mr. 
Gowell also was one of the early settlers of 
Sumner. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have had 
.seven children, namely: Harriet P., born 
April 24, 1835; George W. , who was born 
March 2, 1837, and died in Libby Prison, 
November 27, 1864; Luther C, born May 29, 
1839; Charles G., born July 7, 1841; Will- 
iam G. , born .September 24, 1843; Susan J., 
who was born February 15, 1846, and died 
October 25, 1866; and Alpheus A., born 
March 7, 1848. The parents, who have lived 
together over si.vty years, celebrated their 
golden wedding in 1884. There is but one 
other couple in this locality who can boast 
of a longer term of wedded life. Together 
they cared for their children in sickness and 
health, through childhood and adolescence; 
together they an.xiously watched the reports 
from the Southern battlefields, when five of 
their sons were fighting for the Union; and 
together they bore the shock of the news that 
one had died in Libby Prison. Now, drifted 
into quiet waters, they see other generations 
growing up about them, for they have eighteen 
grandchildren and si.\ great-grandchildren. 



Mr. Abbott, who is a Re|)id)lican, has ser\-ed 
as Town Assessor, and in other capacities. 
He and his wife are connected with the Uni- 
versalist church. 




ARLA J?. [,OWELL, of Chester- 
ville, an able and successful school 
teacher, was born in Chestervillc, 
anuary 30, 1825, daughter of 
Reuben and Lois P. (Bradbury) Lowell. liei" 
grandfather, Joshua B. Lowell, was one of the 
early settlers of Chestervillc Hill. Reuben 
Lowell, wdio was a native of Chesterville, 
bought a part of his father's farm, and en- 
gaged in agriculture at an early age. He was 
an honest, hard-working farmer, who made the 
most of his opportunities of advancing him- 
self. He engaged in lumbering during the 
winter season, carrying his shingles by ox- 
team to Hallowell, Kennebec County, from 
which ])lace they were shi]ipccl to Portland and 
Boston. He was also, to some extent, en- 
gaged in bridge building. Taking much in- 
terest in bees, he had a large apiary. In jiolj- 
tics he supported the Democratic party, while 
he was liberal in his religious views. He 
died April 5, 1867, aged si.xty-four }ears. 
His wife, who was born in Chesterville, May 
26, 1806, daughter of John Bradbury% of \'ork. 
Me., became the mother of nine children — 
Maria B. , James M., Nathan R., John S,, 
Joshua B., Arthur D., Jennie D., Julia F., ami 
Albert C. James M.. who was Ijorn in 1827. 
died in 1886; Nathan R., hovu in 1829, now 
resides in Oakland, Cal.; and Jennie D. is 
now the wife of the Rev. George B. Ilsley, of 
Bangor. The mother, who was a Calvinist 
Baptist, lived to the age of eighty-four yeais. 

Maria B. Lowell acquired her education in 
the district schools of Chesterville and at the 
Farmington Academy. After teaching in the 
district schools of her native town for several 
years, she was similarly employed in the ]iub- 
lic schools of Bangor, Me., for four years, and 
in Rossville, la., for three years. Subse- 
quently, in Haddonfield, N.J., she ta\ight for 
three terms of ten months each, including in 
her work the instruction of an evening school 
for colored children during three months each 
year. After some years passed at her home 



630 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW 



in Maine, during which time lier father died, 
she went to Gibsonville, Cal., where she 
taught for two years in the mountain districts, 
also spending some time in Sonoma and Napa 
Valley. She returned East in 1S73, and has 
since resided with her brother, Joshua ]^., at 
the old homestead. Her brother's \\;ife, Mrs. 
Joshua B. Lowell, died in 1S73, leaving one 
daughter, Carrie L., who was afterward reared 
by Miss Lowell. Carrie L. is now Mrs. 
Phiisted, and resides at the home farm. Miss 
Lowell "s last term of school was taught in 
her okl school-house in Chesterville after her 
return from California. Since then she has 
lived in retirement. Her most gratifying re- 
flection to-day is the fact that the educational 
work she has done has been fruitful in good 
results. Miss Lowell is a Baptist in relig- 
ious belief, and a member of the First Calvin- 
istic Baptist Church of Bangor. 



Wj 



^OLLIN N. STETSON, an esteemed 
Selectman of Sumner, was bom here, 
September 15, 1866, son of Abel 
and Adeline H. (Howe) Stetson, 
and grandson of Abel Stetson. Both the 
latter and the parents were likewise natives of 
this town. Hezekiah Stetson, the great- 
grandfather, who was born in Pembroke, 
Mass., about the year 1751, fought in the 
Revolutionary War. After peace was declared 
he, with other Revolutionary soldiers, settled 
in Sumner on a tract of land which he cleared 
and developed, building a log cabin at first. 
In 1796 he erected the frame dwelling that 
is now occupied by his grandson, Deacon 
Josiah T. .Stetson. He died in 1833, aged 
eighty-two years. He married Elizabeth 
Tillson, who bore him eight children, all of 
whom reared families. They were: Elisha, 
Zenas, Abel, Tilson, Hezekiah, Lydia, 
Ephraim, and Mary. 

Abel Stetson was born on Sumner Hill. 
He was the original settler on the land now 
occupied by his grandson, Rollin N., erected 
the present dwelling-house, and died there at 
an advanced age. In political preferences he 
was a Democrat, in religious belief a Congre- 
gational ist. Abel Stetson, Jr., father of the 
subject of this sketch, was one of the elder 



sons in a large family. He was born January 
21, 1824, and spent his active period in the 
pursuit of agriculture, residing for a num- 
ber of years on the home farm. He voted the 
Republican ticket. In religious belief he was 
a Baptist. He died October 29, 1891. His 
wife, who was born January 10, 1S22, is now 
residing with her son, Rollin X. She has 
two other children — Cornelia B., the wife of 
J. F. Moody, of Massachusetts; and Carlton 
B., residing in Waterville, Me. 

Rollin N. Stetson, who is the youngest of 
his parent's children, accjuired a good educa- 
tion in the schools of his native town. Hav- 
ing begun to take an interest in farm work in 
boyhood, he is now one of the ablest farmers 
in the locality. He raises general crops, 
keeps some live stock, and is up-to-date in his 
methods. Though only thirty years old, he is 
regarded as a representative farmer of the lo- 
cality. Mr. Stetson was married December 
21, 1890, to Ada B. Heald, of Buckfield, 
daughter of B. F. Heald. They have one 
daughter, Althea H., born November 7, 1891. 
Mr. Stetson is a popular member of the Dem- 
ocratic party, and he served on the Board of 
Selectmen for two years. He is an esteemed 
member of the Baptist church. 




26, 1814, 

Bonney. 

Bonney. 



RRISON BONNEY, one of the old- 
;st residents of Sumner, who is 
highly esteemed by his townsmen, 
was born in this town, November 
a son of John and Naomi (F"ord) 
His paternal grandfather was Isaac 
John Bonney was a native and a 
lifelong resident of Sumner. He was an in- 
dustrious blacksmith an J a competent farmer. 
His life was comparatively short, ending in 
his forty-seventh year. His wife, who was 
also a native of Sumner, lived to a ripe age. 

Harrison Bonney was reared and educated 
in Sumner. In his early manhood he went to 
Massachusetts, where he worked for about 
eight years, and managed to save some money. 
Returning then to his native town, he made 
his first purchase of land, a part of the farm 
on which he is now living. A careful hus- 
bandman, he develops the best resources of his 
farm, looking carefully after every detail. 



BlOCRAl'HK AL RFA'IKW 



f>3> 



From time to time he lias ailded to his origi- 
nal purchase, so that now it is considerably 
larger. The farm is a good one, and it yields 
him a comfortable income. Mr. l^onney was 
married in 1843 to Miss Sophia Stetson, of 
Sumner, who died in 1844. He subsequently 
contracted a second marriage with Miss Louisa 
E. Keen, who was a native of Sumner. Three 
of his children are living. These are: Abi- 
gail C, who resides in Massachusetts; and 
William F. and Josephine, who reside in Sum- 
ner. In politics Mr. Bonney is a Republican. 
On religious questions he and his wife hold 
liberal views, believing that right for its own 
sake should underlie all human motives. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bonney belong to old 
Sumner families, and are connected by ties of 
kindred with the best people of the town. 




EBRON ACADF:MY, one of the best- 
known educational institutions in 
New F]ngland, is also one of the 
most interesting in its history. Its 
foundation was the outgrowth of the necessity 
for a good school in the district, which, about 
the first of this century, comprised the present 
towns of Hebron and O.xford, under the name 
of Shepardsfield. The territory was originally 
granted by the General Court of the State of 
Massachusetts on the 8th of March, 1777, to 
Ale.Kander Shepard, Jr., of Newton, Ma.ss., as 
a recompense for surveying most of the land 
that now lies in the counties of Oxford and 
Cumberland. To quote from the address of 
the Hon. Percival Bonney, President of the 
present Board of Trustees, on the general his- 
tory and growth of the academy, "It has been 
said that, if a colony of New England people 
should be planted on the remote frontier in 
any quarter of the globe, within twenty-four 
hours they would have a church under cover on 
the most available corner, and a school-house 
on the nearest knoll." 

And this is just what happened in the dis- 
trict of Shepardsfield. The first school here 
was established and supported by these men: 
John Greenwood, Isaac Whittemore, Samuel 
Whittemore, Stephen Myrick, Asa Bearce, 
and Nathaniel Cushman. It was taught by a 
Mrs. Baker, who was at one time a resident of 



Weston, Mass. This school, which was only 
a private school, lasted for a few years, until 
popular feeling began to agitate for another 
and larger school, more fitted to the needs of 
the town. In the first year of the nineteenth 
century the result of this feeling was seen in 
the shape of a new building, erected for the 
purpose of housing the proposed academy. 
This was done even before a charter was 
granted by the General Court, by Deacon 
William Barrows of revered memory, in his 
great zeal for the establishment of the much- 
hoped-for school. The charter was granted on 
the loth of February, 1804, a few months 
after the building was completed. 

Hebron Academy reverences as its incorjio- 
rators the following prominent citizens of the 
district; the Rev. James Hooper, pastor of 
the Baptist church at Paris; Ezekiel Whit- 
man, an attorney of New Gloucester, afterward 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine; 
Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, whose son, Hannibal 
Hamlin, afterward became so prominent a 
statesman; Samuel Parris, the father of a 
future governor; John Greenwood, of Hebron; 
Dr. Luther Carey, of Turner, future Judge, 
State Senator, and Representative; Jesse 
Rice, a physician; the Rev. John Tripp, of 
whom some account has been given in the 
sketch of the present principal of the acad- 
emy; William E. Sargent, A.M., in this 
work; and William Barrows, the Deacon of 
the old Baptist church of Hebron, which as a 
society rendered great assistance for many 
years to its foster child, the Hebron Academy. 
These men met first as a corporation on the 
6th of June, 1804. The charter was adopted 
without any division of sentiment, and two 
committees were appointed to solicit dona- 
tions for the academy, and to draw up a series 
of rules and regulations for its government. 
That strong old preacher, the Rev. John 
Tripp, was elected to serve the infant academy 
as its clerk, and he held the position through 
its times of need to the times of prosperity 
that were soon to follow, until his death, 
which took place in the year 1S47. Deacon 
William Barrows was asked to fill the office of 
Treasurer, which he did until he handed in 
his resignation in 1823. The number of stu- 
dents was limited to forty, until an assistant 



C>3'^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL REVIF.W 



teacher shouki be provided, a thing that could 
at that time hardly be hoped for for some few 
years. The requisites for admission to the 
academy were just such as might have been 
expected from the natural characteristics of 
the strong, true-hearted, faithful men, who 
evolved them from their own knowledge and 
sense of what they thought to he the right 
and only way of living up to the standartl of 
their forefathers, without which no commun- 
ity could in reason e.\]iect to exist. Their two 
great watchwords, "lulucation and Religion," 
i-esounded equall\' loud. Hying side by side. 

The building erected by the gifts of the 
grateful people of the surrounding district was 
dedicated on the 2d of September, 1805. The 
land for the purpose had been given by a 
brother of the Deacon, Mr. Joseph Barrows, 
and the cost of the building itself was divided 
into about seventy shares, which were paid for 
by generous men and women of the district. 
The whole property was valued at fourteen 
hundred dollars. 

On the ^d of September the school first 
opened its doors for the reception of students. 
Its young principal was William Barrows, a 
son of the Deacon, and at the time a Senior 
in Dartmouth College. As he was assisted by 
Bezaleel Cushman, a native of the town, and 
a future graduate of Dartmouth, the rule about 
the number of students to be admitted happily 
never needed enforcing. 

At the opening of the academy, between 
sixty and seventy students of both sexes were 
in attendance, a larger number than had been 
expected by any one. In icSoj, more money 
being needed to assist its growth, an aj^peal 
was again made to the General Court, and 
after a certain stipulated sum had been raised 
by subscription in the vicinity, a grant of 
eleven thousand, five hundreil atres of land 
was made to the institution by the State. 
This land was sold by or under the direction of 
the Trustees for fifty cents an acre, and, as ten 
lots of one thousand acres apiece were sold at 
once, the sum of five thousand dollars was im- 
mediately raised, which, added t(j the sum of 
three thousand which had been raised by the 
subscription, made eight thousand dollars, 
which was put to use for the benefit of the 
vouns institution. 



It is interesting to learn that the price of 
tuition was originally set at twenty cents per 
week, if the student was constant in his at- 
tendance during the term, and at twenty-five 
if he was not regular. The Trustees were al- 
lowed at first one dollar a day for attending 
meetings of the Board, but a few years later 
they themselves generously voted to make all 
their services free of charge, and even to cut 
off their travelling expenses, which they had 
been granted on the mileage system. The 
first building of the academy was also used as 
a church. 

In 1S19, owing to the destruction of the 
academy building by fire, and the academy 
being in more or less financial distress, the 
neighboring towns took advantage of its con- 
dition to urge its removal to a place where it 
would be more convenient for them. But at 
the next annual meeting of the Board the 
Trustees gently but firmly refused their ear- 
nest and insinuating request. 

By 1 82 1 the necessary funds had been se- 
cured, and the new academy building was 
erected and ready for use. It was a two-story 
one of biick, large enough for those days. 
Eight years later a principal's house was built 
by a son of one of the institution's greatest 
benefactors, Caleb Barrows, at a cost of eight 
hundred dollars. This building has been sev- 
eral times added to and enlarged. In 1845 
the then Board of Trustees decided that the 
school-house erected in 1820 was useless,- not 
to say dangerous, and it was voted to build a 
new one, which was ilone at a cost of five hun- 
dred and twenty dollars, besides the value of 
the old materials that could be used from the 
first structure. Still two years later a bell 
was purchased with money given by the l^oard 
to the extent of fifty dollars, and by the so- 
ciety of the l^a]3tist church to the extent of 
seventy, in return for which benefit they were 
to have the use of the bell at all times when 
necessary for their religious purposes, the 
school to use it at other times. In 1866, at 
a special meeting of the Board, a chapel was 
decided on as a necessity that could be easily 
afforded, and it was soon built and in use. 

Two years later, at the earnest representa- 
tion of Principal Herrick, who was a member 
of the House of Reiiresentatives, the State 



bio(;rai'hical review 



63,5 



legislature made a grant 



dollars to the institution. 

In 1872 came the astonishing and dclighttul 
proposition from Governor Coburn "to endow," 
etc.. "on condition that another fifty thousand 
dollars be raised to endow two other schools, 
east and west"; and as Hebron was finally se- 
lected as the "western school," a faithful can- 
vass was at once begun and, notwithstanding 
the severe financial depression of the time, suc- 
cessfully conducted by the great friend and 
benefactor of the academy, the Rev. A. R. 
Crane. 

Thirteen hundred friends of tlie schocd niatle 
generous contributions: and the full amount 
was obtained in 1883, the completion being 
made by a gift from the Hon. Eustace C. 
Fitz, of Boston. Since that time several new 
scholarships have been given and bequeathed, 
and sums of money have been given for other 



one thousand purposes. Mr. B. F. .Sturtevant, of Jamaica 
Plain, Mass., has been one of the largest re- 
cent donons, he giving twelve thousand five 
hundred dollars, to which forty thousand 
dollars was raised by subscription tor building 
and endowment jnirposes. 

At the present time the school, which has 
steadily been prospering, has about half-a- 
dozen fine buildings, all equipped in modern 
fashion, and some spacious grountis. Alter 
all improvements now contemplated have been 
accomplished and paid for, about si.xty thou- 
sand dollars will constitute the luidowment 
Fund of Hebron Academy. One of the old 
schooFs greatest benefactors and helpers of 
I later years is the man who has been Presi- 
l dent of the Board of Trustees, and the writer 
of its history, the Hon. Percival Bonney, 
than whose name none is better known in 
Maine. 



INDEX. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



PAGE 

A 

Abbott, Allen G 628 

.Abbott, Krastus T 22 

Abbott, James J 460 

Academy, Hebron 631 

Adams, Albert H 135 

Adams, .Alonzo B., M.D. . . . 211 

Adams. Josiali (; 441 

Allen, Ashbel G 330 

Allen, George A., M.D. ... 366 

Allen, Gilbert 303 

Allen, Oliver 558 

Allen, Thomas J 413 

Allen, William H 297 

Andrews, America 528 

-Andrews, Charles G 380 

Andrews, Eugene H., M.l). . . 563 

Andrews, Freeman 147 

Andrews, Lewis B 139 

Andrews, Thomas J 546 

Atherton, John 584 

Atwood, Charles B 106 

Atwood, George M 175 

Austin, Dearborn L 586 

Averill, David C 5S3 



B 

Bachelder, John 401 

Baker, Gorham 60 

Baker, Nathan S S'S 

Bangs, Henry J loi 

Barker, Frank 545 

Barker, William 466 

Barrows, George H 301 

Barrows, Oscar E 383 

Bartlett, Charles P 215 

Bartlett, Fred F 599 



Bartlett, Jonathan 496 

Bartlett, Silas P., M.D. ... 259 

Bass, George H 400 

Bates, Harrison J • . 298 

Beal, Horace 561 

Beal, Nathaniel I! 599 

Bean, Alpheus S 84 

Bean, George R 177 

Bean, William C 133 

Bearce, Isaac P 33 

Beckler, George W 379 

Beedy, Samuel H 497 

Belcher, Samuel C 495 

Bennett, Anson 493 

Bennett, John W 97 

Berry, Charles H 536 

Berry, George 74 

Berry, Isaac H 113 

Berry, VV'illiam H 527 

Bickford, William K 261 

Billings, George H 61 

Billings, Leander S 557 

Bird, Benjamin 532 

Bisbee, Elisha S 189 

Bisbee, Stanley 589 

Blake, A. Judson 283 

Blake, George S 321 

Blake, Isaac A. D., M.D. . . . 51 

Blake, Walter B 512 

Blanchard, John 291 

Bolster, N. Dayton 37 

Bonney, Albion P 31 

Bonney, Charles I! 455 

Bonney, Harrison 630 

Boyington. William A. ... 89 

Bradbury, Albion E 1641 

Bradbury, Bial F., M.D. . . . 181 

Bradford, Samuel R 468 [ 

Bradley, William B 470 ' 



Brett, William 1) 252 

Briggs, George A 420 

Briggs, George F 4.S6 

Brown, Charles F 30S 

Brown. Daniel 246 

Brown, Hannibal G 28 1 

Brown, Henry G 595 

Brown, James 30S 

Brown, Sidney T., .M.D. . . . 249 

Brown, Thomas H., M.I). . . 461 

Brown, Waldo T 224 

Buck, Henry M 260 

Bump, Hosea P 579 

Bumpus, Samuel A 73 

Bumpus, Samuel A 544 

Burnham, George 23 r 

Burnham, George 1 440 

Butler, Francis G 16 

Butterfield, J. Warren .... 233 

Butterfield, James W 23S 



C 

Calden, William F 535 

Caldwell, Joseph C, M.D. . . 2S0 

Caldwell, William F 45 

Calhoun, John J 473 

Carroll, George W., .M.I). . . 243 

Carter, Timothy J 203 

Caswell, .\lbert 7.S 

Gates, Alden Z 513 

Chandler, Everett A 62 

Chandler, George A 291 

Chandler, Harold 292 

Chandler, Horatio 446 

Chapman, Ebenezer E. . . . 483 

Chapman, Timothy H 263 

Chapman, William C 10 



636 



INDKX 



PAGE 

Cliarles. Steplien 13S 

Chase, James L 70 

Chick, Frank W 188 

Clmrchill, Kingman .... 336 

Clark, Daniel 315 

Cobiirn, George X. . . 511 

Coburn, William 580 

Coffin, Solon A 489 

Cole, Ransom 344 

Cole, Richard L 623 

Collins, Daniel W 338 

Collins. Joshua E 451 

Conant. E. F 267 

Conant, Hiram A 231 

Conant, Joseph E 238 

Cook, Eli 100 

Coolidge, Charles .A., iM.D. . . 390 j 

Coolidge. Charles M., M.D. . . 270 

Coolidge, Dana 151 

Coolidge, John 398 

Cooper, William E 183 

Corbett, Aaron 55 

Cousins, Hendon W 198 

Coy, Henry W 25 

Craig, Samuel G 597 

Crane, Abijah R., D.D. . . . 194 

Crockett, George V, 526 

Croswell, Thomas 245 ! 

Cummings, Charles B 134 

Cummings, Da\id F 302 

Cummings, Hiram T 190 

Cummings, John M 490 

Curtis, James 581 | 

Curtis, Simeon B 335 

Curtis, William E \i^ 

Cushman, Caleb, Jr 396 

Cushman, Samuel 1' 167 



Daggett, Albert . . 








128 


Daggett, Washington L 
Danforth, James . . 








128 
62,- 


Dascomb, Henry R. 
Davis, Herrick C. . 








36s 
9 


Day, Henry I 

Day, James ,M. . . 
Dean, .\delbert E. . 








624 
451 
1 1; 


DcCosta, John F., M.l) 
DeCoster, Almon . . 
Decoster, E. . . . 








411 

540 
621 


DeCoster, James P. 








540 


Deering, Erastus W. . 








.58 



r.^GE 

Deering, James 310 

Delano, Adelbert 494 

Dennison, Harlan P 121 

De Shon, Mellen T 232 

Dill. Elbridge 469 

Dorr, Charles M 154 

Doten, Timothy S 399 

Dow, Joseph B 372 

Dudley. Ansel 626 

Dudley, Eugene iM 88 

Dudley, James S 524 

Dummer, Charles G 397 

Dunham, Samuel W 449 

Dunsmoore. John :;56 

Durgin, William W 440 

Dutton, Asa W 66 

Dyer, Charles Edwin . . . . [ 1 7 

Dyer, Charles E 419 

Dyer, Frank 1 419 

Dyer, Zaccheus A 46 

Dyke, Everett F 415 



E 

Eastman, (jcorge H 118 

Eastman, Tobias L 564 

Eaton, Cyrus P. . . . . . 217 

Edgcomb. Lorenzo D 620 

Ellingwood. A. D 508 

Elliott, Hiram P 276 

Emmons, Israel F 477 

Evans, Sumner 503 

Everett, Hiram M 216 

Everett, Persian V 81 

F 

Farrar, Fairfield 260 

Farrar, Harrison 323 

Farrar. Walter W 377 

Farrar, Wilbur L 612 

Farrington, Oliver P 95 

Farrington, Seymour A. . . . 327 

Farris. James M 152 

Faunae, William 518 

Felt, Alonzo 24 

Fernald. Chesley H 92 

Fernald, George R 2^3 

Field, Ernest E 594 

Fitch, H. F.. .M.D 537 

Flint. Charles W 52 

Flint, Harland S 346 

Fobes. Henrv 152 



i-Af;E 

Fogg, Dana B 324 

Forbes, Arthur E 175 

Foster, Clarence E 474 

Foster, Everett 445 

Fo,\, John 254 

Frederic, George .A. . ' . . . 576 

Freeman, Ralph S 26 

French, Augustus N., M.D. . . 65 

Frye. Frederick N 510 

Fuller, Charles P 457 

Fuller. Henry R 390 

Fuller, Julius F 3S6 

Fuller, Maurice G 610 

Furber. John T 498 

Furbish, Harry A 506 

Furncl. John D 627 



G 

Gammon, William 591 

Garland. Chandler 117 

Gatchell, Hiram 426 

Gatchell, Willis L., M.D. . . 554 

Gee. Albion B 323 

George, .Arthur E 525 

George, Charles H 109 

Gerry, John C 20 

Gilman, Henry W 516 

Gilmore, Caleb W 250 

Ginn. Wesley H 387 

Glover, Frank R 342 

Glover, James 430 

Godwin, Horatio R 554 

Goff, Sewell 450 

Googins, Albion K. I'. ... ^43 

Gordon, Albion P. .;•... 364 

Gordon, Samuel S. , 574 

Gould, Elias W 343 

Green, Charles L 262 

Green, Daniel 611 

Green, William 347 

Greene. William M 87 

Greenwood. Albert -M 464 

Greenwood, Zina H. .... 218 

Griffith, Albert B 575 

Grose, George D 621 

Grover, Amos A 296 

Gurney, Lemuel 149 



H 

Hall, Robert 267 

Hall, Solomon S 170 



IXDF.X 



('M 



Hamilton, C'luirlcs A 526 

Hamilton, David M 525 

Hamlin, Calvin ''>I2 

Hamlin, Walter K 41'' 

Hammond, Henry IJ 112 

Hammond, Jairus K 355 

Hapgood, Andrew S 31 

Harding. Xathaniel 239 

Hardy, Alvin F 3+'^ 

Hardy, Jeffrey A 550 \ 

Harnden, Granville W. . . . 539 1 

Harnden, Harmon 493 

Harvey, Bezer 1! 337 

Haskell, Edwin X i8j 

Haskell, Peter N 19; 

Hastings, David R 5S2 

Hatch, Edwin B 44 

Hathaway, Charles L. ^ • • • 'n/ 

Hayes, Cyrus S 560 

Hayford, Olis .563 

Heald, Joshua C 96 

HealcJ, Llewellyn li 301 

Heath, Walter S 394 

Hebron Academv 631 

Hersey, Artenias 1... M.IX . . 319 

Hersey, Ezra B 414 

Hersey, Henry B 2.S6 

Higgins, George Z.. M.D. . . 284 

Higgins, Lelia, M.D 2.S4 

Hill. Charles D., M.D 14S 

Hill, Frank A 2.S0 

Hines, Joseph W 78 

Hitchcock, Edward K 334 

Hiscock, James E 402 

Hobbs, George W 476 

Hobbs, Hiram K. 378 

Hodgkins, Charles T 606 

Holden, Francis H 69 

Holland, Cornelius M 294 

Holman, Albert S 321 

Holmes, Albert L 5S4 

Holmes, Walter E 29 

Holt. Charles E 275 

Holt, Daniel 605 

Holt. Fred A 618 



Hunter, John M. S. , , 
Hutchinson, Steijhen 1). 



Iri.sli. ( )ilando 



171 
79 



239 



J 

Jackson, Lemuel W 146 

Jenness, .Albro K 196 

Jennings, c;. F 45S 

Jennings, John D 39 

Jewett, Isaac F 472 

Johnson, George W 596 

Johnson, Ira 1 87 

Jones, .Albion K. I' 160 

Judkins. .\lvin W 157 



K 



Keen, William H 321 

Keith, Hezekiah B 4S6 

Keith, Joseph 150 

Keith, Leonard S 151 

Keyes, Benjamin K 232 

Kilgore, Benjamin K 573 

Kimball, George ,\ 547 

Kimball, Henry T 507 

King, Silas K 26 

Kneeland, William K 429 

Knight, Xathaniel 220 

Knightly, William P 361 

Knowles, Albert E 556 

Knowlton, Xevvell R 39; 

Knowlton, Samuel I) 299 

Knox, .Sylvanus B 285 



Home, Herman L, . 
Home, John L, , . 
Houghton, Herman S, 



577 
568 

53' 



Houghton, Joseph S 2S9 

Howard, Albert G,, M.D. . , 161 

Howard, Joshua R 468 

Howe, Freeland 435 

Howes, George A 477 

Hubbard, Clinton P., M,D, , . 421 



Ladd, Charles T 434 

Lambert, James M 569 

Lander, Wintworlh \' 338 

Le Baron, William 11 248 

Lincoln, Levi L 385 

Linscott, Andrew J 329 

Locke, Samuel B 1 74 

Longley, Jonathan R 3S6 

Lord, Frank W 328 

Lovejoy, Elmer L 519 

Lowell, Maria B 629 

Luce, Frank 389 

Ludden, J, Madison . , , . 53 

Lufkin, Edwin B 195 



1 AGH 
M 

Macombcr, George K 385 

Makepeace, Benjamin (■".,, M.D. 375 

Mann, Lewis M 99 

Manning, William .A 159 

Manter, William H 298 

Marble, Jarvis C 42 

Marsh, Albion 1' 127 

Marshall, Ezra 41 

Martin, Jonathan K 433 

.Martin, Lyman K 589 

.Marwick, Ernest H 407 

.Mason, .Vnsel T 475 

Mason, .Applcton F 555 

.Mason, Hezekiah G 122 

Mason, John Q 389 

.McAllister, Hilton 264 

.McAllister, Joshua J lit 

McAllister. Levi 223 

McDonald, William H. . . . 13 

.Mclntire, Bertrand G. ... 425 

.Mclntire, Justin E 141 

Mclntire, Leslie E 425 

iMcKeen, Alvin W 3S4 

McKeen, David 594 

McKenzie, Charles H. ... 505 

McLain, Edgar E 379 

.\relindy, Otis H 552 

Mellen, Charles T 83 

Mellen, George L 169 

Merriani, Milton H 235 

Merrill, Ezekiel 478 

Miller, Charles .M 23 

Miller, Gilbert 205 

Millett, John H 15 

Milleft. Xathan W 421 

Mills, Daniel E 622 

.Mills, (jeorge W 345 

.Mills, Nathan G 2S9 

Mitchell, Milo 5S8 

Morrison, Arthur I-^ 17*2 

Morrison, James 145 

Morrison, William 116 

Morrow, Albert 5.S7 

Morse, Elias H 163 

Morton, Henry I- 349 

Morton, John J 176 

Morton. William G 607 

N 

Nelson, Austin .\ 540 

.Xelson, Eugene 21 

Xichols, Walter no 



638 



INDEX 



Niles, Silas H. . . 
Xoldc, Francis M. . 
Noicross, Edwin C. . 
Norton, Everett I!. . 
Norton, La Forest W. 
Norton, Zachariah . 
Norwood, Abraham . 
Noyes, Frank H. 



236 Porter, Sylvanus . 



515 , Severy, Alden I! 4 



60 I'rescott, Horace 1! ,4, Sewall, Calvin D 

58S Presson, David W 



IcS 



VAr.K 

12 

405 



566 

1 86 

567 
442 



Pride, David G 55 

Prince, Cliarles H 230 

Prince, Job 230 



Prince, Kimball N. 
Proctor, Carroll K, 
Proctor, Gerrie A. 



M.D. 



Sewell, William S gS 

Shaw, Calvin W ^fo 

Shaw. James M 360 

Shurtleff, Alva 400 

230 Shurtleff, Frank A 533 

173 Simmons, Jesse V 54 

504 Skillings, Francis H 433 

Small, John jgs 



Smart, .Marcus M: 



Oakes, Alfred A i6S' 

Oldham, Hiram 4(j[ 

Osborne, P'rank W 46 

Oxnard, Horace C (109 



Packard, Asa yo 

Packard, Francis S., M.I). . . 400 

Packard, Frank mt ,,. , , , , 

i,.,^, ^ , .,., J ^" Richards, John .\ 

I ackard, Zibeon L 221 , . , , 



Rackliffe, Elbridge H 436 

Rackliffe, John P 381 

Kamsdell, Hiram 105 

Reed. Lewis H 5S0 

Reynolds, .\ustin, M.D. . . . 293 

Rice, George li 107 

Rice. Henry H 247 

Richards, Charles M ,0 

Richards, George \\' 4S2 



M.D. 



Park, Henry W .124 

Parker, Henry D 153 

Parker, Thomas M 34C 

i'arsons, .Arthur L) 322 

Parsons. Emery 371 

Parsons, SlepIien"R 4-9 

I'ease, Howard 

Penley, Edward W 

I'erham, Silas D i 

Perkins, .Alvin F 

Perkins, Charles E 

Perkins, George li ^jl 

Perkins, Harrison G. O. . . . 345 

Perkins, Samuel F 133 

Perry, Joseph S 549 

I'erry, Osgood 593 

I^ettengill, Waldo 538 

Pierce. William S 417 

244 



Smith, Ephraim H 225 

Spring. Thomas 523 

Stacy, Jordan 481 

Stanley, Horace L 56 

Staples. Gideon K 222 

Staples, John 9- 

Staples, Roscoe F 71 

Starbird, Charles F 559 

Starbird, Clinton V 216 

Stearns, Eckley T 424 

Stearns, Henry K 362 

Stearns, Horatio 140 

"**;? Stearns, James C ^i^^ 

316 - ^^^ 



'99 



Richardson, Rev. Stephen D. 

Richardson, Thomas H. . . . ^.u „ „ , 

p;. !,„,„, J I.-J 1 I- I otearns, Sylvanus P ifi-? 

Kichmond. Edward 1- 40 c- t 

ij)' 1 J ti I Stetson, [osiah T. , . . -160 

Richmond, Henrv L. , in , jv' <>■■ 1 joo 

n-ii r- -I'lT Stetson, Rollin .\. . . . 6^- 

Ridlon, George W it,, „ "J 



Robbins, Albert W. 



487 



Stevens, John 



87 



54' 

■ 1 1 

c 

5J)3 

91 



Roberts, John A 77 

Robinson, Edward .M 270 



Robinson, George 304 

Robinson. John H 41S 

Ross, .-\bram ^14 

Ross, Eastman J 364 

Rounds, Isaac, M.D 34 

Rowe, Charles C 342 

Rowe, Leander P. ..... 370 

Rowe, .Samuel S 342 

Russell, Jesse D 413 

Kyerson, Charles W 269 



Stevens, Jolin M 21: 

Stickney, William H 3S8 

Stone, Elbridge 562 

Stone, Frank P ^y, 

Stone, Rufus C 573 

Slow ers, .Asa (j 2S2 

Stubbs, Phillip H 341 

Swan, Daniel L 

Swan, Thomas 



537 
290 



Pike, Bion H. 



J'ike, Frank T 4S4 

Pike, John ,cy 

Pike, John C ,52 

Pike, John J ,84 

Pingree, Almon P 

Pinkham, C. Arthur , . 



Tarbox, Jabez C 314 

Tarbox, Wallace R 434 

Taylor, Rufus 3 28 

Taylor, William T 467 

Tebbets, E. L 619 



Plummer, Joel S 376 

Plummer, Samuel 608 

Porter, Charles N 33, 



Sanborn, Abel 47 

Sanborn, Fred W 357 Thomas, George W 99 

59' j Sanderson, ^L-^rshall .... 200 Thomas, Robert C, . 57, 

393 Sargent, William E 206 Thomas, William N 



Sargent, William 1. 



72 



94 



Thompson, Albert 34 

Thompson, James E 491 



Saunders, Joshua coy 

Porter, Franklin .... ;;, Sn' S' A '36 | Thurlow, Augustus F 5,0 

Porter Fred A ' ' "5' ^=^^^'"' Lt vis A 466 , Thurston, Jacob .A 394 

'''^'"^"^ >28 I Sawyer, Charles G 276 , Timberl.ake, Fremont E. . . . 43, 

123 ITitcomb, Isaac F 382 



Porter, James H 487 Sawven Edwin 



INDF.X 



639 



l-AGK 

Tolniaii, llfzekiali 519 

Toothakei-, Charles L., M.I). . ^jo 

Toothaker, Frank J 5'i8 

Tootliaker, John K +'^S 

Towle, William C. M I). ... 225 

Towne. Rolliri 90 

Trask, William H 235 

Trefethen, Joseph S2 

True, Roscoe G 556 

True, William 1 78 

Tubbs, Albion 1 542 

Tubbs, Charle.s N 423 

Tubbs, George E 534 

Tucker, Benjamin 102 

Tucker, Cyrus S 452 

Tucker, Elias .\ 565 

Tucker, James K 3''^5 

Tufts, Peter P '103 

Turner, Edward P., M.D . . . 309 

Turner, Orrin S 3<^^3 

Twaddle, John A., M.D. ... 404 

Twitchell, Samuel Pi 22^1 

Tyler, Frank P 3- 

V 

\"aughan, Jabcz 339 

Vining, Fremont S 234 

Virgin, (George A i''i3 



\'()ter, Louis . 
X'olfr, Warren T. 



■132 



w 

Wadsvvorth. Peleg T 504 

Waite, liyron C 520 

Waitc, Willis W 266 

Walker. Albert W 37^ 

Walker, Carlton H 27S 

Walker, Charles W 329 

Walker, Ephraim C 443 

Walker, Fred 333 

.... 313 

. . . . 210 

. . . . 1 2 

.... 44f' 

. . . . 246 



Walker, George II. . . . 

Ward, John 

WarducU, Gilbert . . . 

Warren, Frank I 

Warriner, Ira J 

VV'aterman, Samuel 1>. . . . ". 23 

Watson, Frank L 59 

Watson, William W 14 

Webster, Henry 422 

Welch, Merritt 397 

Weston. John f'O 

Wheeler, Elbridge G 244 

Whibley. Charles A 80 

Whibley, George W 80 

Whitcomb, William H. . . . 237 

White, Verdeil O., M.D. . . . 265 



Whitehead, Tliomas J 
Whitman, George G. 
Whitman, John . . 
Whitmarsh, William W, 
Whitney, ICben II. . 
Whittemore. Joshua C. 
Whittier, Phineas 
Wiglit, F.phraim . . 
Wight, Willard B. . 
Wilbur, Joel . . 
Wilder, Frank L. . 
Williams, Charles I-:. 
Wilson, Charles K., Ml). 
Winslow, Jere H. 
Witham. .Albert . . 
Withee. Jatncs W. . 
Wilt, Edward E. . . 
Wood, John Y., . . 
Woodbury, l^noch W. 
Woodl)ury, Horatio, .M 
Wright. James S. 
Wymau, John . . . 



Vates. Octavius K., .M.D. 
Yeaton, L'.lias II. . . . 
York, William F. . . 
Young, Charles . . . 



"3° 
114 

193 
^'4 
309 
579 
■83 
404 
321 
575 
483 
524 



61S 

r 22 

258 
71 
548 
137 
406 

350 



615 
332 



485 



PORTRAITS. 



Allen, tSeorgc A., M.D. ... 367 

Bean, Alpheus S 85 

Bean, William 132 

Bolster, X. Dayton 36 

Bradbury, Albion K 165 

Butler, Francis G. (steel) ... 17 

Carroll, George W., iM.D. . . 242 

Collins, Daniel W 339 

Coolidge, Charles .\., M.D. . . 391 

Davis, Herrick C S 

Deering, James 311 

Dennison, Harlan I' 120 

Dorr, Charles M i 55 

Dow, Josei)h B 373 

Dudley, Smith 352 



I'AGF 

Dunham. Samuel W 448 

Dutton, Asa W 67 ! 

Dyer, Zaccheus .\ 47 

Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Sumner . 502 

Fernald, Chesky H 93 

Fogg, Dana B 325 

Fox, Mr. and .Mrs. John . . 255 

Freeman, Raljjh .S. ..... . 27 

Catchell, Hiram ' . 427 

Hammond, Jairus K 354 

Linscott, AndrevvJ 228 

Merrill, Ezekiel 479 

Mills, Nathan C 28S 

Morrison, James 144 



P.\GE 

Rackliffe, Elbridge H 437 

Roberts, John A 76 

Robinson, Edward .M.. and 
grand-daughter, Miss Faye 

R. Haines 271 

Robinson, George 305 

Sanderson, Marshall .... 201 

Sargent, William E 207 

Stanley, George W 37 

Stevens, John M. ..'... 214 

True, William 179 

Tucker, Benjamin 103 

Whitman, Jolni 192 

Yates. Octavius K 614 



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